Wood Moy Explained

Wood Moy (10 June 1918 – 8 November 2017) was an American film and theater actor from New York City. He developed an interest in acting while attending St. John's University, Shanghai.[1] He was an early member of the Asian American Theater Company in San Francisco.[2] He is best known for a lead role in Chan Is Missing, the debut film by Wayne Wang.

In 1972, Mr. Moy was the first to join the Asian American Theatre Training Program led by Frank Chin at the American Conservatory Theater. In 1983, Moy wrote the play "Lo Foo and the Missing Ming Artifact" for the Asian American Theater Company. In "Lo Foo," Moy plays detective Charlie Chan, lured out of retirement to pursue a stolen artifact.[3] In 1994, Moy was cast in the Berkeley and Los Angeles theatrical adaptations of Maxine Hong Kingston's novel, The Woman Warrior, as Ah Goong. Moy also appeared in The Wash at Eureka Theatre and Pay the Chinaman at the Zephyr Theatre.[4] He died in November 2017 at the age of 99.[5]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978Invasion of the Body Snatchers Mr. Tong
1982Chan Is Missing Jo
1986Howard the Duck Chef
1991Class Action Mr. Minh
1992Final Analysis Dr. Lee (final film role)

Notes and References

  1. Book: Eagan. Daniel. America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry. 2009. Bloomsbury Publishing. 978-1441175410.
  2. Web site: Asianamericantheater.org. www.asianamericantheater.org.
  3. News: AATC's chinese detective with a split personality.. Asian Week. 10 Mar 1983. .
  4. News: Winn. Steven. 'Woman Warrior' Vanquishes / Saga of Chinese American at Berkeley Rep. San Francisco Chronicle. 24 May 1994. .
  5. Web site: Wood Moy's Obituary on San Francisco Chronicle. www.legacy.com.