Tayyaba
Coco Lee, the Hong Kong singer and actress who voiced the titular hero in the Mandarin dubbed version of the 1998 Disney classic Mulan, died by s*icide on July 5, 2023. She was 48. Her sisters Carol and Nancy Lee posted a public statement on Facebook revealing the news. Coco Lee’s death is a tragic loss. She was very talented and was also a role model for many people. Her family and friends are in our thoughts during this difficult time.
What were the circumstances of Coco Lee’s death?
Coco Lee had been hospitalized after a s*icide attempt, and was in a coma when she died. Her sisters, Carol and Nancy Lee, shared in a Facebook statement that she had been struggling with depression for many years, and that her condition had worsened in recent months. In her final Instagram post, shared in December 2022, Lee reflected on a year of immense difficulty, noting that she was “desperately” holding onto the words “love” and “faith” in her heart. Lee is survived by her husband of 12 years, Bruce Rockowitz, her sisters, and her two stepdaughters. “Life seemed unbearable at times but I adapted the attitude of a ‘female warrior’ to face them head on fearlessly but always had the biggest smile and big fat laughters!” Lee wrote at the time. “Strength, courage, n bravery is within all of us so use them.”
“Although, CoCo sought professional help and did her best to fight depression, sadly that demon inside of her took the better of her. Not only did she bring us joy with her songs and dances in the past 29 years, she also worked hard to break new ground for Chinese singers in the international music scene and has been doing her utmost to shine for the Chinese.”
Carol and Nancy Lee on Facebook
Who was Coco Lee?
Coco Lee was born in Hong Kong in 1975. She began her career as a singer in the early 1990s, and quickly became one of the most popular singers in Asia. Lee also had a successful career as an actress. She starred in several films, including the 1999 Hong Kong comedy “Shaolin Soccer.” She also voiced the character of Mulan in the Mandarin dubbed version of the Disney animated film. Before she lent her voice to the iconic warrior, Lee had already established herself as a mandopop singer in Asia.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, she was lauded for her powerful vocals and captivating live performances, including a 2001 Oscar performance of “A Love Before Time” from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She released albums in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English throughout her nearly three-decade career. These albums were certified platinum, and won numerous awards, including the Golden Melody Award for Best Female Mandarin Singer in 2000.