Otto Yamaoka Explained

Otto Yamaoka
Birth Name:	Otto Han Yamaoka
Birth Date:	1904 4, mf=yes
Birth Place:	Seattle, Washington, USA
Death Place:	New York, New York, USA
Spouse:	Irene
Parents:	Ototaka Yamaoka (father) Jho Watanabe (mother)
Relatives:	Iris Yamaoka (sister) George Yamaoka (brother)

Otto Yamaoka (April 25, 1904 – June 5, 1967) was an American actor and businessman who worked in Hollywood primarily during the 1930s.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} He was one of only a handful of Japanese-descended actors working in the industry at the time.^[5] His sister, Iris, was an actress.

Biography

Otto was born in Seattle, Washington, to Ototaka Yamaoka and Jho Watanabe.

The family moved to Los Angeles in the 1920s, and he and his sister Iris both developed an interest in acting; both primarily played smaller roles. His brother, George Yamaoka, became a prominent lawyer.^[6]

Otto's career in Hollywood ended around 1940, and he then began working as an importer in the Los Angeles area.^[7] The Yamaoka family was sent to the Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming during World War II following the signing of Executive Order 9066.^{[8] [9]}

Partial filmography

• The Ship from Shanghai (1930) - Shanghai Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
• The Benson Murder Case (1930) - Sam (uncredited)
• The Hot Heiress (1931) - Chinese Waiter (uncredited)
• The Black Camel (1931) - Kashimo
• The Hatchet Man (1932) - Chung Ho (uncredited)
• Westward Passage (1932) - Chong (uncredited)
• War Correspondent (1932) - Bandit (uncredited)
• The Racing Strain (1932) - Togo
• Midnight Mary (1933) - Chinese Proprietor (uncredited)
• Morning Glory (1933) - Servant (uncredited)
• Before Midnight (1933) - Kono
• The Sin of Nora Moran (1933) - Kito - John Grant's Houseboy (uncredited)
• We're Rich Again (1934) - Fugi
• Student Tour (1934) - Casino Patron (uncredited)
• Limehouse Blues (1934) - Chinese Waiter on Boat (uncredited)
• Death Flies East (1935) - Japanese Chauffeur (uncredited)
• The Wedding Night (1935) - Taka (uncredited)
• The Affair of Susan (1935) - Spieler (uncredited)
• Petticoat Fever (1936) - Kimo
• Rhythm on the Range (1936) - Chinese Houseboy (uncredited)
• Hollywood Boulevard (1936) - Thomas (uncredited)
• Libeled Lady (1936) - Ching
• Easy to Take (1936) - Japanese Instructor (uncredited)
• Night Waitress (1936) - Fong
• Criminal Lawyer (1937) - Mitzu - Brandon's House Boy (uncredited)
• Thin Ice (1937) - Japanese Reporter (uncredited)
• Song of the City (1937) - Wilbur - Paul's Butler (uncredited)
• Stand-In (1937) - Quintain's Houseboy (uncredited)
• Next Time I Marry (1938) - Joe - Nancy's Butler (uncredited)
• Trouble in Sundown (1939) - Foo Yung
• Two Girls on Broadway (1940) - Ito
• The Letter (1940) - Bartender at Party (uncredited) (final film role)

Notes and References

1. Web site: What to See, Do, and Hear. 28 Mar 1936. Harrisburg Telegraph. en. 2019-09-14.
2. Book: Glitre, Kathrina. Hollywood Romantic Comedy: States of the Union, 1934-1965. 2006-10-31. Manchester University Press. 9780719070792. en.
3. Web site: The Current Cinema. Roman. Seymour. 21 Mar 1936. Times Union. en. 2019-09-14.
4. Book: Robinson, Greg. Pacific Citizens: Larry and Guyo Tajiri and Japanese American Journalism in the World War II Era. 2012-03-15. University of Illinois Press. 9780252093838. en.
5. Book: Slide, Anthony. Hollywood Unknowns: A History of Extras, Bit Players, and Stand-Ins. 2012-09-05. Univ. Press of Mississippi. 9781617034749. en.
6. News: George Yamaoka, Lawyer Named to Post by Macarthur, Dies at 78. 1981-11-22. The New York Times. 2019-09-14. en-US. 0362-4331.
7. Web site: Wealthy Japanese in Heart Balm Suit. 4 Jun 1939. The San Bernardino County Sun. en. 2019-09-14.
8. Web site: Japanese American Internee Data File: Otto Yamaoka. National Archives and Records Administration. November 4, 2019.
9. Ancestry.com. Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005.