The famous crosstalk performing artist Li Wenhua passed away at 1:09 AM on May 9 in Beijing due to ineffective treatment of chronic pulmonary heart disease caused by laryngeal cancer. He was 82 years old.
According to a staff member of the Chinese Quyi Association named Liang Gang, vice chairman Jiang Kun sent a text message on the morning of May 9 saying that Li Wenhua had passed away that morning and would be receiving condolences at his home for three consecutive days starting from May 10.
Li Wenhua was born in Beijing in 1927. In 1946, he became a spray painter at Xingping Machinery Factory. In 1962, he was transferred to the China Broadcasting Art Troupe's Storytelling and Singing Group. Starting from 1978, he performed with Jiang Kun and created many popular works such as "Such Photography", "Great-grandfather's Troubles", "Poetry and Love", "Injection", "Drunkenness". In 1985, he was rated as one of the top ten comedians in the country. In 1983, Li Wenhua was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and underwent a total laryngectomy in 1985, which left him unable to speak and forced him to leave the beloved crosstalk stage.