Spencer Chan

American character actor
Spencer Chan
Chan in Woman on the Run (1950)
Born(1892-03-28)March 28, 1892
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 1988(1988-01-12) (aged 95)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationCharacter actor
Years active1936–1974

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]

Biography

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

  • 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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Landesman, Fred (August 13, 2015). The John Wayne Filmography. McFarland. p. 23. ISBN 9781476609225 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ 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. Closed access icon
  4. ^ Chandler, Robert (2004). California: An Illustrated History. Hippocrene Books. p. 96. ISBN 0781810345 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Riesel, Victor (October 25, 1947). "Coast Communists Seek Control of Film Unions". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. Retrieved November 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Spencer E. Chan". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 17, 1988. Retrieved September 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ 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

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