'Gia Cat Luong' by Duong Quoc Cuong has a remarkable career compared to the cast of 'Three Kingdoms', while 'Guan Yu' by Luu Thu Minh passed away suddenly due to a heart attack.
Three Kingdoms was filmed in 1994 and is one of China's four great classics adapted into a movie.
The project took 4 years to produce, with a total investment of up to 170 million Chinese yuan (over 583 billion Vietnamese dong), becoming a masterpiece that resonated in many Asian countries, including Vietnam.
For decades, the film has remained enduring and has propelled the fame of Ton Ngan Quan, Duong Quoc Cuong, Luu Thu Minh... making them veteran artists.

The characters of Guan Yu, Cao Cao, Zhang Fei... have left a deep mark that is hard to replace. After 28 years, the lives of the cast have changed significantly, each with their own destiny.
Duong Quoc Cuong – Gia Cat Luong

Duong Quoc Cuong portrayed Kong Ming Gia Cat Luong, which the fandom hailed as the most successful rendition on the small screen. He garnered numerous major awards for his stellar performance in Three Kingdoms . Following his iconic role, he was entrusted with many other important roles such as Ung Chinh, Mao Trach Dong, and Qin Shi Huang...
Aside from his acting career, he is also a calligraphy artist with many works exhibited at home and abroad. Despite a flourishing career, his personal life faced many ups and downs, enduring two marriages, with his first wife committing suicide and his second wife being labeled as a homewrecker.

At the age of 70, he leads a simple life with his second wife, Trang Le. They have one son together. The artist no longer prioritizes his career as before. Occasionally, he accepts acting roles, participates in game shows, and serves as a judge for cultural programs...
Ton Ngan Quan – Liu Bei

Liu Bei, portrayed by actor Ton Ngan Quan, stands as a pillar, a symbol of the nation's cinema. Born in 1952 into a family with a military tradition, his childhood was marked by tragedy as both his parents passed away early. In 1971, he ventured into the acting path, facing hardships to secure roles.
The days of filming
After the classic film, Ton Ngan Quan became known through Ton Vo, Assassinating Wang Jing Wei, The Golden Key...

Ton Ngan Quan has been awarded numerous acting awards by the Ministry of Culture of this country. Since 2000, he has held the title of Principal of the ATV Performing Arts Academy in Guangdong (established by ATV Hong Kong).
Regarding his personal life, the artist doesn't share much. He revealed that he married someone outside the industry, named Tran Hieu Huc.
Bao Quoc An – Cao Cao

Actor Bao Quoc An left a profound impression with his outstanding portrayal of Cao Cao. Born in 1964 in Tianjin, he started acting at the age of 13 and has been active in the arts for several decades.
His iconic roles earned him two Best Leading Actor awards at the Golden Eagle Awards 1995 and the Feitian Awards. Additionally, he took on many leading roles following the success of portraying Cao Cao, such as Brothers of Mount Shandong, Martial Arts World, Enlightening Prosperity...
According to Sina, in 2016 after starring in The Shaolin Temple: Legend of Dugu , the actor decided to retire due to old age and health concerns, unable to meet the job requirements.

Bao Quoc An has two sons. His retired wife has been his assistant for many years, helping him choose scripts and taking care of him on set.
Ly Tinh Phi as Zhang Fei

Ly Tinh Phi's portrayal of Zhang Fei is unforgettable. Taking on the role of a fiery character on screen, he was beloved off-screen by everyone on set for his warmth and friendliness. During the filming of Three Kingdoms, he was the youngest in the cast but successfully created an iconic character.
The later artistic career of the actor born in 1957 didn't stand out much. He mainly worked in theater, appearing in around 10 films.
In his middle age, he suffered a stroke and had to use a wheelchair. According to Sohu, his family was struggling and relied on support from friends and colleagues. 'Guan Yu' Lưu Thụ Minh at the time helped him get in touch and arranged for him to live in the Hà Bắc nursing home for better care.

In 2019, the cast of Three Kingdoms 1994 reunited. Lý Tĩnh Phi appeared at the last minute, being pushed onto the stage in a wheelchair.
Trần Hồng as Diaochan

In the film, Trần Hồng didn't have as much screen time as other male actors, but her role was a success. She was personally chosen by the director to play the role of the beauty in Three Kingdoms .
After the film, she appeared in many movies such as The Eagle Shooting Heroes 1998, The Palace from the Ming Dynasty ... The actress met and eventually married director Tran Khai Ca and gave birth to two sons: Tran Vu Ngang and Tran Phi Vu.

In recent years, the 53-year-old actress has been active in showbiz, acting in films and participating in production. Audiences often see Trần Hồng and her husband appearing together, they are known as a powerful couple in the Chinese entertainment industry.
Lưu Thụ Minh as Guan Yu

The actor was born in 1956 in Thanh Dao, Son Dong province. He passed away on the morning of November 1st due to a heart attack, at the age of 66.
During his lifetime, he was praised for bringing 'Guan Yu' to life with an exemplary portrayal: 'He stood nine feet tall, his beard was two feet long, his face was as red as a gourd, his lips were like vermilion, his eyes were phoenix-like, exuding a majestic aura.'
In addition to his acting career, Lưu Thụ Minh once served as the Director of the Cultural and Art Center of Bằng Đồ (Thiem Tay).

In his youth, he spent 18 months in prison. He didn't share the reason but admitted feeling ashamed of his criminal past. The actor stated that the film Three Kingdoms was the salvation of his life.
In 1980, the actor joined the Tay An Theater and embarked on an artistic journey. 'The Falling Leaves' (1985) was his first television drama. In 1989, Lưu Thụ Minh starred in his first film The Great Battle of the Ancient Golden Age . He portrayed Qin Shi Huang, collaborating with Cong Loi and Truong Nghieu Muu.
The news of 'Guan Yu's' passing deeply saddened the cast of Three Kingdoms 1994. Ton Ngan Quan was shocked by the departure of his 'second brother', feeling like lightning had struck in broad daylight. Duong Quoc Cuong couldn't believe this was true. In Bao Quoc An's memory, Luc Thu Minh was friendly and gentle. The two became close due to filming together for three years.
Photo: Sina, Weibo