China's famous cross-talk master Hou Yaowen died on Saturday died of a massive heart attack at his apartment in Beijing. He was 59.

Hou Yaowen, China's renowned cross-talk master, dies of a sudden heart attack on June 23, 2007 at the age of 59. [Sina.com]

Doctors from Peking University Third Hospital were dispatched immediately to his home in Changping County. Despite 40 minutes of medical treatment, Hou died, said one of Hou's apprentices Wang Yang by telephone.

According to the head of the emergency treatment department at the hospital, Hou showed no signs of life after they rushed to his apartment. "Our preliminary judgment is that he died of a massive heart attack."

He added Hou had no history of heart disease or high blood pressure.

Hou was born in July 1948 in Beijing. He was the son of the late Hou Baolin, a prestigious cross-talk performer. Cross-talkers are usually two actors who stand on a bare stage and banter with each other in a witty conversation.

The younger Hou began his foray into this amusing form of entertainment in 1965. He shot to fame after being named one of the top 10 comic stars in China in 1994.

Many of Hou's friends, mostly his colleagues, sent condolences to his younger brother Hou Yaohua.

On hearing of Hou's death, Guo Degang, a rising cross-talk star,could not stop crying, according to a report by sina.com, one of China's major news portals.

And one of Hou's friends Xiao Lin was in disbelief when he heard the news. "Is the news true?" said Xiao Lin by telephone.

He added that he will keep in touch with Hou's students to help them deal with the tragedy.

Hou's death is one of many of well-known state performers in China.

This May, Chen Xiaoxu, who became a household name for her portrayal of Lin Daiyu in the TV series "A Dream of Red Mansions," died of breast cancer in Shenzhen in Guangdong Province. She was 42.

Two years ago, 46 year-old Gao Xiumin, a reputed amusement performer died of a heart attack at her home.

The death of several performers aged around 50 to 60 has raised concern over their health conditions and has revived calls for regular health check-ups.

"Unhealthy habits were the main cause of a massive heart attack, as well as as too much agitation that can affect the heart," the hospital's head doctor said.

He urged for a nationwide campaign to prevent patients from suffering heart attacks.