KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran actor Hussein Abu Hassan died yesterday morning from lung infection and kidney complications. The 70-year-old film and television actor died at 5.30am at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
Hussein Abu Hassan photographed during Hari Raya at his home last month. According to his son, actor Faizal Hussein, 40, his father had been suffering from kidney ailments for the past six years and had been undergoing dialysis treatment.
"He was admitted to the hospital on Saturday after coughing blood. He also had a fever. The whole family was at his side early Sunday and he even smiled and played with my daughter."
However, the family received a call from the doctor early this morning (yesterday morning) saying that my father was in critical condition. "When we arrived at the hospital, the nurses were administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)," Faizal said at Hussein's home in Gombak Setia.
Faizal said Hussein had encouraged his children to excel in their chosen field. Apart from Faizal, Hussein's two other children -- daughters Dilla, 44, and Fairuz, 42 -- are also involved in the entertainment world.
Dilla was formerly a rock singer before turning to scriptwriting, while Fairuz was widely credited as a singer who popularised Malay rhythm and blues songs.Born in Malacca in 1937, Hussein began his acting career as an extra in Seri Mersing (1961). He later starred in films such as Nasib Do Re Mi (1966), Lanang Sejagat (1969), and Bukit Kepong (1981), as well as countless television dramas and telemovies.
The prolific actor also directed four films -- Panglima Badol (1978), Senja Merah (1982), Gila-Gila Remaja (1986) and Kanta Serigala. Fellow actors and others in the entertainment industry including Umie Aida, Kuswadinata, Datuk Aziz Sattar, Julie Dahlan, Nash, Norlia Ghani, Latif Ibrahim, Rosnah Mat Aris and Opie Zamie were at Hussein's residence to pay their last respects.
Abu Bakar Omar, a 59-year-old veteran actor who had acted in television dramas with Hussein, said he learned a lot from the veteran leading man. Hussein was buried at the Taman Ibu Kota Muslim cemetery after Asar prayers.
He is survived by Mahyon, 66, his three children, and four grandchildren, aged between 2 and 23 years old.
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