Godfrey Gao Died From Cardiac Arrest While Filming Show

Photo: Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images.

35-year-old Godfrey Gao died of cardia arrest on Wednesday while filming Zhejiang Television's reality show Chase Me, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Taiwanese actor and model was a guest contestant on the show, which requires two teams to participate in physical contests, and has a reputation for being extremely physically demanding. According to a statement from Zhejiang Television, Gao collapsed unconscious while filming a running challenge in the city of Ningbo and was later pronounced dead.

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"The on-site medical staff started treatment immediately and transported him to a hospital," read the statement given to THR. "Unfortunately, after two hours of rescue treatment, the hospital pronounced him dead of sudden cardiac arrest."

Gao's agency JetStar Entertainment corroborated this report with a statement of their own on Chinese social media service Weibo.

"In the early hours of Nov. 27, our beloved Godfrey collapsed while filming on set. Following three hours of rescue efforts, he unfortunately left us," it reads. "We are very shocked and saddened and even until now find it impossible to accept."

While born in Taipei, Taiwan, Gao grew up in Canada before returning to Taiwan to pursue a career in modeling, becoming the first Asian model to appear in a global campaign for Louis Vuitton. He also pursued acting, and landed a number of roles on Taiwanese TV dramas and films before jumping to Hollywood in the role of Magnus Bane in the 2013 movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. He most recently appeared in the Chinese film Shanghai Fortress, and was slated to act in upcoming film The Wedding Bible.

Fellow performers expressed their condolences on social media.

My heart is absolutely shattered. Godfrey left us far too soon and in far too tragic of a way.https://t.co/ZDEWvUx54u
— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) November 27, 2019

I am shocked & heartbroken to hear of Godfrey Gao’s untimely passing. He was a pioneer in the Asian community that stretched our imaginations on what was possible in the industry. To the original Magnus who left us way too soon, you left an impression on us that’ll last forever. pic.twitter.com/eYKlRJdlTJ
— Harry Shum Jr (@HarryShumJr) November 27, 2019

Godfrey Gao was one of the first Asian men I heard about when I entered the business. He was a huge torch bearer for most of us. To see him pass at such a young age is unsettling. Thank you for your inspiration and for knocking down walls so we didn’t have to. RIP pic.twitter.com/eXdaUYd8OE
— Yoshi Sudarso (@yoshi_sudarso) November 27, 2019

Fans also called for an investigation into the reality show, although some of the statements in their claims are unconfirmed.

They need to investigate #ChaseMe. Godfrey Gao was in good shape and everyone knows this. He was 35. He filmed for 17 hours straight with the possibility of no break. There were no proper medical attention given to him. Investigate!
— Saymone loves Ninety One,Kpop 2nd gens and Jpop. (@stanukiss2k19) November 27, 2019

I'm more angry than anything about Godfrey Gao's death because it was 100% preventable. That show better take responsibility for this and take proper measures to ensure the safety of future guests; or just cancel the show in its entirety. What happened on #ChaseMe is NOT okay.
— Luna (@LunaIsFree_) November 27, 2019

The Chinese variety show #ChaseMe is putting contestants through extreme physical labour to the point actor Godfrey Gao has collapsed on set and died. Just looking at this video alone you can see they were pushed beyond their limits.pic.twitter.com/iTvfXqsUey
— яєι: иcт x мαcуѕ (@reictzen) November 27, 2019

This is a developing story.

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