By James Griffiths and Isaac Yee, CNN
(CNN) — A celebrity contestant died Wednesday after collapsing during the production of a reality TV show, his agency said.
Godfrey Gao was 35 years old. He died of a heart attack, the Taiwan News reported.
The actor and model was competing on the Chinese show whose name translates as “Chase Me” when he “suddenly fell down to the ground while running,” said a statement from the producers. He was treated on the set, then taken to a hospital, where he died about three hours later, JetStar Entertainment said.
On the show, the regular cast competes against celebrity guests in a variety of physical challenges on a course like that of “American Ninja Warrior.” It began airing this month; three episodes have been released.
The Singapore-based news website Mothership reported a campaign on social media to shut down production of “Chase Me,” with allegations that other contestants have been in physical danger. Video clips showed two of them having to be rescued after becoming stuck in a deep ball pit.
Gao, who was born in Taiwan and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, was the first Asian man to model for fashion brand Louis Vuitton.
He appeared alongside Lena Headey and Lily Collins in the 2013 film “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” and acted in numerous Chinese-language TV shows, according to his IMDb page. He was the voice of Ken in the Taiwanese version of “Toy Story 3.”
The-CNN-Wire
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