Jin Ze, Chinese actor known for romance dramas, dies at 33

Chinese actor Jin Ze, known for his roles in romance dramas and short-form series, has died at age 33. His agency, Shengshi Guangnian Culture Co., Ltd., confirmed on June 6 that he passed away at his home in Hangzhou on June 4, 2026. No cause of death has been disclosed.

Born Zhang Jiawei on January 30, 1993, in Weihai, Shandong Province, Jin Ze graduated from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and initially worked as a model before transitioning to acting. He built a devoted following through roles in dramas including Hello Joann, Begin Again, Legally Romance, Fake Princess, Beauty Reborn, and Don’t Negotiate with Your Boss, establishing himself as a familiar face in both traditional television and China’s rapidly expanding short-form content market.

At the time of his death, several of Jin Ze’s projects remained unreleased. Among them was Waiting for the Flowers to Bloom, Waiting for Your Return, which had attracted 1.48 million reservations on the Hongguo Short Drama platform ahead of its premiere. Just weeks before his passing, on May 6, he had posted on his Sina Weibo account—which has over five million followers—announcing that filming had wrapped on one of his latest projects.

His agency described him as an outstanding young actor and model, requesting that the public respect his family’s privacy during funeral arrangements and avoid spreading unverified information. Singaporean actress Eleanor Lee, who appeared with him in Fake Princess and Give You My Heart, posted an emotional tribute on social media following the news.

Sources

• The Indian Express — Confirmed his death at 33 on June 4 in Hangzhou, his real name, birth date, agency statement, his drama roles, and upcoming projects with reservation numbers.
• Free Press Journal — Confirmed his death at 33, birth date, location, agency statement, his drama roles, and Eleanor Lee’s tribute.
• Global Times — Confirmed his death at 33 and agency confirmation.