Bruce Lee co-star Shih Kien dies at 96

HONG KONG (AP) - Veteran Hong Kong actor Shih Kien, who played Bruce Lee's archrival in the 1973 movie "Enter the Dragon," has died at age 96.

"With his death, Hong Kong has lost an outstanding performing arts talent," Acting Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So said in a statement.

Shih died Wednesday afternoon at a Hong Kong hospital with his children by his side, the Ming Pao Daily News reported Friday. The cause was kidney failure, the Apple Daily newspaper said.

Shih made his film debut in 1940 and went on to act in about 350 films, most notably playing villains in films about Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hong, according to Ming Pao.

He was best known to Western audiences for playing the evil martial arts expert Han in "Enter the Dragon." In the movie, Lee's character is hired by a foreign government to infiltrate Han's island and seeks to avenge his sister's death by Han's bodyguard.

Hong Kong's movie industry mourned Shih's death, with "Infernal Affairs" star Tony Leung Chiu-wai saying he was a big fan of the late actor.

"I grew up watching Uncle Kien's movies. He's an actor I admire and respect a lot. I'm very sad that he has passed away," Apple Daily quoted Leung as saying, referring to Shih by his nickname.