Once Close Friends with Andy Lau, Peter Poon (潘宏彬) Shockingly Passes Away at 63

The 44th Hong Kong Film Awards will be held on April 19th (Sunday) starting from 7:30 pm, but in the commemorative publication's "In Everlasting Memory · Deceased Figures" section, the name and picture of veteran actor Peter Poon (潘宏彬) surprisingly appeared, with a note stating that he passed away this year (2026) at the age of 63.

He was once the only rumored male partner in Andy Lau's more than 40-year-long entertainment career, and they were close for a period of time. He also traveled to Taiwan to play the villain "Yang Kang" in the series "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", becoming a favorite of Taiwanese drama producers. But in 1998 he left the entertainment industry, and even news of his passing only became public when it was revealed in the Hong Kong Film Awards commemorative publication.

Peter Poon was classmates in the TVB artist training class with Andy Lau, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Carrie Ng, and others. Andy Lau’s first movie “Cloud of Romance (彩云曲)” featured Peter Poon as well, though neither was the lead. Later, they continued to work together in films and dramas such as “Lucky Stars Go Places”, “Devil's Paradise”, and “Take Care, Your Majesty!” However, Andy Lau rose to fame early on, while Peter Poon's career remained limited, but that didn't affect their close friendship.

Peter Poon once stayed late at Andy Lau's place, and even when Andy was already asleep, he left a note for Peter mentioning there was food to eat. The two were once rumored to be in a homosexual relationship, to which Andy Lau swore that if he was in a relationship with Peter Poon, he would die of AIDS within seven years. Being the only "rumored boyfriend" of Andy Lau ironically became the most well-known topic in Peter Poon's acting career, overshadowing his dramatic performances.

After acting in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" in Taiwan, he went on to appear in shows like "Love on the Horizon" and "Sky of the Starry Night". Although he mostly played the second male lead, he was given more important roles than in Hong Kong dramas. When Andy Lau later started his own production company, he would also find parts for Peter Poon in his movies. Later, there were rumors that when Carol Chu (Zhu Liqian) visited Hong Kong to see Andy Lau, she would stay at Peter Poon's home as a cover for their relationship, with Poon serving as a "smoke screen." By 1998, after Peter Poon switched careers to become a real estate agent, the two gradually grew apart, and it was later rumored they had been estranged for years.