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Philip Ahn

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
172

Gender
Male

Birthday
March 29, 1905 (121 years old)

Place of Birth
Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Philip Ahn

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

1986Kung Fu: The Movieas Master Kan
1976The Killer Who Wouldn't Dieas Soong
1975Wonder Womanas Colonel Minh
1975Switchas Charlie Kuang
1974Police Womanas
1974Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashitaas General Yamashita
1973Jonathan Livingston Seagullas Chang (voice)
1973The Magicianas Chao Liu
1973The World's Greatest Athleteas Old Chinaman
1972Kung Fuas Master Kan
1972The Streets of San Franciscoas Mr. Wu
1972M*A*S*Has
1972M*A*S*Has Korean Grandfather
1972M*A*S*Has The Father
1972Anna and the Kingas Astrologist
1972Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragonas Master Kan
1972Sanford and Sonas
1970The Sex Serum of Dr. Blakeas Mao Tse Tung (uncredited)
1969Love, American Styleas Chow Lee
1968Cocoonas Attorney General
1968Hawaii Five-Oas Attorney General
1968Hawaii Five-Oas Lin Mai-Lu
1968Hawaii Five-Oas Quon Li
1968It Takes a Thiefas Owner
1967Mannixas
1967The Karate Killersas Sazami Kyushu
1967Ironsideas
1967Thoroughly Modern Millieas Tea
1966Mission: Impossibleas Dr. Liu
1966The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.as Wu
1966The Time Tunnelas Dr. Nakamura
1966Paradise, Hawaiian Styleas Moki Kaimana
1965The F.B.I.as Police Chief Henry Nakamura
1965The Wild Wild Westas
1965Laredoas
1965The Big Valleyas Chen Yu
1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.as Dr. Sazami Kyushu
1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.as High Lama of Ghupat
1963Shock Corridoras Dr. Fong
1962A Girl Named Tamikoas Akiba
1962Diamond Headas Mr. Immacona
1962Stoney Burkeas
1962Ensign O'Tooleas Low Kong
1962Confessions of an Opium Eateras Ching Foon
1961Kraft Mystery Theatreas
1961One-Eyed Jacksas Uncle
1961Dragon by the Tailas Lee Chin
1960The Great Impostoras Capt. Hun Kim
1960The Islandersas Governor Galli
1960My Three Sonsas George Wong
1960Pete and Gladysas
1960The Barbara Stanwyck Showas Lee Chin
1960Checkmateas Mr. Lu
1960Johnny Midnightas
1959Never So Fewas Nautaung, leader of the Kachin
1959Hawaiian Eyeas
1959Hawaiian Eyeas Florist
1959Hawaiian Eyeas Mr. Kwong
1959Adventures in Paradiseas Ling
1959Adventures in Paradiseas Mr. Chee
1959Adventures in Paradiseas Reverend Yen
1959The Rebelas Quong Lee
1959The Third Manas
1959Bonanzaas Dr. Kam Lee
1959Bonanzaas Mr. Lee Chang
1959Yesterday's Enemyas Yamazuki
1959Tightropeas
1959One Step Beyondas Song
1958Lawmanas Wong
1958Hong Kong Confidentialas Tan Chung
1958Wanted: Dead or Aliveas Tom Wing
1958Jefferson Drumas Charles Wong
1957Perry Masonas James Wong
1957Have Gun, Will Travelas
1957Have Gun, Will Travelas W. Chung
1957Richard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Ho-Lung
1957The Way to the Goldas Mr. Ding - cafe owner
1957Battle Hymnas Old Man
1956Around the World in 80 Daysas Hong Kong Citizen (uncredited)
1956Hey, Jeannie!as Wong
1956Telephone Timeas
1955Jungle Jimas
1955Navy Logas
1955The Left Hand of Godas Jan Teng
1955Love Is a Many-Splendored Thingas Third Uncle
1955Jump Into Hellas Chinese POW Lieutenant
1954The Shanghai Storyas Major Ling Wu
1954Hell's Half Acreas Roger Kong
1954His Majesty O'Keefeas Sien Tang, Dentist
1953China Ventureas Adm. Amara
1953Target Hong Kongas Sin How
1953General Electric Theateras Rahm Sing
1953Fair Wind to Javaas Gusti
1952Battle Zoneas South Korean Guerrilla Leader
1952Four Star Playhouseas Capt. Shu Gat
1952Four Star Playhouseas Chang
1952Red Snowas Taglu, a spy
1952Macaoas Itzumi
1952Japanese War Brideas Eitaro Shimizu
1951Dragnetas
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Starsas
1951Secrets of Monte Carloas Wong
1951China Corsairas Wong San
1951The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickokas
1951I Was an American Spyas Capt. Arito
1951Halls of Montezumaas Maj. Kenji Matsuoda (aka "Nomura")
1950The Big Hangoveras Dr. Lee
1949The Sickle or the Crossas Chinese Official
1949Impactas Ah Sing
1949Boston Blackie's Chinese Ventureas Wong Chung Shee
1949State Department: File 649as Col. Aram
1948Rogues' Regimentas Tran Duy Gian
1948The Creeperas Ah Wong - Restaurant Owner
1948The Cobra Strikesas Kasim--Houseboy
1948The Miracle of the Bellsas Ming Gow
1948Women in the Nightas Professor Kunioshi
1947Intrigueas Louie Chin
1947The Chinese Ringas Captain Kong
1947Saigonas Boss Merchant (uncredited)
1947Singaporeas Jimmy - Bartender (uncredited)
1945They Were Expendableas Army Orderly (uncredited)
1945Back to Bataanas Col. Coroki
1945China's Little Devilsas Farmer
1945China Skyas Dr. Kim
1945Blood on the Sunas Secret Police Capt. Yomamoto (uncredited)
1945Betrayal from the Eastas Kato
1945God Is My Co-Pilotas Hong Kong Radio Announcer (uncredited)
1945Forever Yoursas Chinese Man (uncredited)
1944The Keys of the Kingdomas Mr. Pao, Envoy for Mr. Chia
1944Dragon Seedas Leader of City People (uncredited)
1944The Story of Dr. Wassellas Ping
1944The Purple Heartas Saburo Goto (uncredited)
1943Around the Worldas Foo
1943The Man from Down Underas English-Speaking Japanese Aviator (uncredited)
1943Behind the Rising Sunas Japanese Officer Murdering Takahashi
1943Chinaas Lin Cho
1943Don Winslow of the Coast Guardas Hirota
1943December 7thas Shinto Priest (uncredited)
1943The Amazing Mrs. Hollidayas
1943The Adventures of Smilin' Jackas Wu Tan
1942China Girlas Kai Young
1942Across the Pacificas Man in Theatre (uncredited)
1942Submarine Raideras First Officer Kawakami
1942Let's Get Toughas Joe Matsui
1942The Tuttles of Tahitias Emily's Servant (uncredited)
1942Ship Ahoyas Koro Sumo
1942A Yank on the Burma Roadas Franklin Ling
1941They Met in Bombayas Japanese officer (uncredited)
1940Drums of Fu Manchuas Dr. Chang
1940The Shadowas Wu Yung
1939Barricadeas Col. Wai Kang
1939Disputed Passageas Dr. Fung
1939Island of Lost Menas
1939Panama Patrolas Sun
1939King of Chinatownas Robert 'Bob' Li
1939North of Shanghaias Chinese Doctor
1938Charlie Chan in Honoluluas Wing Foo
1938Red Barryas Hong Kong Cholly
1938Hawaii Callsas Julius
1937Thank You, Mr. Motoas Prince Chung
1937Daughter of Shanghaias Kim Lee
1937Tex Rides with the Boy Scoutsas Sing Fung, Laundry Man
1937Something to Sing Aboutas Ito
1937Roaring Timberas Crooner
1937The Good Earthas Captain (uncredited)
1937China Passageas Fang Tu
1936Stowawayas Sun Lo
1936The General Died at Dawnas Oxford
1936Klondike Annieas
1935A Scream in the Nightas Wu Ting (as Philip Ann)
1935Shanghaias Servant
1934Desirableas Chinese Waiter

Production