Keye Luke
Keye Luke was a Chinese-born American film and television actor, technical advisor and artist and a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild.
He was known for playing Lee Chan, the "Number One Son" in the Charlie Chan films, the original Kato in the 1939–1941 Green Hornet film serials, Brak in the 1960s Space Ghost cartoons, Master Po in the television series Kung Fu, and Mr. Wing in the Gremlins films.
He was the first Chinese-American contract player signed by RKO, Universal Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was one of the most prominent Asian actors of American cinema in the mid-20th century.
Early life
Luke was born in Guangzhou, China, to a father who owned an art shop, but grew up in Seattle. He was part of the Luke family, a relative of Washington assistant attorney-general Wing Luke, for whom Seattle's Wing Luke Asian Museum was named. He had four siblings who all emigrated from China to California during the Great Depression. His younger brother Edwin Luke also became an actor in the Charlie Chan series.In Seattle, Luke attended Franklin High School, where he contributed cartoons and illustrations to school publications. Keye Luke became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1944—in a moment fictionally recreated in Lisa See's novel Shanghai Girls.
Artist
Before becoming an actor he was a local artist in Seattle and, later, Hollywood, working on several of the murals inside Grauman's Chinese Theatre. He did some of the original artwork for the 1933 King Kong pressbook. Luke also painted the casino's mural in The Shanghai Gesture.He published a limited edition set of pen and ink drawings of The Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam in the 1950s. He also created illustrations for the books The Unfinished Song of Achmed Mohammed by Earle Liederman, Blessed Mother Goose by Frank Scully and an edition of Messer Marco Polo by Brian Oswald Donn-Byrne. Other art done by Luke included the dust jackets for books published in the 1950s and 1960s. It was through his studio art work that he was recruited for his first movie roles.
Acting career
Luke made his film debut in The Painted Veil, and the following year gained his first big role, as Charlie Chan's eldest son in Charlie Chan in Paris. He worked so well with Warner Oland, the actor playing Chan, that "Number One Son" became a regular character in the series, alternately helping and distracting 'Pop' Chan in each of his murder cases. Luke appeared seven times as Lee Chan opposite Oland's Chan. Keye Luke left the Charlie Chan series in 1938, shortly after Oland died. The unfinished Oland-Luke film Charlie Chan at the Ringside was completed as Mr. Moto's Gamble, with Luke now opposite Peter Lorre.Unlike some performers who failed to establish themselves beyond a single role, Keye Luke continued to work prolifically in Hollywood, at several studios. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cast him in a recurring role in its Dr. Kildare film series, and Monogram Pictures featured him in its Frankie Darro comedies and starred him as Mr. Wong in Phantom of Chinatown. Unlike Boris Karloff, who had preceded him in the Mr. Wong role, Luke played the detective without any exotic touches. Though his Mr. Wong was of Chinese descent and able to speak Chinese, he was otherwise an ordinary American gumshoe, with no trace of a foreign accent or "Oriental" philosophy.
RKO Radio Pictures used Luke in its popular adventures of The Falcon and Mexican Spitfire. Luke also worked at Universal Pictures, where he played two-fisted valet/chauffeur Kato in its Green Hornet serials. In 1946 Universal mounted a low-budget serial consisting largely of action footage from older films; Keye Luke was hired to match old footage of Sabu in the serial Lost City of the Jungle.
In 1948, Keye Luke returned to the Chan mysteries, which were now being produced by Monogram and starred Roland Winters as Chan. "Number One Son" appeared in the last two Chan features, The Feathered Serpent along with "Number Two Son" Tommy Chan in their only appearance together, and Sky Dragon. In both of these films, Luke was older than the actor playing his father. Luke had a featured Broadway role in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song, directed by Gene Kelly in 1958. The soundtrack album captures his singing of the part of Mr. Wang, the family patriarch.
Luke continued to play character parts in motion pictures. He had a featured role in The Chairman starring Gregory Peck. He provided the voice of the evil Mr. Han in Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee. Luke played the mysterious old Chinatown shopowner Mr. Wing in the two Gremlins movies and he had a significant role in Woody Allen's 1990 movie Alice.
Keye Luke also worked extensively in television, making numerous guest appearances, including four on The F.B.I. and seven TV movies. He was a regular cast member in two short lived sitcoms, Anna and the King starring Yul Brynner and Sidekicks. "Number One Son" ascended to the role of Charlie Chan himself, thus becoming the first actor of Chinese descent to play the role: he supplied the voice of "Mr. Chan" in the animated television series The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan.
He was also known for his role of Master Po in the television series Kung Fu. In 1985, Luke played 'The Ancient One' on the soap opera General Hospital, for the Asian Quarter storyline, which showcased strong chemistry between Luke and young actress Kimberly McCullough, whom he mentored. In 1986, Luke appeared in season two of "The Golden Girls" as Sophia's love interest. Additionally Luke voiced many animated series including Brak in Space Ghost, the aforementioned Charlie Chan, and Zoltar/The Great Spirit/Colonel Cronus in Battle of the Planets.
Luke played Governor Donald Cory in an episode of the original ' entitled "Whom Gods Destroy |Whom Gods Destroy", and was going to play Doctor Noonien Soong in the ' episode "Brothers |Brothers" but illness prevented him from doing so; Brent Spiner ultimately took over the role.
In the Fractured Fairy Tales episode "The Enchanted Fly," one of the rewards offered to the man who would rescue and marry the princess is "an autographed picture of Keye Luke."
Honours
He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Asian/Pacific American Artists in 1986. For his contribution to show business, Luke was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on the sidewalk in front of 7000 Hollywood Blvd.Death
Luke died of a stroke on January 12, 1991, at the age of 86. He is buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.Legacy
Writer and filmmaker Timothy Tau wrote, directed and produced a short film about Keye Luke's earlier life and work, entitled Keye Luke, which premiered at the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival as a Visual Communications Armed with a Camera Fellowship film. The film was also the Closing Night choice of the inaugural 2013 Seattle Asian American Film Festival. Feodor Chin starred as Keye Luke. Archie Kao starred as Edwin Luke, Keye Luke's brother. Kelvin Han Yee starred as Lee Luke, Keye Luke's father.Filmography
- The Painted Veil as Shay Key Fong
- Charlie Chan in Paris as Lee Chan
- The Casino Murder Case as Taki - Casino Pageboy
- Eight Bells as Interpreter
- Murder in the Fleet as Consul's Secretary
- Oil for the Lamps of China as Chinese soldier
- Mad Love as Dr. Wong
- Shanghai as Chinese Ambassador's son
- Here's to Romance as Saito
- Charlie Chan in Shanghai as Lee Chan
- King of Burlesque Wong
- Anything Goes as Ching
- Charlie Chan at the Circus as Lee Chan
- Charlie Chan at the Race Track as Lee Chan
- Charlie Chan at the Opera as Lee Chan
- The Good Earth as Elder son
- Charlie Chan at the Olympics as Lee Chan
- Charlie Chan on Broadway as Lee Chan
- Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo as Lee Chan
- International Settlement as Dr. Wong
- Mr. Moto's Gamble as Lee Chan
- North of Shanghai as Jimmy Riley
- Disputed Passage as Andrew Abbott
- Sued for Libel as Chang Howe
- Barricade as Ling - Cady's secretary
- The Green Hornet as Kato
- Wildcat Bus as Tai
- Phantom of Chinatown as James Lee Wong
- Comrade X as World Press Attendee with Glasses
- No, No, Nanette as Sung, Oriental Cafe Manager
- The Green Hornet Strikes Again! as Kato
- Footlight Fever as Chinese Restaurant Waiter
- The Gang's All Here as George Lee
- They Met in Bombay as Mr. Toy
- Bowery Blitzkrieg as Clancy
- Passage from Hong Kong as Charlie, Chinese Waiter
- Let's Go Collegiate as Buck Wing
- Burma Convoy as Lin Taiyen
- No Hands on the Clock as Severino
- North to the Klondike as K. Wellington Wong
- Mr. and Mrs. North as Kumi
- A Yank on the Burma Road as Kim How
- A Tragedy at Midnight as Ah Foo
- Spy Ship as Koshimo Haru
- Submarine Raider as Tesei
- Invisible Agent as Surgeon
- Somewhere I'll Find You as Thomas Chang
- Across the Pacific as Steamship Office Clerk
- Mexican Spitfire's Elephant as Lao Lee - Chinese Magician
- The Falcon's Brother as Jerry - Gay's Houseboy
- Destination Unknown as Secretary
- Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant as Dr. Lee Wong Howe
- Journey for Margaret as Japanese Statesman
- The Adventures of Smilin' Jack as Capt. Wing
- Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case as Dr. Lee Wong Howe
- Salute to the Marines as Flashy Logaz
- Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble as Dr. Lee Wong Howe
- Three Men in White as Dr. Lee Wong Howe
- Dragon Seed
- Between Two Women as Dr. Lee Wong Howe
- Secret Agent X-9 as Ah Fong
- First Yank into Tokyo as Haan Soo
- How Doooo You Do!!! as Chinese Detective
- Tokyo Rose as Charlie Otani
- Lost City of the Jungle as Tal Shan
- Dark Delusion as Dr. Lee Wong Howe
- Sleep, My Love as Jimmie Lin
- Waterfront at Midnight as Loy
- The Feathered Serpent as Lee Chan
- Sky Dragon as Lee Chan
- Manhandled as Chinese Laundry Owner
- Young Man with a Horn as Ramundo the Houseboy
- Macao
- The Congregation
- Hong Kong as Taxicab Driver
- Fair Wind to Java as Pidada
- South Sea Woman as Japanese Deck Officer
- World for Ransom as Wong
- Hell's Half Acre as Police Chief Dan
- The Bamboo Prison as Comrade-Instructor Li Ching
- Godzilla Raids Again as Shoichi Tsukioka
- Love is a Many-Splendored Thing as Lee Foo
- Around the World in 80 Days as old man at Yokohama travel office
- Rodan as Narrator
- ' as Capt. Kuo Tai
- Gigantis the Fire Monster as VA for Shoichi Tsukioka
- Nobody's Perfect as Gondai-San
- Project X as Sen Chiu
- The Chairman as Prof. Soong Li
- Noon Sunday as Colonel Oong
- The Hawaiians as Foo Sen
- Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood as Cook in kitchen
- The Amsterdam Kill as Chung Wei
- Just You and Me, Kid as Dr. Device
- Wonders of China at Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center as philosopher Li Bai
- Gremlins as Grandfather
- A Fine Mess as Ishimine
- Dead Heat as Mr. Thule
- The Mighty Quinn as Dr. Raj
- ' as Mr. Wing
- Alice as Dr. Yang
Television
- Mysteries of Chinatown 1 episode
- The Stu Erwin Show 1 episode
- Schlitz Playhouse 1 episode
- Chevron Theatre 1 episode
- Your Jeweler's Showcase 1 episode
- Terry and the Pirates 3 episodes
- Biff Baker, U.S.A. 1 episode
- Fireside Theatre 2 episodes
- The New Adventures of China Smith 4 episodes
- Studio 57 1 episode
- December Bride 1 episode
- The Ray Milland Show 1 episode
- My Little Margie 1 episode
- Cavalcade of America
- Big Town 1 episode
- Annie Oakley 1 episode
- Soldiers of Fortune 1 episode
- The Lineup 1 episode
- Gunsmoke 1 episode
- Crusader 1 episode
- Crossroads 2 episodes
- Jungle Jim 1 episode
- Buffalo Bill, Jr. 1 episode
- Telephone Time 1 episode
- TV Reader's Digest 1 episode
- The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu 1 episode
- Wire Service 1 episode
- Panic! 1 episode
- Climax! 1 episode
- The Gale Storm Show 2 episodes
- Alcoa Theatre 1 episode
- The Californians 1 episode
- Mike Hammer 1 episode
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective 1 episode
- Trackdown 1 episode
- The Case of the Dangerous Robin 1 episode
- Follow the Sun 1 episode
- ' 1 episode
- Fair Exchange 1 episode
- Perry Mason 2 episodes
- The Littlest Hobo 1 episode
- Mickey 1 episode
- Kentucky Jones 2 episodes
- Jonny Quest 2 episodes
- I Spy 1 episode
- The Wackiest Ship in the Army 1 episode
- My Brother the Angel 1 episode
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre 1 episode
- Space Ghost 3 episodes , The Looters, and The Two Faces of Doom
- The Green Hornet 1 episode
- The F.B.I. 4 episodes
- Coronet Blue 1 episode
- The Andy Griffith Show 1 episode
- Family Affair 1 episode
- Dragnet 2 episodes
- The Big Valley 1 episode
- The Outsider 1 episode
- It Takes a Thief 2 episodes
- ' 1 episode
- Hawaii Five-O 1 episode
- Marcus Welby, M.D. 2 episodes
- Adam-12 2 episodes
- Here's Lucy 1 episode
- The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan 14 episodes
- Anna and the King 13 episodes
- Kung Fu 46 episodes
- The Cat Creature TV movie
- Love, American Style 1 episode segment
- Judgement: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya-General Yamashita TV movie
- Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders TV movie
- Cannon 2 episodes
- Harry-O 1 episode
- Hunter 1 episode
- Quincy M.E. 1 episode
- Battle of the Planets 85 episodes
- M*A*S*H 3 episodes
- Vega$ 1 episode
- Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo unknown episode
- How the West Was Won 1 episode
- Thundarr the Barbarian 2 episodes
- Charlie's Angels 1 episode
- Fly Away Home TV movie
- Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends 1 episode
- Bret Maverick 1 episode
- Remington Steele 1 episode
- Voyagers! 1 episode
- Cocaine and Blue Eyes TV movie
- Magnum P.I. 1 episode
- Falcon Crest 2 episodes
- Faerie Tale Theatre 1 episode
- Mister T unknown episode
- Alvin and the Chipmunks 13 episodes
- The A-Team 1 episode
- The New Mike Hammer 1 episode
- Trapper John, M.D. 1 episode
- Miami Vice 1 episode
- Street Hawk 1 episode
- Blade in Hong Kong TV movie
- Crazy Like a Fox 1 episode
- Jem 1 episode
- MacGyver 2 episodes
- General Hospital
- T.J. Hooker 1 episode
- The Golden Girls 1 episode
- The New Adventures of Jonny Quest unknown episode
- Sidekicks 13 episodes
- Night Court 2 episodes
- Beauty and the Beast 1 episode
- Friday's Curse 1 episode
- Superboy'' 1 episode