Benson Fong
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Benson Fong (Chinese: 鄺炳雄, pinyin: Kuàng Bǐngxióng; born October 10, 1916; died August 1, 1987) was a Chinese American character actor. He was born in Sacramento, California. He was from a mercantile family. After graduating from high school in Sacramento, he studied briefly in China before joining relatives in commercial activities in California.
Beginning in 1937, he appeared in minor film roles, though he later had important roles in many films, including The Keys of the Kingdom (1944), His Majesty O'Keefe (1954), Flower Drum Song (1961), and Our Man Flint (1966). During World War II he was often cast in either Japanese or Chinese roles. He was "Tommy Chan," the number three son, in some of the early Charlie Chan movies.
His later career as an actor included many TV appearances. He was "The Old One" in Kung Fu.
Eventually, Fong opened several Ah Fong restaurants in California.
He died in Los Angeles, California, survived by his wife Gloria and five children.
[edit] Partial filmography
- Kung Fu:The Movie (1986) .... The Old One
- The Glitter Dome (1984) .... Wing
- Moonlight (1982) .... Clifford Wu
- Jinxed! (1982) .... Dr. Wing
- S.O.B. (1981) .... Chef
- Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge (1979) .... Min Lo Chan
- Oliver's Story (1978) .... John Hsiang
- He Is My Brother (1976) .... Kiko
- The Strongest Man in the World (1975) .... Ah Fong
- A Time for Love (1974)
- Charley Varrick (1973) .... Honest John
- Kung Fu (1972) .... Han Fei
- Travis Logan, D.A. (1971) .... Alfred Ling
- The Love Bug (1969) .... Mr. Tang Wu
- Our Man Flint (1966) .... Dr. Schneider
- Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) .... Kin Yung
- Flower Drum Song (1961) .... Wang
- Walk Like a Dragon (1960) .... Wu
- Five Gates to Hell (1959) .... Gung Sa
- The Scarlet Hour (1956)
- The Left Hand of God (1955) .... Chun Tien (husband of dying woman)
- Conquest of Space (1955) .... Imoto
- Dragonfly Squadron (1954) .... Capt. Liehtse
- His Majesty O'Keefe (1954) .... Mr. Chou
- Back at the Front (1952) .... Rickshaw boy
- Submarine Command (1952) .... South Korean officer
- Peking Express (1951) .... Wong
- Three Husbands (1951) .... George
- Korea Patrol (1951) .... Kim, So. Korean scout
- Chinatown at Midnight (1949) .... Joe Wing
- Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture (1949) .... Wong's Salescler
- Hazard (1948) .... Houseboy
- Women in the Night (1948) .... Chang
- Calcutta (1947) .... Young Chinese Clerk
- Deception (1946) .... Jimmy, Hollenius' Servant
- Dark Alibi (1946) .... Tommy Chan
- Red Dragon (1945) .... Tommy Chan
- First Yank Into Tokyo (1945) .... Capt. Tanahe
- The Shanghai Cobra (1945) .... Tommy Chan
- Secret Agent X-9 (1945) .... Dr. Hakahima
- Nob Hill (1945) .... Chinese boy
- Back to Bataan (1945) .... Officer making broadcast
- The Scarlet Clue (1945) .... Tommy Chan
- China Sky (1945) .... Chung
- The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) .... Joseph
- Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) .... Young Dr. Chung
- Dragon Seed (1944) .... Sudent
- Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat (1944) .... Tommy Chan, #3 Son
- The Purple Heart (1944) .... Moy Ling
- Up in Arms (1944) .... Japanese sentry
- Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944) .... Tommie Chan
- Destination Tokyo (1943) .... Japanese
- Behind the Rising Sun (1943) .... Japanese Officer with message
- The Fighting Devil Dogs (1938) .... Gehorda outlaw [Ch. 9]
- Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936) .... Opera Extra
