Coco Lee, a Hong Kong-born singer and songwriter who had a highly successful career in Asia, has died by suicide, her siblings said on Wednesday. She was 48.
The star had depression for several years, Lee’s elder sisters Carol and Nancy Lee said in a statement posted on Facebook and Instagram, with her condition deteriorating drastically over recent months.
“Although Coco sought professional help and did her best to fight depression, sadly that demon inside of her took the better of her,” the statement read.
Lee attempted suicide at home over the weekend and was taken to a hospital, her sister said. They said she was in a coma and died on Wednesday.
Lee, who was born in Hong Kong but later moved to the US, where she attended middle and high school, had a highly successful career in Asia as a pop singer in the 1990s and 2000s, where she was known for her powerful voice and live performances.
Lee, who was initially a Mandopop singer, branched out to release albums in Cantonese and English over her nearly 30-year career.
She was the voice of heroine Fa Mulan in the Mandarin version of Disney’s Mulan, and also sang the Mandarin version of the movie’s theme song Reflection. Her single Do You Want My Love was an international hit in 2000.
She became the first Chinese American to perform at the Oscars, singing A Love Before Time from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and in 2002 was the first Chanel brand ambassador of Chinese descent for Asia. She also served as a judge on various reality competition shows, including the 2015 version of Dancing with the Stars in China.
In 2011, Lee married Bruce Rockowitz, a Canadian businessman who is the former CEO of Hong Kong supply chain company Li & Fung. She had two stepdaughters from her marriage with Rockowitz.
“Coco is also known to have worked tirelessly to open up a new world for Chinese singers in the international music scene, and she went all out to shine for the Chinese,” her sisters said in their post.
“We are proud of her!”
In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
English (US)