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Spencer Chan 
Summary
Spencer Chan (March 28, 1892[1] – January 12, 1988) was an American character actor of Chinese descent. He had a long career in numerous films.[2]
Spencer Chan | |
|---|---|
 Chan in Woman on the Run (1950) | |
| Born | March 28, 1892 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 1988 (aged 95) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Character actor |
| Years active | 1936–1974 |
Biography edit
Chan was born in Los Angeles, California, to Kui Sing Chan (a pastor and court interpreter) and Loy Yau.[3] His parents were Chinese immigrants, and they owned a house in Los Angeles's Boyle Heights neighborhood. Chan graduated college at the University of Southern California.[3][4]
Chan began appearing in Hollywood films in the 1930s, and also worked as an interpreter and casting agent when a script called for Chinese actors.[5] Chan was considered an "atmosphere" player, along with Willie Fung, Frank Chew, Richard Loo and others.[6]
Chan died in January 1988 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 95.[7] He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.[8]
Selected filmography edit
- Oh, Susanna! (1936) - Chinaman (uncredited)
- The General Died at Dawn (1936) - Killer (uncredited)
- Mad Holiday (1936) - Chinese Man (uncredited)
- Swing High, Swing Low (1937) - Cook (uncredited)
- Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) - Chinese Freight Elevator Operator (uncredited)
- Trade Winds (1938) - Smoke Shop Customer (uncredited)
- The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) - Chinese Guest (uncredited)
- The Tuttles of Tahiti (1942) - Chauffeur / Chinese Servant (uncredited)
- Wake Island (1942) - Japanese Captain (uncredited)
- Across the Pacific (1942) - Mitsuko - Chief Engineer
- Destination Unknown (1942) - Chinese Servant (uncredited)
- Casablanca (1942) - Guest at Rick's (uncredited)
- The Adventures of Smilin' Jack (1943, Serial) - Kushimi's Henchman [Chs. 12-13] (uncredited)
- Lady of Burlesque (1943) - Chinese Cook (uncredited)
- Behind the Rising Sun (1943) - Japanese Swordsman (uncredited)
- The Purple Heart (1944) - Naval Aide (uncredited)
- Dragon Seed (1944) - Farmer (uncredited)
- Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) - Townsman (uncredited)
- Back to Bataan (1945) - Japanese Man (uncredited)
- First Yank Into Tokyo (1945) - Minor Role (uncredited)
- Lost City of the Jungle (1946, Serial) - Tribal Elder Councilman [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
- Little Mister Jim (1946) - Chinese Clerk (uncredited)
- Canyon Passage (1946) - Miner (uncredited)
- That Brennan Girl (1946) - Chinese Headwaiter (uncredited)
- The Beginning or the End (1947) - Japanese Naval Officer (uncredited)
- Shoot to Kill (1947) - Waiter (uncredited)
- Singapore (1947) - Electrician (uncredited)
- The Sea Hound (1947, Serial) - 'Cookie' Kukai
- The Chinese Ring (1947) - Chinese Officer (uncredited)
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) - Proprietor (uncredited)
- State Department: File 649 (1949) - Chinese Man (uncredited)
- Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture (1949) - Chinese Townsman (uncredited)
- The Stratton Story (1949) - Waiter (uncredited)
- We Were Strangers (1949) - Celebrant (uncredited)
- Lust for Gold (1949) - Townsman (uncredited)
- The Great Sinner (1949) - Gambler (uncredited)
- The Doctor and the Girl (1949) - Man in Clinic (uncredited)
- And Baby Makes Three (1949) - Sidewalk Extra in Chinatown (uncredited)
- Malaya (1949) - Chinese Shipmaster (uncredited)
- The Reformer and the Redhead (1950) - Chinese Laundryman (uncredited)
- Timber Fury (1950) - Chung
- A Lady Without Passport (1950) - Storekeeper (uncredited)
- The Breaking Point (1950) - 1st Chinese Immigrant (uncredited)
- Woman on the Run (1950) - Chinese Waiter (uncredited)
- The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) - Chinese Cook (uncredited)
- Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951) - Wong - the Warden's Houseboy (uncredited)
- China Corsair (1951) - Gambling House Extra (uncredited)
- The Law and the Lady (1951) - Chinese Servant (uncredited)
- The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - Scientific Delegate (uncredited)
- Valley of Fire (1951) - Chinese Waiter (uncredited)
- Hong Kong (1952) - Vendor (uncredited)
- Macao (1952) - Hood (uncredited)
- Cripple Creek (1952) - Ah Fong (uncredited)
- Big Jim McLain (1952) - Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- April in Paris (1952) - Delegate (uncredited)
- Forbidden (1953) - Dr. Chin (uncredited)
- World for Ransom (1954) - Club Patron (uncredited)
- A Star Is Born (1954) - Actor at Payroll Window (uncredited)
- This Island Earth (1955) - Dr. Hu Ling Tang (uncredited)
- Blood Alley (1955) - Villager (uncredited)
- Trial (1955) - Man at Defense Fund Rally (uncredited)
- The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956) - Passerby on Street (uncredited)
- Flight to Hong Kong (1956) - Reporter (uncredited)
- Around the World in 80 Days (1956) - Minor Role (uncredited)
- Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) - Chinese Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
- The Hunters (1958) - Bartender (uncredited)
- Hong Kong Confidential (1958) - Boat Passenger (uncredited)
- Never So Few (1959) - Merchant (uncredited)
- Ice Palace (1960) - Asian Worker (uncredited)
- Walk Like a Dragon (1960) - Man at Slave Auction (uncredited)
- Twenty Plus Two (1961) - Bartender (uncredited)
- Flower Drum Song (1961) - Doctor Chou (uncredited)
- Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) - Commuter at Airport (uncredited)
- The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - Foreign Official (uncredited)
- Once a Thief (1965) - Chinese Priest (uncredited)
- The Phynx (1970) - Meeting Guest (uncredited)
- One More Train to Rob (1971) - Townsman (uncredited)
- Herbie Rides Again (1974) - Man at Building Presentation (uncredited)
- Zandy's Bride (1974) - Chinese Vendor #2 (uncredited) (final film role)
References edit
- ^ Doyle, Billy; Slide, Anthony (1999). The Ultimate Directory of Silent and Sound Era Performers: A Necrology of Actors and Actresses. Scarecrow Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780810835474 – via Google Books.
- ^ Landesman, Fred (August 13, 2015). The John Wayne Filmography. McFarland. p. 23. ISBN 9781476609225 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Ford, Sydney (June 28, 1912). "Women's Work; Women's Clubs". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved November 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Chandler, Robert (2004). California: An Illustrated History. Hippocrene Books. p. 96. ISBN 0781810345 – via Google Books.
- ^ Riesel, Victor (October 25, 1947). "Coast Communists Seek Control of Film Unions". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. Retrieved November 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Slide, Anthony (September 5, 2012). Hollywood Unknowns: A History of Extras, Bit Players, and Stand-Ins. University Press of Mississippi. p. 195. ISBN 9781617034749 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Spencer E. Chan". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 17, 1988. Retrieved September 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
External links edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spencer Chan.
- Spencer Chan at IMDb
- Spencer Chan at the TCM Movie Database
- Spencer Chan at AllMovie
- Rotten Tomatoes profile