'Daredevil' actress Wai Ching Ho dies at 82
"Daredevil" star Wai Ching Ho, who played Madame Gao in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has died. She was 82.
The Hong Kong-born actress' representative confirmed her death to USA TODAY on Sunday, July 12. Ho's family shared a statement that read: "Her family are deeply grateful for the incredible outpouring of love and support and the many beautiful messages and memories people have shared about our beloved Wai.
"Reading how much she meant to so many is comforting to us during this difficult time," the statement added.
Ho's debut as Madame Gao, cofounder of the ancient criminal organization the Hand, came in Season 1 of Netflix's "Daredevil," which was released in 2015. She returned for a one-episode arc in Season 2 and reprised her role in the first season of the Netflix series "Iron Fist" (2017) as well as "The Defenders."
Her acting career started with an appearance in the 1990 Robin Williams film "Cadillac Man," according to IMDB. Among her dozens of other onscreen roles were "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "SVU," "Flight of the Conchords," "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," "Orange Is the New Black," "Fresh Off the Boat," "Hustlers," the Disney animated film "Turning Red," and "Only Murders in the Building."
Wai Ching Ho remembered as a Hollywood 'pillar' and role model
"Daredevil" costar Peter Shinkoda paid tribute to Ho as a mentor in a July 11 Instagram post, in which he wrote: "I won't ever forget you. I learned every minute from you when we were together on and off set."
"I know wisdom - Idd hang on your every word," his caption continued. "We will meet again, my friend. You were beautiful."
Mahira Kakkar, who acted alongside Ho in a stage production of "Henry VI" in 2018, recognized Ho as not only a "wonderful" stage actor but also a role model and "pillar" in the industry.
"I had the enormous good fortune to work with Wai Ching Ho and to share a dressing room with her. She was incredible- warm, funny, caring, joyful, positive and a truly wonderful actor," Kakkar wrote in a July 11 Instagram caption.
"She would say to us- Eat two slices of raw ginger every day and you won't get sick! For those of us who did not have a lot of role models and mentors in the industry, Wai was a pillar. I am deeply grateful I got to know her and I am very sad she is gone," Kakkar continued. "She also utterly refused to speak ill of anyone. My dear Wai you deserve all the standing ovations- what a stellar human and a stellar artist. What an example of how to live."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Daredevil' actress Wai Ching Ho dies at 82
Reporting by KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 3:01 PM.