Spencer Chan Explained

Spencer Chan
Birth Date:	28 March 1892
Birth Place:	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Death Place:	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting Place:	Evergreen Cemetery
Alma Mater:	University of Southern California
Occupation:	Character actor
Years Active:	1936 - 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.^[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)
• (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)

External links

• • • • Rotten Tomatoes profile

Notes and References

1. Book: The Ultimate Directory of Silent and Sound Era Performers: A Necrology of Actors and Actresses. 100. Billy. Doyle. Anthony. Slide. Scarecrow Press. 1999. 9780810835474. Google Books.
2. Book: Landesman, Fred. The John Wayne Filmography. August 13, 2015. 23. McFarland. 9781476609225. en. Google Books.
3. Web site: Women's Work; Women's Clubs. Ford. Sydney. June 28, 1912. The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. en. November 18, 2019. Newspapers.com.
4. Book: Chandler, Robert. California: An Illustrated History. 96. Hippocrene Books. 2004. 0781810345. en. Google Books.
5. Web site: Coast Communists Seek Control of Film Unions. Riesel. Victor. October 25, 1947. Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. en. November 18, 2019. Newspapers.com.
6. Book: Slide, Anthony. Hollywood Unknowns: A History of Extras, Bit Players, and Stand-Ins. 195. University Press of Mississippi. September 5, 2012. 9781617034749. en. Google Books.
7. News: Spencer E. Chan. The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 17, 1988. September 11, 2021. Newspapers.com.
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.