Everybody knows that being a celebrity doesn’t last forever. Eventually some will fade into obscurity, or others make a mistake that can’t be forgiven. But, Taiwanese star Liu Wen-cheng (刘文正) aka Steven Liu ensured he would be an ‘eternal superstar’.
Wen-cheng is a popular artist from the 1970s and 1980s. However, he quit the showbiz in 1984 and faded from the entertainment scene. As such, it came as a surprise to many when it was revealed Wen-cheng had passed away last November.
His agent had apparently been the one to discover the news in December 2022. The agent reportedly stated Wen-cheng had passed away from a myocardial infarction at the age of 70. Wen-cheng had still been living in Las Vegas, USA at the time.
The artist had first made his debut in the 1970s. At the time, Wen-cheng was famous for wearing a hat and a scarf, giving him a gentlemanly figure. Needless to say, he successfully captured many hearts. Wen-cheng’s popularity grew throughout the world and he became known as the “ancestor of idols”. In addition to acting in over 20 films, being a host and producer, he also influenced a lot of the music scene in China.
However, in 1984, he quit the showbiz to settle in the United States. As it turns out, he had a reason for doing so. His agent shared that Wen-cheng had once asked him how to be an ‘eternal superstar’. Wen-cheng’s agent told him: “If you give up your audience before they abandon you, only then can you become an eternal superstar.”
Following his advice, Wen-cheng terminated his contract with his record company and faded out of the entertainment scene after winning Best Male Singer during the Golden Bell Awards three times. Wen-cheng then moved to the US. He returned in 1986 to establish a production company but ended it in 1991. He then retired to LA and invested in real estate.
Wen-cheng lived out the last 31 years of his life in peace. He loved swimming and climbing mountains, which kept him fit. He and his sister also cared for their 80-year-old mother in LA. Although he kept himself out of the spotlight, his fans have missed him dearly. We hope he finds peace in the afterlife.
Sources: China Press, Xuan,
