Madame Gao became one of the more memorable figures in Marvel’s Netflix-era street-level lineup, appearing not only in Daredevil but also in The Defenders and Iron Fist. Not bad for a character who could unsettle a room without needing much volume. Efficiency, frankly.
Perry Yung said she died after a stroke
On Sunday, actor Perry Yung also paid tribute to Ho. Yung appeared with her in the 2018 film High Resolution, where they played the parents of Justin Chon’s character.
“It’s a very emotional moment for all of us who knew Wai Ching Ho,” Yung wrote, adding that the actress “passed away peacefully after a stroke two days ago.”
He recalled seeing her perform on stage, sharing dim sum with her, and watching her support Slant Performance Group productions.
“I even had the enormous good fortune of having played her husband (parents to @justinchon) in the film ‘High Resolution,’” he wrote.
Yung described Ho as “a kind, compassionate human being whose work as an artist lifted every production to a higher standard, and we are better for it.” He ended the tribute: “Rest in power dear friend. 🙏🙏🙏”
A representative for Ho was not immediately available to Page Six for comment.
Fans remembered Madame Gao’s impact
After the tributes were posted, fans filled the comments with condolences and praise for Ho’s Marvel work.
One commenter wrote, “Her performance was so good and haunting at the same time. Condolences and may she RIP.”
Another said, “She was absolutely fantastic. Rest in peace Madame Gao,” while a third called her work as Gao “an absolutely legendary performance.”
The reaction tracks with how the role landed. Madame Gao was not always the loudest villain in the room, but Ho played her with a cold precision that made the character feel dangerous even when she barely moved.
Her career extended well beyond Marvel
While Marvel earned Ho a wider international audience, it was only part of a much longer career.
She voiced Grandma Wu in Pixar’s Turning Red, the 2022 animated film centered on a Chinese Canadian teenager dealing with family expectations, adolescence, and a very inconvenient red panda transformation.
Ho also appeared in television series including:
- Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens
- Only Murders in the Building
- Law & Order
Her work moved across formats without much ceremony: stage, indie film, prestige comedy, network procedural, superhero television, and animation. That range is not accidental. It is the practical résumé of an actor who kept showing up and making scenes sharper than they had any right to be.
