dbinia
Philip Ahn

Philip Ahn

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.

See more on
The Killer Who Wouldn't Die

The Killer Who Wouldn't Die

1976

as Soong

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman

1975

as Colonel Minh

Switch

Switch

1975

as Charlie Kuang

Police Woman

Police Woman

1974

Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita

Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita

1974

as General Yamashita

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

1973

as Chang (voice)

The Magician

The Magician

1973

as Chao Liu

The World's Greatest Athlete

The World's Greatest Athlete

1973

as Old Chinaman

Kung Fu

Kung Fu

1972

as Master Kan

The Streets of San Francisco

The Streets of San Francisco

1972

as Mr. Wu

M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

1972

M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

1972

as The Father

Anna and the King

Anna and the King

1972

Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragon

Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragon

1972

as Master Kan

Sanford and Son

Sanford and Son

1972

The Sex Serum of Dr. Blake

The Sex Serum of Dr. Blake

1970

as Mao Tse Tung (uncredited)

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

1969

as Chow Lee

Cocoon

Cocoon

1968

as Attorney General

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

1968

as Attorney General

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

1968

as Quon Li

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

1968

as Lin Mai-Lu

It Takes a Thief

It Takes a Thief

1968

as Owner

Mannix

Mannix

1967

The Karate Killers

The Karate Killers

1967

as Sazami Kyushu

Ironside

Ironside

1967

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Thoroughly Modern Millie

1967

as Tea

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible

1966

as Dr. Liu

The Time Tunnel

The Time Tunnel

1966

as Dr. Nakamura

Paradise, Hawaiian Style

Paradise, Hawaiian Style

1966

as Moki Kaimana

The F.B.I.

The F.B.I.

1965

as Police Chief Henry Nakamura

The Wild Wild West

The Wild Wild West

1965

Laredo

Laredo

1965

The Big Valley

The Big Valley

1965

as Chen Yu

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

1964

as Dr. Sazami Kyushu

Shock Corridor

Shock Corridor

1963

as Dr. Fong

A Girl Named Tamiko

A Girl Named Tamiko

1962

as Akiba

Diamond Head

Diamond Head

1962

as Mr. Immacona

Stoney Burke

Stoney Burke

1962

Ensign O'Toole

Ensign O'Toole

1962

as Low Kong

Confessions of an Opium Eater

Confessions of an Opium Eater

1962

as Ching Foon

Kraft Mystery Theatre

Kraft Mystery Theatre

1961

One-Eyed Jacks

One-Eyed Jacks

1961

as Uncle

The Great Impostor

The Great Impostor

1960

as Capt. Hun Kim

The Islanders

The Islanders

1960

as Governor Galli

My Three Sons

My Three Sons

1960

as George Wong

Pete and Gladys

Pete and Gladys

1960

The Barbara Stanwyck Show

The Barbara Stanwyck Show

1960

as Lee Chin

Checkmate

Checkmate

1960

Johnny Midnight

Johnny Midnight

1960

Never So Few

Never So Few

1959

as Nautaung

Hawaiian Eye

Hawaiian Eye

1959

Adventures in Paradise

Adventures in Paradise

1959

as Ling

Adventures in Paradise

Adventures in Paradise

1959

as Reverend Yen

Adventures in Paradise

Adventures in Paradise

1959

as Mr. Chee

The Rebel

The Rebel

1959

as Quong Lee

The Third Man

The Third Man

1959

Bonanza

Bonanza

1959

as Mr. Lee Chang

Yesterday's Enemy

Yesterday's Enemy

1959

as Yamazuki

Tightrope

Tightrope

1959

One Step Beyond

One Step Beyond

1959

as Song

Lawman

Lawman

1958

as Wong

Hong Kong Confidential

Hong Kong Confidential

1958

as Tan Chung

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Wanted: Dead or Alive

1958

as Tom Wing

Jefferson Drum

Jefferson Drum

1958

as Charles Wong

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

1957

as James Wong

Have Gun, Will Travel

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957

Have Gun, Will Travel

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957

as W. Chung

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

1957

as Ho-Lung

The Way to the Gold

The Way to the Gold

1957

as Mr. Ding - cafe owner

Battle Hymn

Battle Hymn

1957

as Old Man

Around the World in Eighty Days

Around the World in Eighty Days

1956

as Hong Kong Citizen (uncredited)

Hey, Jeannie!

Hey, Jeannie!

1956

as Wong

Telephone Time

Telephone Time

1956

Jungle Jim

Jungle Jim

1955

Navy Log

Navy Log

1955

The Left Hand of God

The Left Hand of God

1955

as Jan Teng

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing

1955

as Third Uncle

Jump Into Hell

Jump Into Hell

1955

as Chinese POW Lieutenant

The Shanghai Story

The Shanghai Story

1954

as Major Ling Wu

Hell's Half Acre

Hell's Half Acre

1954

as Roger Kong

His Majesty O'Keefe

His Majesty O'Keefe

1954

as Sien Tang, Dentist

China Venture

China Venture

1953

as Adm. Amara

Target Hong Kong

Target Hong Kong

1953

as Sin How

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

1953

as Rahm Sing

Fair Wind to Java

Fair Wind to Java

1953

as Gusti

Battle Zone

Battle Zone

1952

as South Korean Guerrilla Leader

Four Star Playhouse

Four Star Playhouse

1952

as Chang

Four Star Playhouse

Four Star Playhouse

1952

as Capt. Shu Gat

Red Snow

Red Snow

1952

as Taglu, a spy

Macao

Macao

1952

as Itzumi

Japanese War Bride

Japanese War Bride

1952

as Eitaro Shimizu

Dragnet

Dragnet

1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951

Secrets of Monte Carlo

Secrets of Monte Carlo

1951

as Wong

China Corsair

China Corsair

1951

as Wong San

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

1951

I Was an American Spy

I Was an American Spy

1951

as Capt. Arito

Halls of Montezuma

Halls of Montezuma

1951

as Maj. Kenji Matsuoda (aka "Nomura")

The Big Hangover

The Big Hangover

1950

as Dr. Lee

The Sickle or the Cross

The Sickle or the Cross

1949

as Chinese Official

Impact

Impact

1949

as Ah Sing

Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture

Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture

1949

as Wong Chung Shee

State Department: File 649

State Department: File 649

1949

as Col. Aram

Rogues' Regiment

Rogues' Regiment

1948

as Tran Duy Gian

The Creeper

The Creeper

1948

as Ah Wong - Restaurant Owner

The Cobra Strikes

The Cobra Strikes

1948

as Kasim--Houseboy

The Miracle of the Bells

The Miracle of the Bells

1948

as Ming Gow

Women in the Night

Women in the Night

1948

as Professor Kunioshi

Intrigue

Intrigue

1947

as Louie Chin

The Chinese Ring

The Chinese Ring

1947

as Captain Kong

Singapore

Singapore

1947

as Jimmy - Bartender (uncredited)

They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable

1945

as Army Orderly (uncredited)

Back to Bataan

Back to Bataan

1945

as Col. Coroki

China's Little Devils

China's Little Devils

1945

as Farmer

China Sky

China Sky

1945

as Dr. Kim

Betrayal from the East

Betrayal from the East

1945

as Kato

God Is My Co-Pilot

God Is My Co-Pilot

1945

as Hong Kong Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Forever Yours

Forever Yours

1945

as Chinese Man (uncredited)

The Keys of the Kingdom

The Keys of the Kingdom

1944

as Mr. Pao, Envoy for Mr. Chia

Dragon Seed

Dragon Seed

1944

as Leader of City People (uncredited)

The Story of Dr. Wassell

The Story of Dr. Wassell

1944

as Ping

The Purple Heart

The Purple Heart

1944

as Saburo Goto (uncredited)

Around the World

Around the World

1943

as Foo

Behind the Rising Sun

Behind the Rising Sun

1943

as Japanese Officer Murdering Takahashi

China

China

1943

as Lin Cho

Don Winslow of the Coast Guard

Don Winslow of the Coast Guard

1943

as Hirota

December 7th

December 7th

1943

as Shinto Priest (uncredited)

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday

1943

The Adventures of Smilin' Jack

The Adventures of Smilin' Jack

1943

as Wu Tan

China Girl

China Girl

1942

as Kai Young

Across the Pacific

Across the Pacific

1942

as Man in Theatre (uncredited)

Submarine Raider

Submarine Raider

1942

as First Officer Kawakami

Let's Get Tough

Let's Get Tough

1942

as Joe Matsui

The Tuttles of Tahiti

The Tuttles of Tahiti

1942

as Emily's Servant (uncredited)

Ship Ahoy

Ship Ahoy

1942

as Koro Sumo

A Yank on the Burma Road

A Yank on the Burma Road

1942

as Dr. Franklin Ling

They Met in Bombay

They Met in Bombay

1941

as Japanese officer (uncredited)

Drums of Fu Manchu

Drums of Fu Manchu

1940

as Dr. Chang

The Shadow

The Shadow

1940

as Wu Yung

Barricade

Barricade

1939

as Col. Wai Kang

Disputed Passage

Disputed Passage

1939

as Dr. Fung

Island of Lost Men

Island of Lost Men

1939

Panama Patrol

Panama Patrol

1939

as Sun

King of Chinatown

King of Chinatown

1939

as Robert 'Bob' Li

North of Shanghai

North of Shanghai

1939

as Chinese Doctor

Charlie Chan in Honolulu

Charlie Chan in Honolulu

1938

as Wing Foo

Red Barry

Red Barry

1938

as Hong Kong Cholly

Hawaii Calls

Hawaii Calls

1938

as Julius

Thank You, Mr. Moto

Thank You, Mr. Moto

1937

as Prince Chung

Daughter of Shanghai

Daughter of Shanghai

1937

as Kim Lee

Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts

Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts

1937

as Sing Fung, Laundry Man

Something to Sing About

Something to Sing About

1937

as Ito (Terry's servant)

Roaring Timber

Roaring Timber

1937

as Crooner

The Good Earth

The Good Earth

1937

as Captain (uncredited)

China Passage

China Passage

1937

as Fang Tu

Stowaway

Stowaway

1936

as Sun Lo

The General Died at Dawn

The General Died at Dawn

1936

as Oxford

Klondike Annie

Klondike Annie

1936

A Scream in the Night

A Scream in the Night

1935

as Wu Ting (as Philip Ann)

Shanghai

Shanghai

1935

as Servant

Desirable

Desirable

1934

as Chinese Waiter