Veteran actor Kim Sun-cheol has been dead for 22 years.
On Feb. 24, 2024, Kim Sun-cheol died of chronic illness at his home in Seobinggo-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul. He was 67.
The late actor, who had long been willing to donate his organs, had pledged since 1991 to donate his organs and body after death, and accordingly his family held a memorial service without a funeral and donated his body to Seoul National University Hospital.
A graduate of Seorabeol Arts College, the late actor passed TBC's inaugural recruitment in 1957 and was loved for his unpretentious, everyman performances in dramas such as "Dalbit Gajok" and "Ya Gomrye." In 1960, as a founding member of the experimental theater, he was a leading member alongside Oh Hyunkyung, Lee Soon-jae and Lee Nak-hoon. Afterwards, he solidified his standing by appearing in about 200 plays, including "Maengjinsa's house celebration."
However, the late actor suffered from diabetes for about 10 years before his death and, after briefly appearing in the 1998 historical drama "Tears of the Dragon," he was unable to appear on broadcasts again.
Kim Jae-hyung, a producer who was known to have been friends with the late actor for about 40 years, recalled of the late Kim Sun-cheol, "He could not just pass by when he saw someone in need, and he treated theater like a faith and acted diligently."
Meanwhile, the late Lee Soon-jae, who had been the oldest active actor, appeared on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block" and, missing his TBC inaugural classmates, mentioned the late actor.
At the time, Lee Soon-jae said, "Lee Nak-hoon, Kim Dong-hoon, Kim Sung-ok, Kim Sun-cheol, Oh Hyunkyung, Lee Soon-jae. They were the ones who opened TBC. They all went before me. Now only I remain. You only have to follow me," expressing his heavy heart. Afterwards, the late Lee Soon-jae died on Nov. 25, 2025, at the age of 91.
[Photo] Broadcast capture
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