His Greatest Regret Before Passing: 'Attending My Father's Funeral in Handcuffs and Shackles' - Yen Cheng-kuo Blames Himself for the Most Unfilial Act of His Life

Actor Yen Cheng-kuo, who began his career as a child star, passed away from lung adenocarcinoma at the age of 50, shocking the entertainment industry. Over his long career, he left behind classic works in films such as the 'Young Hero' series, and later made a return to the film and television world as a director. His life journey was filled with ups and downs and deep reflection. During his lifetime, he often recalled with emotion in shows and interviews that his biggest regret in life was 'not being able to see his father for the last time.'

Yen Cheng-kuo had previously taken a wrong turn and served time in prison. He once said that before incarceration, he specifically told his parents not to visit him in prison: 'Because our home is in Keelung, but I was serving my sentence in Taichung. It was very hard for my parents to prepare food for visits.' He felt sorry for his parents' struggles and was worried about his elderly father's health. Unexpectedly, during his sentence, his father passed away. When the news arrived, he could only take a short leave to attend the funeral.

Recalling that experience, Yen Cheng-kuo choked up and revealed, 'I offered incense and left—I didn't even take another look.' The prison guards didn't understand why he didn't stay longer, to which he replied, 'I'm wearing handcuffs and shackles; the noise is loud. Saving face doesn't matter to me, but I want to save face for my parents.' He lamented that not being able to mourn his father in proper attire was the greatest regret of his life. Now, with his own passing, that sense of guilt toward his father has become a wound that can never be healed.

News source: United Daily News