Philip Ahn
Born
March 29, 1905
Died
February 28, 1978 (72 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philip Ahn (born Pil Lip Ahn (안필립), March 29, 1905 – February 28, 1978) was a Korean American actor. He was the first Korean American film actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ahn's first film was A Scream in the Night in 1935. He appeared in the Bing Crosby film Anything Goes, though director Lewis Milestone had initially rejected him because his English was too good for the part. His first credited roles came in 1936 in The General Died at Dawn and Stowaway, opposite Shirley Temple. He starred opposite Anna May Wong in Daughter of Shanghai (1937) and King of Chinatown (1937).
During World War II, Ahn often played Japanese villains in war films. Mistakenly thought to be Japanese, he received several death threats. He enlisted in the United States Army, having served in the Special Services as an entertainer. He was discharged early because of an injured ankle and returned to making films.
Ahn appeared in Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, Around the World in Eighty Days, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Paradise, Hawaiian Style, with Elvis Presley. He got to play Korean characters in Korean War movies such as Battle Circus (1953) and Battle Hymn (1956). In 1952, Ahn made his television debut on the Schlitz Playhouse, a series he would make three additional appearances on. Ahn would also be cast in four episodes of ABC's Adventures in Paradise, four episodes of the ABC/Warner Brothers crime drama Hawaiian Eye, and the CBS crime drama Hawaii Five-O. He made three appearances each on Crossroads, Bonanza, and M*A*S*H. He would also appear in two television movies.
Ahn's most notable television role was as "Master Kan" on the television series Kung Fu. A Presbyterian, Ahn felt that the Taoist homilies his character quoted did not contradict his own religious faith.
The Killer Who Wouldn't Die
Soong
1976
Wonder Woman
Colonel Minh · (1 episode)
1975
Switch
Charlie Kuang · (1 episode)
1975
Police Woman
(2 episodes)
1974
Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita
General Yamashita
1974
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Chang (voice)
1973
The Magician
Chao Liu · (1 episode)
1973
The World's Greatest Athlete
Old Chinaman
1973
Kung Fu
Master Kan · (62 episodes)
1972
The Streets of San Francisco
Mr. Wu · (1 episode)
1972
M*A*S*H
(1 episode)
1972
M*A*S*H
The Father · (1 episode)
1972
M*A*S*H
Korean Grandfather · (1 episode)
1972
Anna and the King
(1 episode)
1972
Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragon
Master Kan
1972
Sanford and Son
(1 episode)
1972
The Sex Serum of Dr. Blake
Mao Tse Tung (uncredited)
1970
Love, American Style
Chow Lee · (1 episode)
1969
Cocoon
Attorney General
1968
Hawaii Five-O
Attorney General · (2 episodes)
1968
Hawaii Five-O
Quon Li · (1 episode)
1968
Hawaii Five-O
Lin Mai-Lu · (1 episode)
1968
It Takes a Thief
Owner · (1 episode)
1968
Mannix
(1 episode)
1967
The Karate Killers
Sazami Kyushu
1967
Ironside
(1 episode)
1967
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Tea
1967
Mission: Impossible
Dr. Liu · (1 episode)
1966
The Time Tunnel
Dr. Nakamura · (1 episode)
1966
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Moki Kaimana
1966
The F.B.I.
Police Chief Henry Nakamura · (1 episode)
1965
The Wild Wild West
(1 episode)
1965
Laredo
(1 episode)
1965
The Big Valley
Chen Yu · (1 episode)
1965
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Dr. Sazami Kyushu · (1 episode)
1964
Shock Corridor
Dr. Fong
1963
A Girl Named Tamiko
Akiba
1962
Diamond Head
Mr. Immacona
1962
Stoney Burke
(1 episode)
1962
Ensign O'Toole
Low Kong · (1 episode)
1962
Confessions of an Opium Eater
Ching Foon
1962
Kraft Mystery Theatre
(1 episode)
1961
One-Eyed Jacks
Uncle
1961
Dragon by the Tail
Lee Chin
1961
The Great Impostor
Capt. Hun Kim
1960
The Islanders
Governor Galli · (1 episode)
1960
My Three Sons
George Wong · (1 episode)
1960
Pete and Gladys
(1 episode)
1960
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
Lee Chin · (1 episode)
1960
Checkmate
(1 episode)
1960
Johnny Midnight
(1 episode)
1960
Never So Few
Nautaung
1959
Hawaiian Eye
(2 episodes)
1959
Hawaiian Eye
Mr. Kwong · (1 episode)
1959
Adventures in Paradise
Ling · (2 episodes)
1959
Adventures in Paradise
Reverend Yen · (1 episode)
1959
Adventures in Paradise
Mr. Chee · (1 episode)
1959
The Rebel
Quong Lee · (1 episode)
1959
The Third Man
(1 episode)
1959
Bonanza
Mr. Lee Chang · (1 episode)
1959
Yesterday's Enemy
Yamazuki
1959
Tightrope
(1 episode)
1959
One Step Beyond
Song · (1 episode)
1959
Lawman
Wong · (1 episode)
1958
Hong Kong Confidential
Tan Chung
1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Tom Wing · (1 episode)
1958
Jefferson Drum
Charles Wong · (1 episode)
1958
Perry Mason
James Wong · (1 episode)
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
(1 episode)
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
W. Chung · (1 episode)
1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Ho-Lung · (1 episode)
1957
The Way to the Gold
Mr. Ding - cafe owner
1957
Battle Hymn
Old Man
1957
Around the World in Eighty Days
Hong Kong Citizen (uncredited)
1956
Hey, Jeannie!
Wong · (1 episode)
1956
Telephone Time
(1 episode)
1956
Jungle Jim
(1 episode)
1955
Navy Log
(2 episodes)
1955
The Left Hand of God
Jan Teng
1955
Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing
Third Uncle
1955
Jump Into Hell
Chinese POW Lieutenant
1955
The Shanghai Story
Major Ling Wu
1954
Hell's Half Acre
Roger Kong
1954
His Majesty O'Keefe
Sien Tang, Dentist
1954
China Venture
Adm. Amara
1953
Target Hong Kong
Sin How
1953
General Electric Theater
Rahm Sing · (1 episode)
1953
Fair Wind to Java
Gusti
1953
Battle Zone
South Korean Guerrilla Leader
1952
Four Star Playhouse
Chang · (1 episode)
1952
Four Star Playhouse
Capt. Shu Gat · (1 episode)
1952
Red Snow
Taglu, a spy
1952
Macao
Itzumi
1952
Japanese War Bride
Eitaro Shimizu
1952
Dragnet
(1 episode)
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
(2 episodes)
1951
Secrets of Monte Carlo
Wong
1951
China Corsair
Wong San
1951
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
(1 episode)
1951
I Was an American Spy
Capt. Arito
1951
Halls of Montezuma
Maj. Kenji Matsuoda (aka "Nomura")
1951
The Big Hangover
Dr. Lee
1950
The Sickle or the Cross
Chinese Official
1949
Impact
Ah Sing
1949
Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture
Wong Chung Shee
1949
State Department: File 649
Col. Aram
1949
Rogues' Regiment
Tran Duy Gian
1948
The Creeper
Ah Wong - Restaurant Owner
1948
The Cobra Strikes
Kasim--Houseboy
1948
The Miracle of the Bells
Ming Gow
1948
Women in the Night
Professor Kunioshi
1948
Intrigue
Louie Chin
1947
The Chinese Ring
Captain Kong
1947
Saigon
Boss Merchant (uncredited)
1947
Singapore
Jimmy - Bartender (uncredited)
1947
They Were Expendable
Army Orderly (uncredited)
1945
Back to Bataan
Col. Coroki
1945
China's Little Devils
Farmer
1945
China Sky
Dr. Kim
1945
Blood on the Sun
Secret Police Capt. Yomamoto (uncredited)
1945
Betrayal from the East
Kato
1945
God Is My Co-Pilot
Hong Kong Radio Announcer (uncredited)
1945
Forever Yours
Chinese Man (uncredited)
1945
The Keys of the Kingdom
Mr. Pao, Envoy for Mr. Chia
1944
Dragon Seed
Leader of City People (uncredited)
1944
The Story of Dr. Wassell
Ping
1944
The Purple Heart
Saburo Goto (uncredited)
1944
Around the World
Foo
1943
The Man from Down Under
English-Speaking Japanese Aviator (uncredited)
1943
Behind the Rising Sun
Japanese Officer Murdering Takahashi
1943
China
Lin Cho
1943
Don Winslow of the Coast Guard
Hirota
1943
December 7th
Shinto Priest (uncredited)
1943
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
1943
The Adventures of Smilin' Jack
Wu Tan
1943
China Girl
Kai Young
1942
Across the Pacific
Man in Theatre (uncredited)
1942
Submarine Raider
First Officer Kawakami
1942
Let's Get Tough
Joe Matsui
1942
The Tuttles of Tahiti
Emily's Servant (uncredited)
1942
Ship Ahoy
Koro Sumo
1942
A Yank on the Burma Road
Dr. Franklin Ling
1942
They Met in Bombay
Japanese officer (uncredited)
1941
Drums of Fu Manchu
Dr. Chang
1940
The Shadow
Wu Yung
1940
Barricade
Col. Wai Kang
1939
Disputed Passage
Dr. Fung
1939
Island of Lost Men
1939
Panama Patrol
Sun
1939
King of Chinatown
Robert 'Bob' Li
1939
North of Shanghai
Chinese Doctor
1939
Charlie Chan in Honolulu
Wing Foo
1938
Red Barry
Hong Kong Cholly
1938
Hawaii Calls
Julius
1938
Thank You, Mr. Moto
Prince Chung
1937
Daughter of Shanghai
Kim Lee
1937
Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts
Sing Fung, Laundry Man
1937
Something to Sing About
Ito (Terry's servant)
1937
Roaring Timber
Crooner
1937
The Good Earth
Captain (uncredited)
1937
China Passage
Fang Tu
1937
Stowaway
Sun Lo
1936
The General Died at Dawn
Oxford
1936
Klondike Annie
1936
A Scream in the Night
Wu Ting (as Philip Ann)
1935
Shanghai
Servant
1935
Desirable
Chinese Waiter
1934