Actress Wai Ching Ho, 82, Madame Gao of Daredevil Dies

Wai Ching Ho, the veteran actress best known for portraying the formidable crime boss Madame Gao in Marvel's Netflix series "Daredevil," "Iron Fist," and "The Defenders," has died. She was 82. Her death was confirmed on July 12, 2026, by tributes from former colleagues, with one source indicating she died after suffering a stroke on July 10.

The news was first shared publicly by actor Peter Shinkoda, who played Nobu Yoshioka opposite Ho's Madame Gao. On Instagram, Shinkoda wrote that he had lost someone very special, adding in a subsequent post, "I won't ever forget you. I learned every minute from you when we were together on and off set. We will meet again, my friend. You were beautiful."

Other collaborators also honored Ho's memory. Actress Mahira Kakkar, who shared a dressing room with Ho during a 2018 stage production of "Henry VI," described her as warm, funny, and a pillar for those lacking mentors in the industry. Kakkar called Ho a "stellar human and a stellar artist" and an example of how to live. Filmmaker and actress Judy Lei recalled Ho's kindness and professionalism on the set of her first film in 2019, noting that Ho never displayed disappointment in her lack of...