Richard Loo Biography

American actor (1903–1983)

Richard Loo (October 1, 1903 – November 20, 1983) was an American film actor who was one of the most familiar Asian character actors in American films of the 1930s and 1940s. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1931 and 1982.

Early life

Chinese by ancestry and Hawaiian by birth, Loo spent his youth in Hawaii, then moved to California as a teenager. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and began a career in business.

Career

The stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent economic depression forced Loo to start over. He became involved with amateur, then professional, theater companies and in 1931 made his first film. Like most Asian actors in non-Asian countries, he played primarily small, stereotypical roles, though he rose quickly to familiarity, if not fame, in a number of films.

His stern features led him to be a favorite movie villain, and the outbreak of World War II gave him greater prominence in roles as vicious *anese soldiers in such successful pictures as The Purple Heart (1944) and God Is My Co-Pilot (1945). Loo was most often typecast as the *anese enemy pilot, spy or interrogator during World War II. In the film The Purple Heart he plays a *anese Imperial Army general who commits suicide because he cannot break down the American prisoners. According to his daughter, Beverly Jane Loo, he didn't mind being typecast as a villain in these movies as he felt very patriotic about playing those parts. He was also considered an "atmosphere" player along with Spencer Chan, Willie Fung and Frank Chew.

In 1944 he appeared as a Chinese army lieutenant opposite Gregory Peck in The Keys of the Kingdom. He had a rare heroic role as a war-weary *anese-American soldier in Samuel Fuller's Korean War cl*ic The Steel Helmet (1951), but he spent much of the latter part of his career performing stock roles in films and minor television roles.

In 1974 he appeared as the Thai billionaire ty* Hai Fat in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, opposite Roger Moore and Christopher Lee.

Loo was also a teacher of Shaolin monks in three episodes of the 1972–1975 hit TV series Kung Fu and made a further three appearances as a different character. His last acting appearance was in The Incredible Hulk TV series in 1981, but he continued to act in Toyota commercials into 1982. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage on November 20, 1983.

Personal life

Loo's first wife, Bessie Sue, was a well-known Hollywood agent. They had twin daughters Angela Marie Loo and Beverly Jane Loo. Beverly Loo was prominent in publishing, while Angela Loo Levy was a Hollywood agent and accomplished ski patroller. Richard Loo remained with his second wife, Hope, until his death in 1983 at the age of 80. He had a stepdaughter, Christel Hope Mintz.

Filmography

Loo in The Purple Heart (1944)
  • War Correspondent (1932) as Bandit (uncredited)
  • The Secrets of Wu Sin (1932) as Charlie San
  • The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1933) as Capt. Li
  • Now and Forever (1934) as Hotel clerk (uncredited)
  • Student Tour (1934) as Geisha's customer (uncredited)
  • The Painted Veil (1934) as Chinese peasant (uncredited)
  • Limehouse Blues (1934) as Customer at Harry Young's (uncredited)
  • The Mysterious Mr. Wong (1934) as Bystander outside store (uncredited)
  • Stranded (1935) as Chinese groom (uncredited)
  • Captured in Chinatown (1935) as Ling hatchet man (uncredited)
  • Shadows of the Orient (1935) as Yung Yow - Chinese henchman (uncredited)
  • China Seas (1935) as Chinese inspector at gangplank (uncredited)
  • Roaming Lady (1936) as Chinese man (uncredited)
  • Shadow of Chinatown (1936 serial) as Loo, Chinese man on street ( Chapters 5–7) (uncredited)
  • Mad Holiday (1936) as Li Yat (uncredited)
  • Stowaway (1936) as Chinese merchant (uncredited)
  • After the Thin Man (1936) as Lichee Club headwaiter (uncredited)
  • The Good Earth (1937) as Chinese farmer (uncredited)
  • Lost Horizon (1937) as Shanghai airport official (uncredited)
  • The Soldier and the Lady (1937) as Tartar (uncredited)
  • The Singing Marine (1937) as Shanghai hotel official (uncredited)
  • Outlaws of the Orient (1937) as General (uncredited)
  • That Certain Woman (1937) as Elevator operator (uncredited)
  • West of Shanghai (1937) as Mr. Cheng
  • Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) as Cop at shooting site (uncredited)
  • Blondes at Work (1938) as Sam Wong (uncredited)
  • Too Hot to Handle (1938) as Charlie (uncredited)
  • Shadows Over Shanghai (1938) as Fong
  • North of Shanghai (1939) as Jed's Pilot
  • Panama Patrol (1939) as Tommy Young
  • Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939) as Tong chief
  • Miracles for Sale (1939) as Chinese soldier in demo (uncredited)
  • Lady of the Tropics (1939) as Delaroch's chauffeur (uncredited)
  • Island of Lost Men (1939) as Gen. Ahn Ling
  • Daughter of the Tong (1939) as Wong, hotel clerk
  • Barricade (1939) as Colonel, commander of the rescue party (uncredited)
  • The Fatal Hour (1940) as Jeweler
  • Doomed to Die (1940) as Tong leader
  • Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941) as Henchman (uncredited)
  • They Met in Bombay (1941) as *anese officer (uncredited)
  • Secrets of the Wasteland (1941) as Quan
  • A Yank on the Burma Road (1942) as Commandant (uncredited)
  • Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) as Emperor Hirohito (uncredited)
  • Remember Pearl Harbor (1942) as Mandolin playing *anese radioman (uncredited)
  • Submarine Raider (1942) as Chauffeur Suji (uncredited)
  • Bombs Over Burma (1942) as Col. Kim
  • Little Tokyo, U.S.A. (1942) as Oshima
  • Wake Island (1942) as Mr. Saburo Kurusu (uncredited)
  • Across the Pacific (1942) as First Officer Miyuma
  • Manila Calling (1942) as Filipino (uncredited)
  • Flying Tigers (1942) as Dr. Tsing (uncredited)
  • Road to Morocco (1942) as Chinese announcer (uncredited)
  • City Without Men (1943) as *anese spy (uncredited)
  • Flight for Freedom (1943) as Mr. Yokahata (uncredited)
  • The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943) as General Chan (uncredited)
  • The Falcon Strikes Back (1943) as Jerry
  • China (1943) as Lin Yun
  • Yanks Ahoy (1943) as *anese submarine officer (uncredited)
  • Behind the Rising Sun (1943) as *anese officer dispensing opium (uncredited)
  • Destroyer (1943) as *anese submarine commander (uncredited)
  • So Proudly We Hail! (1943) as *anese radio announcer (voice, uncredited)
  • Jack London (1943) as *anese Amb*ador (uncredited)
  • Rookies in Burma (1943) as Colonel Matsuda (uncredited)
  • The Purple Heart (1944) as Gen. Ito Mitsubi
  • The Story of Dr. W*ell (1944) as Chinese doctor on train (uncredited)
  • The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) as Lt. Shon
  • Betrayal from the East (1945) as Lt. Cmdr. Miyazaki, alias Tani
  • God Is My Co-Pilot (1945) as Tokyo Joe
  • China Sky (1945) as Col. Yasuda
  • China's Little Devils (1945) as Colonel Huraji
  • Back to Bataan (1945) as Maj. Hasko
  • First Yank into Tokyo (1945) as Col. Hideko Okanura
  • Prison Ship (1945) as Capt. Osikawa
  • Tokyo Rose (1946) as Colonel Suzuki
  • The Beginning or the End (1947) as *anese officer (uncredited)
  • Seven Were Saved (1947) as Colonel Yamura
  • Web of Danger (1947) as Wing
  • Beyond Our Own (1947, Short) as James Wong
  • Women in the Night (1948) as Col. Noyama
  • To the Ends of the Earth (1948) as Commissioner Lu (uncredited)
  • Half Past Midnight (1948) as Lee Gow
  • The Cobra Strikes (1948) as Hyder Ali
  • The Golden Eye (1948) as Undetermined Secondary Role (scenes deleted)
  • Rogues' Regiment (1948) as Kao Pang
  • State Department: File 649 (1949) as Marshal Yun Usu
  • The Clay Pigeon (1949) as Ken Tokoyama aka The Weasel
  • Malaya (1949) as Colonel Genichi Tomura
  • The Steel Helmet (1951) as Sgt. Tanaka
  • Chinatown Chump (1951, Short) as Chinese counterfeiter
  • Operation Pacific (1951) as *anese fighter pilot (uncredited)
  • I Was an American Spy (1951) as Col. Masamato
  • 5 Fingers (1952) as *anese Amb*ador (uncredited)
  • Target Hong Kong (1953) as Fu Chao
  • Destination Gobi (1953) as Commanding Officer, *anese POW camp (uncredited)
  • China Venture (1953) as Chang Sung
  • Hell and High Water (1954) as Hakada Fujimori
  • The Shanghai Story (1954) as Junior officer
  • Living It Up (1954) as Dr. Lee
  • The Bamboo Prison (1954) as Commandant Hsai Tung
  • Soldier of Fortune (1955) as General Po Lin
  • House of Bamboo (1955) as Inspector Kita (dubbing Sessue Hayakawa, uncredited)
  • Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955) as Robert Hung
  • The Conqueror (1956) as Captain of Wang's guard
  • Around the World in 80 Days (1956) as Hong Kong saloon manager (uncredited)
  • Battle Hymn (1957) as Gen. Kim
  • The Quiet American (1957) as Mr. Heng
  • Hong Kong Affair (1958) as Li Noon
  • The Scavengers (1959)
  • Espionage: Far East (1961)
  • Seven Women from Hell (1961) as Sgt. Takahashi
  • Confessions of an Opium Eater (1962) as George Wah
  • A Girl Named Tamiko (1962) as Otani
  • Diamond Head (1962) as Yamagata (uncredited)
  • The Sand Pebbles (1966) as Major Chin
  • One More Time (1970) (uncredited)
  • Which Way to the Front? (1970) as *anese naval officer (uncredited)
  • One More Train to Rob (1971) as Mr.Chang
  • Chandler (1971) as Leo
  • The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) as Hai Fat

Television

  • Summer Theater 1 episode (Foo Young) (1953)
  • Fireside Theater 2 episodes (I Cover Korea) (1953) (Major Chang in The Traitor) (1953)
  • December Bride 1 episode (The Chinese Dinner) (1954) as Client
  • My Little Margie 1 episode (San Francisco Story) (1954) as Mr. Tang
  • Cavalcade of America 2 episodes (Ordeal in Burma) (1954) (Ho Chung in Diplomatic Outpost) (1956)
  • TV Reader's Digest 2 episodes (Officer in The Brainwashing of John Hayes) (1955) (Lew Gar Mun in The Smuggler) (1956)
  • Navy Log 1 episode (Dr. Van) (1956) as General Hashimoto
  • Crossroads 1 episode (Calvary in China) (1956) as Colonel
  • The Man Called X 1 episode (**ination) (1956)
  • Four Star Playhouse 1 episode (Wall of Bamboo) (1956) as Jo-Kai
  • Tombstone Territory 1 episode (Tong War) (1958) as Quong Key
  • Hong Kong 2 episodes (Low in The Jade Empress) (1960) (Thug in Suitable for Framing) (1961)
  • Maverick 1 episode (The Golden Fleecing) (1961) as Lee Hong Chang
  • Follow the Sun 1 episode (The Woman Who Never Was) (1961) as District Attorney
  • Bonanza 1 episode (Day of the Dragon) (1961) as General Mu Tsung
  • The Beachcomber 1 episode (Charlie Six Kids) (1962) as Ah Wei
  • Hawaiian Eye 1 episode (Two Too Many) (1963) as C.K. Yang
  • The Dakotas 1 episode (The Chooser of the Slain) (1963) as George Yang
  • The Outer Limits 1 episode (The Hundred Days of the Dragon) (1963) as Li-Chin Sung
  • Wagon Train 1 episode (The Widow O'Rourke Story) (1963) as Liu Yang
  • Perry Mason 1 episode (The Case of the Floating Stones) (1963) as Mr. Eng
  • I Spy 1 episode (So Long, Patrick Henry) (1965) as Mr. Tsung
  • Honey West 1 episode (The Owl and the Eye) (1965) as Tog-Chinese fine arts thief
  • Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 1 episode (Timebomb) (1965) as Li Tung
  • Burke's Law 1 episode (Deadlier Than the Male) (1965) as Gr* Slipper
  • The Wackiest Ship in the Army 2 episodes (Admiral Osuma in The Lamb Who Hunted Wolves: Parts I & II) (1966)
  • The Wild Wild West 1 episode (The Night the Dragon Screamed) (1966) as Wang Chung
  • I Dream of Jeannie 1 episode (Jeannie and the Kidnap Caper) (1966) as Wong
  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 1 episode (The Indian Affairs Affair) (1966) as Dr. Yahama
  • Family Affair 1 episode (The Mother Tongue) (1967) as Mr. Chen
  • My Three Sons 1 episode (Weekend in Paradise) (1967) as Mr. Chang
  • Hawaii Five-O 1 episode (Twenty-Four Karat Kill) (1968) as Wong Tou
  • It Takes a Thief 3 episodes (Clown in A Case of Red Turnips) (1968) (Dr. Langpoor in Payoff in the Piazza) (1969) (Wong in Project X) (1970)
  • Marcus Welby, M.D. 1 episode (A Matter of Humanities) (1969) as Kenji Yama*a
  • Here Comes the Brides 1 episode (Marriage, Chinese Style) (1969) as Chi Pei
  • Bewitched 1 episode (Samantha's Better Halves) (1970) as Mr. Tanaka
  • The Sixth Sense 1 episode (With This Ring, I Thee Kill) (1972) as Matsuo
  • The Delphi Bureau 1 episode (The Deadly Little Errand) (1972) as Shen Si
  • Kung Fu 6 episodes (Master Sun in Pilot (1972) Blood Brother (1973) Besieged: Cannon at the Gates (1974)) (Chen in The Tong) (1973) (Wu Chang in Arrogant Dragon) (1974) (Ho Fai, the weapons master in The Devil's Champion) (1974)
  • Ironside 1 episode (In the Forests of the Night) (1973) as Lin Chu Tai
  • McCloud 1 episode (The Solid Gold Swingers) (1973) as Y.S. Chen (uncredited)
  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law 1 episode (The Attacker) (1974) as Tanaka
  • Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur TV movie (1976) as Chiang-Kai-Shek
  • The Quest 1 episode (Welcome to America, Jade Snow) (1976) as Dr. Li Po
  • Police Story 1 episode (The Blue Fog) (1977) as Eddie Lee
  • The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries 1 episode (The Secret of the Jade Kwan Yin) (1977) as Chen Lee
  • The Incredible Hulk 1 episode (East Winds) (1981) as Kam Chong (final appearance)

References

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Loo.
    • Richard Loo at IMDb:
    • Richard Loo at the Internet Broadway Database
    • Richard Loo Papers at the American Heritage Center
    • Groundbreaking Character Actor Richard Loo at AHC blogs

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    Richard Loo