Spencer Chan

Spencer Chan
Chan in Woman on the Run (1950)
Born(1892-03-28)March 28, 1892
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 1988(1988-01-12) (aged 95)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place
Evergreen Cemetery
EducationUniversity of Southern California
OccupationCharacter actor
Years active1936–1974

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]

Life and career

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 who owned a house in Los Angeles's Boyle Heights neighborhood. Chan graduated from the University of Southern California.[3][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] He was considered an "atmosphere" player, along with Willie Fung, Frank Chew, Richard Loo and others.[6] In 1947, he starred as "Cookie" Kukai in the serial film The Sea Hound,[7] starring along with Buster Crabbe, Jimmy Lloyd, Pamela Blake and Ralph Hodges.[8]

Death

Chan died on January 12, 1988 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 95.[9] He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery.[10]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ Doyle, Billy; Slide, Anthony (1999). The Ultimate Directory of Silent and Sound Era Performers: A Necrology of Actors and Actresses. Scarecrow Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780810835474 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Landesman, Fred (August 13, 2015). The John Wayne Filmography. McFarland. p. 23. ISBN 9781476609225 – via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 Ford, Sydney (June 28, 1912). "Women's Work; Women's Clubs". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved November 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. ↑ Chandler, Robert (2004). California: An Illustrated History. Hippocrene Books. p. 96. ISBN 0781810345 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Riesel, Victor (October 25, 1947). "Coast Communists Seek Control of Film Unions". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. Retrieved November 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ↑ Slide, Anthony (September 5, 2012). Hollywood Unknowns: A History of Extras, Bit Players, and Stand-Ins. University Press of Mississippi. p. 195. ISBN 9781617034749 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Rainey, Buck (June 8, 2015). Serials and Series: A World Filmography, 1912-1956. McFarland. p. 211. ISBN 9781476604480 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ Rainey, Buck (October 18, 2024). Serial Film Stars: A Biographical Dictionary, 1912-1956. McFarland. p. 209. ISBN 9781476603117 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Spencer E. Chan". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 17, 1988. Retrieved September 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ↑ 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. ISBN 978-0-7864-7992-4
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