In Heavenly Dragon Eight Parts, the character Hư Trúc – one of the three main characters in the series – has garnered significant affection from the audience. The actor playing this role, Cao Ho, has also risen to fame after just one night, becoming a prominent star in the Chinese entertainment industry. Unfortunately, Cao Ho has struggled to maintain that high profile and has faced many ups and downs, carrying the burden of two personas.
It is notable that Cao Ho was born into a family with a traditional background in the arts, which played a role in showcasing his talent early on. His family hoped he would pursue a stable career, attending university and finding a secure job. However, Cao Ho decided to follow his passion for acting instead.
After stepping into the showbiz world, Cao Ho’s career faced many challenges, and he experienced numerous ups and downs. He made a mark by starring in several popular films, including Heavenly Dragon Eight Parts, God of War, Bích Huyết Kiếm, and Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre. Despite his natural acting talent, Cao Ho was often overshadowed by the scandals that plagued his career, leading to his rise as a well-known A-list star in the Chinese entertainment scene.
Regrettably, as his career peaked, Cao Ho continuously faced unfortunate incidents that threatened to derail his career. During the filming of Love Mistake, he had to perform a driving stunt at a speed of 30 km/h. However, due to a malfunctioning brake, the actor lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a tragic accident that led to the death of cinematographer Phùng Tử Vĩnh.
The family of the deceased filed a lawsuit against Cao Ho, demanding compensation of 640,000 RMB (approximately 2.3 million VND). Eventually, the actor received a one-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter and was required to pay full compensation as per the court’s ruling.
This accident plunged Cao Ho into a state of depression, causing him to withdraw from society and avoid contact with people. What’s even more concerning is that the media has often been quite harsh on the “Hư Trúc of the most classic era.” Additionally, the production team of Love Mistake publicly apologized, stating that the actors had described him as an exceptionally kind person. Consequently, after regaining his mental health, the star from Heavenly Dragon Eight Parts made a comeback to showbiz.
Just a few years later, Cao Ho faced another incident that brought him more trouble. In 2012, the actor purchased a luxury apartment and hired a maintenance worker for repairs, only for the worker to accidentally touch a high-voltage power line and suffer severe injuries.
This incident had no direct connection to Cao Ho, but he was still implicated as he was present during the incident. Consequently, he was also required to pay 350,000 RMB (approximately 1.27 million VND) in compensation.
After facing two significant “setbacks,” many actors began to shy away from cooperating with Cao Ho, leading to a lack of significant projects for him. Fortunately, actor Hoàng Bột – a friend and former colleague of Cao Ho – has actively supported him during this challenging time. However, in subsequent years, the “Hư Trúc of the most classic era” has struggled to recover his career after falling into obscurity.
In 2014, Cao Ho shocked many by being arrested for drug use. Many speculated that this was due to the pressures and various scandals throughout his career, leading the actor to resort to substance abuse, which ultimately cost him dearly. Following public backlash, the A-list star has faced significant scrutiny and has been largely absent from the screen.
Cao Ho once bought 30 acres of land to cultivate organic vegetables, attempting to share a glimpse of his rural life. In 2020, he began posting short videos sharing his life as a farmer, raising his own vegetables, but faced heavy criticism from audiences due to his past behavior. Despite the pressures, by 2023, Cao Ho had completely distanced himself from the entertainment industry.
At the end of 2024, the online community was stirred when it was revealed that actor Cao Ho had taken up a job as a delivery person to make ends meet. Information about “Cao Ho working as a delivery guy” quickly trended on social media and attracted public attention. Many expressed sympathy for the actor, whose talent had seemingly dwindled but who still found himself in a tough position, labeled a “has-been.”
Source: 163, QQ
