Born in Fuyu County in Jilin Province in 1959, Gao entered a local folk art troupe in 1982 as an actress. With her natural-born talents in singing, dancing, and performing, she was appraised as a National Second-class Actress in 1986. She kept improving herself in her business, and brought laughter to the people around, both on and off the stage. After their marriage, He and Gao put "family business" in skit shows. He devoted himself to writing skit scripts that were suitable for Gao's performance.

Gao Xiumin (高秀敏), one of the most popular comedians on television in China, died of a sudden heart attack in her home in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin Province at the age of 46. Her death on August 18, 2005 is considered a great loss for the bourgeoning entertainment and television show business in the country.

Gao won national renown with her vivid portrayals of middle-aged rural women or urban workers in short drama skits in TV variety shows, especially in the Spring Festival Show, one of the most popular programs broadcast live over China Central Television, the national TV network. She had not missed a show since 1983.

Gao also acted in TV dramas. Ding Xiang, a kind and straightforward middle-aged rural woman she played in Liu Laogen, a popular comedy on the rural life of Northeast China, won great applause among the TV viewers. She also worked as a producer in a TV drama starring her and her husband He Qingkui, a playwright who wrote many of the popular skits that she performed.

Road to Art

Born in Fuyu County in Jilin Province in 1959, Gao entered a local folk art troupe in 1982 as an actress. With her natural-born talents in singing, dancing, and performing, she was appraised as a National Second-class Actress in 1986. She kept improving herself in her business, and brought laughter to the people around, both on and off the stage.

In 1992, she resigned from the troupe and worked as an independent actress until her death. In the same year, Gao divorced from her first husband, but it did not affect her artistic life very much. During those days of her fractured family, she paid even more attention on the performing art, always reminding herself to face truth and life bravely, and to strive for a breakthrough in the business.

Fortunately, she met He Qingkui who really recognized her values. While greatly appreciating her talents in performing art, He also affirmed that Gao could potentially become a good skit performer. Inspired by He's opinion, Gao resolutely resigned from the post of vice president of the county art troupe, and became a common actress in the Jilin Provincial Quyi Troupe, starting her way to the top of the Chinese skit show circle.