In his memoir, released at age 60, Huu Chau reflects on many milestones in his life, including the shock of comedian Huu Loc's passing. In 5/2010, while performing out of town, he received the news that his younger brother had been in a traffic accident and was in critical condition. At the hospital, he remained composed while speaking with the doctors about his brother's situation. "But when I was alone, the pain was indescribable. I felt like my feet weren't touching the ground," the artist said.

Huu Chau (right) and Huu Loc backstage at a performance. Photo: Provided by the artist

Huu Chau said he was able to endure the pain because he had experienced many losses before. However, it pained him deeply to see his mother's unsteady steps at the funeral. "My brother died shielding his two children when his motorbike fell, and my mother Thanh Nga died shielding her child from a bullet. Whenever I think about this, I feel a deep sense of sadness," he shared.

Huu Chau at the launch of his book "Golden Cradle, Stormy Winds". Photo: Quoc Huy

As children, Huu Loc, nicknamed Trum at home, was playful and disliked studying, often earning him a beating from his older brother. Huu Chau admits to having a short temper, and hearing complaints from teachers about his brother only fueled his anger. Once, seeing Huu Loc skipping school to play billiards, he chased after him with a broom, hitting him as he ran.

As they grew older and the family faced financial hardship, Huu Loc quietly took on manual labor jobs to help support their mother. Later, when both pursued acting careers, Huu Loc would diligently cycle Huu Chau to his performances every night. "One time, his bike's spokes broke, and we didn't have the money to fix it. Loc was frantic about being late for the show, so he pedaled from the Labor Culture House to the Youth Culture House. I ran after him, still in my stage makeup, sweat pouring down my face. We still missed the performance, and both of us were so disappointed we almost cried," Huu Chau recalled.

Fifteen years after his brother's death, the artist says he is still filled with regret, wishing he had scolded Huu Loc less and offered more hugs instead. In his book, he writes a tribute to his brother: "Hugging between brothers wasn't something we did often; it might have felt unnatural, even staged. But if we had done it a few times, I wouldn't feel this regret now."

Huu Chau is one of the golden generation of artists on the Ho Chi Minh City theater scene in the 1990s. He has starred in many famous plays, from children's theater (the "Once Upon a Time" series) to adult dramas ("Tam Cam", "Cau Dong", "Da Co Hoai Lang") and historical plays ("Bi Mat Vuon Le Chi", "Ngan Nam Tinh Su"). In 2023, he joined the newly established Thien Dang Theater. Huu Chau has also acted in films such as "Lo To" (2017), "Cua Lai Vo Bau" (2019), "Cong Tu Bac Lieu" (2024), "Lat Mat 8" (2025), and several television series.

Born in 1973, Huu Loc studied drama at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theater and Cinema. He was famous for plays such as "Ong Ba Vu", "Ra Gieng Anh Cuoi Em", "Nguoi Nha Que", "May Man Thanh Sao", "Cuoi Lieu", "Bui Doi Teen", and "Than Bai" (Gala Laughter 2005). He founded the Nu Cuoi Moi Theater in 2005, attracting many stars. He also organized several major comedy shows for Hoai Linh and Chi Tai. In 2010, his sudden death in a traffic accident brought immense sorrow to the theater community.

Mai Nhat