Taiwanese comedian Chu Ke-liang dies at 70

After a two-year struggle with terminal colorectal cancer, veteran Taiwanese comedian Chu Ke-liang has died at 70 from liver failure.

According to the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei, the actor died peacefully in his sleep at 5.08am.

"We hope he will continue to bring laughter in heaven," said the family, who released at statement around 7am.

The veteran entertainer was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and had undergone surgery in October last year.

Chu is best known for his distinctive hairstyle, dubbed "toilet lid", and his quirky choice of clothing: a dinner jacket with a bowtie, bermuda shorts, black shoes and white socks.

His daughter, renowned singer Jeannie Hsieh, had reconciled with him two months ago. The two were estranged after Chu racked up gambling debts of close to NT$1 billion (S$46.5 million) in the late 90s.

Chu went into hiding before resurfacing in 2010 and took on a number of movies and TV shows, where he is best known for his coarse humour and slapstick comedy.

At a concert last year, Hsieh also revealed her father's complicated past and infidelities, among other allegations. Her father had then called her "poisonous and vicious".

Chu was married four times and leaves behind two sons and three daughters.

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klim@sph.com.sg