‘Die Hard’ Actor Hospitalized After Stroke, New Report Reveals

For decades, one face showed up again and again as the henchman audiences loved to watch lose. He rarely had much dialogue, and sometimes his character barely had a name, but action fans always knew exactly who he was. That’s the legacy of Al Leong, the actor, martial artist, and stuntman who became a cult favorite of 1980s and 1990s action cinema.

Leong, who is 74, built his career on small but memorable roles. He was cast as Endo, a mercenary specializing in torture, in ‘Lethal Weapon’ in 1987, according to TMZ, and the following year he played the terrorist Uli in ‘Die Hard’. That role, in which Uli breaks into a candy machine and takes a chocolate bar, turned a few minutes of screen time into a fan favorite.

Now fans are sending their thoughts to Leong after TMZ reported that he was hospitalized last week after suffering a stroke in California. Sources close to his family told the outlet he was rushed to the hospital, but they wouldn’t say whether he’s still there or shed light on his condition. As a result, there’s no confirmed update on his recovery.

Leong’s résumé reads like a tour of classic action cinema. He collaborated with director John Carpenter on ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ in 1986 and ‘They Live’ in 1988, and he played Genghis Khan in the comedy ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ in 1989. He also appeared opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in ‘Death Warrant’ and Brandon Lee in ‘Rapid Fire’.

On television, he popped up in shows like ‘The A-Team’ and ‘MacGyver’ and had a recurring role in the first season of ’24’. As a stuntman, he worked on films including ‘Last Action Hero’, and he also served as a stunt coordinator. His signature look, including long hair and a Fu Manchu mustache, made him instantly recognizable.

The characters Leong played usually met a dramatic end, but his skills were never in doubt. He trained in several martial arts and was a prominent figure on the martial arts tournament circuit in the 1970s. In 2014, he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.

His story has also been told on screen. ‘Henchman: The Al Leong Story’, a documentary by Vito Trabucco, chronicles his life with help from friends and colleagues, including director John Carpenter. In interviews, Leong has said he originally wanted to be a rock star and got into stunt work almost by accident, and he has described himself as a stunt performer rather than an actor.

Since the news broke, fans and members of the martial arts community have been sharing messages of support online. Leong is listed as retired from the film industry, and the goodwill around him reflects how many viewers grew up cheering for the henchman who never got the final scene. He has faced serious health challenges before, including brain cancer in 1993 and a stroke in 2005, which has only deepened affection for him.

For now, the focus is on his health and privacy. TMZ’s report is based on unnamed sources close to the family, and no further details have been released. Updates will likely come from his family or representatives if and when they choose to share them.

In the meantime, there’s no better time to revisit the work that made him a legend. From a chocolate bar in Nakatomi Plaza to a hatchet man in Chinatown, Leong’s screen presence has entertained audiences for decades.

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