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 Posted:   May 24, 2016 - 11:49 AM   
 By:   johnjohnson   (Member)

Born in Manchester, raised in Hong Kong, and eventually graduating from Bowdoin College in the United States, the internationally travelled Burt Kwouk returned to the United Kingdom in 1954 and was soon an actor in great demand owing to his oriental appearance.

On television he worked on a range of productions including The Avengers, The Saint, The Champions and Danger Man; he was a co-star in The Sentimental Agent, playing Chin Sung in 12 of its 13 episodes. He also provided English narration for both The Water Margin and Monkey Magic. On film his first big break was in Inn Of The Sixth Happiness. He later appeared in two of the Sean Connery run of James Bond, Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice, plus the independent film starring David Niven and Peter Sellars, Casino Royale. However, it was alongside Sellars that Kwouk was to achieve 'immortality', playing the kung-fu servant Cato whose ambushes against Inspector Clouseau became key scenes to look forward to!

In 1982 he took on the role of the Mandarin leader Lin Futo in Four to Doomsday, acting alongside a fresh-faced Time Lord Peter Davison in his first filmed story. He was to later return to Doctor Who as Doctor Hayashi, again alongside Davison, in the Big Finish adventure Loups-Garoux

Other television roles included Major Yamauchi in the prisoner-of-war drama series Tenko, Mr Lee in Howard's Way, Philip Chen in Noble House, and Peter Lo-Ching in The House of Elliot; in film he played Mr Chen in Empire of the Sun, General Lu Soong in Air America and Fu King in I Bought A Vampire Motorcycle. He became a regular on the Harry Hill show between 1997 and 2000, provided voiceovers for Japanese spoof betting show Banzai between 2001 and 2004, and then settled into the role of Entwistle in the BBC's long-running Last of the Summer Wine between 2002 and 2010.

In 2011 he received an OBE for services to drama.


A statement issued by his agent said: "Beloved actor Burt Kwouk has sadly passed peacefully away. The family will be having a private funeral but there will be a memorial at a later date."

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2016/05/burt-kwouk-240516150008.html

 
 Posted:   May 24, 2016 - 11:55 AM   
 By:   RoryR   (Member)

Always enjoyed spotting him in things. Glad he enjoyed a long life.

 
 Posted:   May 24, 2016 - 12:20 PM   
 By:   WILLIAMDMCCRUM   (Member)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36370997

 
 
 Posted:   May 24, 2016 - 2:01 PM   
 By:   Rameau   (Member)

What a full & interesting career, he seems to have popped up on films & TV I've watched all my life.

 
 Posted:   May 24, 2016 - 3:57 PM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

Not Burt?????!!!!!!!!!

"Theeez men widing are outlaws...."

 
 Posted:   May 24, 2016 - 9:21 PM   
 By:   CindyLover   (Member)

On television he worked on a range of ITC productions including The Avengers

This was not from ITC...

 
 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 6:12 AM   
 By:   Tall Guy   (Member)

What a full & interesting career, he seems to have popped up on films & TV I've watched all my life.


Absolutely - always a pleasure watching him.

 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 12:19 PM   
 By:   johnjohnson   (Member)

On television he worked on a range of ITC productions including The Avengers

This was not from ITC...


Corrected.

Doctor Who sites...roll eyes

 
 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 1:35 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Burt Kwouk's first credited feature film role was in 1958's THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS. Mark Robson directed the Ingrid Bergman film. Malcolm Arnold's score was released on a 20th Fox LP, but has only had a gray market CD appearance.

 
 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 1:44 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Kwouk played a Japanese soldier in the Hammer war film YESTERDAY'S ENEMY. The film was based upon a play by Peter R. Newman, in which Kwouk had played the same role. Val Guest directed the 1959 production. The film had no credited score.

 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 1:51 PM   
 By:   'Lenny Bruce' Marshall   (Member)

too bad they never devised a film where Kwouk could fight Harold Sakata!!!!!

rip
bruce

 
 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 1:53 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Christopher Lee received top billing in his first Hammer film for 1961's THE TERROR OF THE TONGS. Burt Kwouk was one of the few people in the film actually of Chinese descent and the only one with more than a few lines. He played "Mr. Ming," a brave but ill-fated businessman. Anthony Bushell directed the film. James Bernard composed the unreleased score.

 
 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 2:14 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Kwouk had a small role in Leo McCarey's 1962 drama SATAN NEVER SLEEPS, which was based on a novel by Pearl S. Buck. In addition to using sets (and actors) from "The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness", this film also used several locations that had been seen in the earlier film, in the Snowdonia mountain region of Wales. The Richard Rodney Bennett score has not had a release.

 
 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 2:33 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Kwouk had an uncredited role as an aircrew member in the 1962 Steve McQueen war drama THE WAR LOVER. Philip Leacock directed the film, which was based on John Hersey's novel. Richard Addisell's score has not had a release.

 
 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 2:51 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Burt Kwouk made his first appearance as "Kato" in 1964's A SHOT IN THE DARK. In the film, "Kato" is a Japanese character named for the similar character Kato in the Green Hornet radio programs and film serials of the 1930s and '40s.



 
 
 Posted:   May 25, 2016 - 11:36 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Burt Kwouk played one of the villain's henchmen, "Mr. Ling," in 1964's GOLDFINGER.





 
 
 Posted:   May 26, 2016 - 12:00 AM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

In 1965's CURSE OF THE FLY, Burt Kwouk and Yvette Rees play loyal Asian servants named "Tai" and "Wan" (get it?). Don Sharp directed the film, the second and last sequel to 1958's THE FLY. Bert Shefter's score was played by the New Philharmonia Orchestra, and was released by Percepto in 2002.

 
 
 Posted:   May 26, 2016 - 12:09 AM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Kwouk worked with director Don Sharp again in his next film, 1966's BANG! BANG! YOU'RE DEAD!. He played an "Export Analysis Manager." Malcolm Lockyer's score has not had a release.

 
 
 Posted:   May 26, 2016 - 12:18 AM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

1966's LOST COMMAND followed a French Army Colonel (Anthony Quinn) in battle in both Vietnam and Algeria. Kwouk played a Vietnamese officer in the film, which was directed by Mark Robson (THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS). Franz Waxman's score, his last for a feature film, has not had a legitimate release.

 
 
 Posted:   May 26, 2016 - 12:22 AM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU was Kwouk's third and final film for director Don Sharp and his second with Christopher Lee. Kwouk played Fu Manchu's loyal assistant "Feng." Johnny Douglas and Bruce Montgomery scored the film.

 
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