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LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT/NBC/1999+
**(B.D. Wong) Dr. George Huang, a forensic psychiatrist working for the Police
Department and District Attorney's in New York City. He is usually asked to
observe or interview suspects or give advise on the motives or modus operendi of
the criminal mind. His other television appearances include the HBO film And the
Band Played On; the sitcom ALL AMERICAN GIRL/ABC/1994-95, as Stuart Kim,
Margaret Kim's Goody Two-shoes older cardiologist brother; and as prison
chaplain Father Ray Mukada on the HBO series OZ. Wong was born and raised in San
Francisco.
LONGSTREET/ABC/1971-72
**(Bruce Lee) Li Tsung, an oriental self-defense instructor who taught martial
arts to Mike Longstreet, a blind insurance investigator.
MacGYVER/ABC/1985-92
**(Michele B. Chan) Sue Ling, foster daughter of Angus "Mac" MacGyver, a
survival expert and scientific genius working for the Phoenix Foundation.
MAJOR DEL CONWAY OF THE FLYING TIGERS/SYN/1953
**(Warren Nsien) Joe Suie, an oriental pilot who belonged to the Flying Tigers,
a group of volunteer American pilots stationed in China to battle the attacking
Japanese Zeros aircraft. The back of Joe's jacket as all the Flying Tigers
displayed the image of the Chinese flag. Each of the Flying Tigers received $500
each for every Aero they downed. The series was based on the real American
pilots who were sent to China prior to the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor to
fight invading Japanese aircraft Statistically, the Flying Tigers were
outnumbered eight to one. From its inception in 1941 until disbandment on July
4, 1942, when it was absorbed into the US Army's 14th Air Force, the AVG Flying
Tigers (The tiger, a symbol of the Chinese Government) was officially credited
with the destruction of 296 Japanese aircraft. On February 22, 1999, the PBS
ninety minute documentary "Fei-Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers" examined the
history of AVG flight group. The Chinese words "Fei-Hu" translates "Shark's
Teeth." On the subject of the Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers group, Winston
Churchill once remarked "God Almighty, I'm glad he's on our side!"
THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS/CBS/1959-63
**(James Yagi/Johnny Lee) Charlie Wong, a Chinese-American businessman and owner
of "Charlie Wong's Ice Cream Parlor," an after school hangout of Dobie Gillis
and his teenage friends from Central High School. The shop sold "31 Celestial
Flabors."
MARCO POLO/NBC/1982 (Miniseries)
**(Ying Ruocheng) Kubla Khan, the thirteenth-century leader of Cambulac
(present-day Peking) who was visited by Venetian traveler Marco Polo in 1275.
Other cast included Beulah Quo as Chabi; Junichi Ishida as Chinkin; James Hong
as Phags-Pa.
MARTIAL LAW/CBS/1998-2000
*(Sammo Hung Kam-Bo) Captain Sammo Law, the best policeman in China, chases a
master criminal from Shanghai to Los Angeles and ends up joining the LAPD. Sammo
doesn't carry a gun but his formidable barrel-chest and his martial arts skills
helps to get him out of troubles. According to the grapevine it took seven cops
to replace Sammo when he left China (two of which had to retire from
exhaustion). Sammo Hung was born in Hong Kong, the oldest of four children. With
a 220-pound, 5-foot-7 frame, Hung looks "like Dennis Franz and moves like Bruce
Lee." Also featured was Kelly Hu as Grace Chen (Pei Pei), a streetwise martial
arts trained police detective. See also NASH BRIDGES
MEDICINE BALL/FOX/1995
*(Darryl Fong/costar) Dr. Max Chang, an Asian-American first-year resident
physician at a Seattle medical center.
MICKEY/ABC/1964-65
**(Sammee Tong) Sammy Ling, a Chinese-American manager of the Marina Palms hotel
located in Newport Harbors, California. Working with a "lifetime contract"
(given by former owner now deceased) Ling managed to run up high debts, much to
the chagrin of the new owner who inherited the luxurious beachfront property.
MIDNIGHT CALLER/NBC/1988-91
*(Dennis Dun/costar) Billy Po, radio producer/engineer of Chinese descent
working at a late night radio talk show broadcast in San Francisco. Billy Po was
an intelligent Asian with none of the stereotypical trappings (e.g. funny
accent).
MR. GARLUND/CBS/1960-61
*(Philip Ahn/costar) Po Chang, a wealthy Chinese gentleman who raised Caucasian,
Frank Garlund, now a successful international business tycoon. Kam Tong played
Kam Chang, his foster brother who owned a pawn shop in San Francisco's
Chinatown. The title of series later changed to THE GARLUND TOUCH.
MR. MAGOO/SYN/1960-62/NBC/1964-65/CBS/1977-79
**(Cartoon Character) Charlie, an oriental houseboy who worked for the
near-sighted senior citizen, Mr. Magoo (or as Charlie would say "Mr. Maglue").
His character was a stereotype with the long braided pony-tail and large
beaver-toothed smile.
MORTAL KOMBAT: CONQUEST/SYN/1998-1999
*(Jeff Meek as Raven) Kung Lao, a humble exiled Chinese warrior monk who fought
to save the Earth realm from the evil minions of the dark realm call Outworld.
Other cast included as Shang Tsung, an evil banished underworld Lord serving the
Emperor Shou Khan. Jeff Meek as Raven, god of thunder, protector of the Earth
realm; Siro and a thief Taja. A few years before, the cartoon MORTAL KOMBAT: THE
ANIMATED SERIES aired on the USA network from 1995-96 with Brian Tochi as the
voice of Liu Kang.
THE MYSTERY FILES OF SHELBY WOO/NIK/1996-98
*(Irene Ng) Shelby Woo, a 16-year old Asian-American heroine who lives with her
grandfather, Mike Woo, a former cop (Pat Morita) and works as a desk clerk after
school at the local police station, where she finds ways to get involved in
investigations. During the 1998-99 season Shelby moves with her grandpa from
Cocoa Beach, Florida to a Boston suburb on the series' fourth season opener. In
1989, Irene Ng (pronounced Ung) moved from Malaysia to Allentown, Pa. where her
father managed a Chinese restaurant. Additional credits included a four month
role on the ABC soap ALL MY CHILDREN and later the motion pictures "The Joy Luck
Club" and "Heaven & Earth."
MYSTERIES OF CHINATOWN/ABC/1949-50
*(Marvin Miller) Dr Yat Fu, a Chinese-American merchant and amateur
criminologist who owned a herb & curio shop in San Francisco's Chinatown. Marvin
Miller was a Caucasian actor. Also featured was Gloria Sanders as Ah Toy, Yat's
beautiful niece and shop assistant who occasionally helped him solve crimes.
NASH BRIDGES/CBS/1996-2001
**(Kelly Hu) Michelle Chan, a streetwise Chinese-American police detective
(1996-98 season) who assisted white police detective Nash Bridges and his
Mexican-American partner at the Special Investigators Unit in San Francisco.
Before she began her career as an actress, Kelly Hu was the 1985 Miss Teen USA
and later represented her native state of Hawaii in the Miss USA Pageant. Hu has
a brown belt in karate, having been introduced to martial arts as a young girl
by her brother, a captain in the U.S. Army. She was born in Honolulu of Chinese,
Hawaiian and English ancestry.
NASTY BOYS/NBC/1990
*(James Pax/costar) Jimmy Kee, an Asian-American member of a five man team of
Las Vegas narcotic officers known as the Nasty Boys. James Pax's (his real name
was Jimmy Kee) was a native of Hong Kong, a graduate of the New York University
Business School and a former movie star in Asia.
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CHARLIE CHAN/SYN/1957
*(J. Carrol Naish) Charlie Chan, Chinese detective whose patient, deductive
reasoning always cracked the case. Oriental actor James Hong starred as Chan's
"Number one" son, Barry. J.Carrol Naish (an Irish actor) was one of a long line
of non-Chinese actors to portray this oriental sleuth, including Warner Oland,
Sydney Toler, and Roland Winters. The character of Charlie Chan was created by
Earl Derr Biggers and inspired by the real Honolulu detective, Chang Apana.
1986/NBC/1986
*(Connie Chung/co-anchor) Connie Chung, the Chinese-American hostess of this
weekly magazine-of-the-air program co-anchored by newsman Roger Mudd. Connie
Chung later appeared on the NBC EVENING NEWS and on the magazine of the air
program EYE TO EYE. In 1992 she was teamed with Dan Rather on the CBS EVENING
NEWS until 1995 when she was removed as co-anchor.
NOBLE HOUSE (JAMES CLAVELL’S NOBLE HOUSE)/NBC/1988
**(Khigh Dhiegh) Four Finger Wu, Asian drug lord who interacted with warring
business dynasties in Hong Kong. Tia Carrere also appeared as Wu’s mistress. The
four-part miniseries is based on James Clavell’s novel. See also section on
JAPANESE -
“Shogun”
ONE WORLD/NBC/1998-2001
**(Michelle Krusiec) Sui, Asian-American girl adopted into a multi-racial family
supervised by Caucasian Dave Blake and his wife, Karen. She is always looking
for fun., whether it’s competing in soccer tournaments or just shopping at the
mall with her friends. Michelle Krusiec was born in Fallon, Nevada, speaks
Mandarin Chinese and frequently travels to Taiwan to visit family.
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