Godfrey Gao

Godfrey Gao (; 22 September 1984 – 27 November 2019), born Tsao Chih-hsiang , was a Taiwanese-Canadian model and actor. Described as Asia's first male supermodel, Gao was the first Asian male model featured in a Louis Vuitton campaign. As an actor, he was known for his roles as Magnus Bane in the film adaptation of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and as Wang Lichuan in the Chinese television series Remembering Lichuan (2016).

Early life Gao was born in Taipei on 22 September 1984. Gao's father was a Taiwanese of Shanghainese descent, and worked as a general manager at Michelin Taiwan; his mother was a Malaysian of Peranakan Chinese descent from George Town who won the Miss Penang beauty pageant in 1970. The youngest of three boys, and later studied at Capilano University Gao and fellow male models Sphinx Ting, Victor Chen, and Lan Chun-tien were collectively nicknamed the "Fashion F4", and jointly released a book in 2009. In 2011, he became the first Asian male model for Louis Vuitton. His starring role in the 2016 drama Remembering Lichuan (alongside Jiao Junyan, and others) was widely acclaimed and earned him the nickname of the "nation's husband" in Chinese media. and the 2017 romantic comedy film Love is a Broadway Hit, alongside Wang Likun, Wang Chuanjun, Yuan Li and Naren Weiss.

Death On 27 November 2019, Gao collapsed in Ningbo while filming Chase Me, a sports reality television series broadcast on Zhejiang Television. He was taken to a hospital, where after attempts at resuscitation for nearly three hours, he was pronounced dead. His agency JetStar Entertainment published the death announcement on Sina Weibo.

Gao's death prompted increased scrutiny of the series, which involves contestants competing in physically strenuous challenges late at night, and of the safety standards of Chinese reality television productions more broadly. Gao had reportedly been filming for 17 hours at the time of his collapse; actor and director Xu Zheng stated that the series' producers "must be held responsible" for what he claimed were poor health and safety conditions. In a statement on Sina Weibo, Zhejiang Television stated that they were "deeply regretful and sorry for the irreparable and serious consequences that this incident has caused, and are willing to take up responsibility."

Gao's body was moved to a funeral home in Ningbo on 28 November 2019, and returned to Taiwan on 2 December 2019. Gao's funeral, a Buddhist ceremony per the request of Gao's mother, was held in Taiwan on 15 December 2019. His remains are interred at Chin Pao San.

Filmography Film + Title Year Role Notes All About Women 2008 X Toy Story 3 2010 Ken Mandarin version, Voice 101 Proposals 2013 Xu Zhuo Main role The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones 2013 Magnus Bane Supporting role Wedding Bible 2015 Chikai Main role Min & Max 2016 Zhang Xiao Main role My Other Home 2017 Yang Xi Ya Supporting role Love is a Broadway Hit 2017 Song Wei Dong Main role Legend of the Ancient Sword 2018 Xia Yize Main role Shanghai Fortress 2019 Yang Jiannan Supporting role Lost in Russia 2020 Michael Cameo

Television series + Title Year Role Notes The Kid from Heaven 2006 Luo Yixiang Second Lead The Magicians of Love 2006 Xiao Ling's boyfriend Cameo Bull Fighting 2007 Tank Supporting role Momo Love 2009 Chen He Supporting role Volleyball Lover 2010 Bai Qian Rui Main role Odd Perfect Match 2010 Ying Kai Tai Main role The Queen of SOP 2012 Gao Zi Qi Main role Never Give Up Dodo 2013 Xiu Fei Main role Only If I Love You 2014 Yan Jun Special guest Ep. 1, 4, 5, 10–12 & 20 God of War, Zhao Yun 2015 Lü Bu Supporting role Ep. 1, 2, 4, 7–11, 16, 19, 25, 30, 31 & 36 Remembering Lichuan 2016 Wang Lichuan Main role The Gravity of a Rainbow 2019 Ji Huang Main role We Are All Alone 2020 Mo Bei Main role We Are All Alone: Special 2020 Mo Bei Main role

Awards 2017 The Jade Pendant Most Popular Actor Golden Angel Awards