Chai Hong (often billed as Charlie from the Orient) was a Korea-born actor and comedian who appeared in a string of Hollywood comedies during the silent era. He was often referred to as "the Chinese

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

Biography

Chai Hong was born in 1885 and subsequently raised by his grandmother, according to information he gave "Screenland" columnist Ogden Lawrence. He eventually immigrated to Hawaii and later to Los Angeles. After working as a bellboy at the

Hotel Alexandria The Hotel Alexandria is a historic building constructed as a luxury hotel at the beginning of the 20th century in what was then the heart of downtown Los Angeles. As the business center of the city moved gradually westward, the hotel decayed and g ...

, he broke into Hollywood after being scouted by L-KO. He appeared in more than 20 films between 1918 and 1922; According to author Thomas Reeder, Hong was working as Lew Cody's valet and houseman mid-1925. Researcher Jesse Brisson feels pretty positive he later went by the name "Chester Hong," moved to New York City, and worked as a cook. A WWII draft reg. card for Chester Hong states he was born 26 Nov 1885 in "Yang Sang" angsan? Korea (WWI DRC gives "nearest relative" as or J S. Lea of Yangsan, "Corea" ic). Unemployed. Stats: 5'0", 130, brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion, "Limps - uses cane." Chester served as a cook aboard the SS Thomas Lynch during WWII. While in this capacity, 135-pound Hong was "seriously assaulted" by a 200-pound seaman serving aboard who had continually been in fights with other crewmen and even the "Bo's'n." The master and chief mate of the vessel reportedly did not follow proper protocol in disciplining the known troublemaker. Hong sued and was awarded $3,000. Chester Hong died on 4 January 1946 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Selected filmography

*''

The Snowshoe Trail ''The Snowshoe Trail'' is a 1922 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Chester Bennett and starring Jane Novak, Roy Stewart (silent film actor), Roy Stewart and Lloyd Whitlock.Munden, p. 203. Cast * Jane Novak a ...

'' (1922) *'' Fighting Bill'' (1921) *''

Hearts of the West ''Hearts of the West'', released in Europe as ''Hollywood Cowboy'', is a 1975 American comedy film directed by Howard Zieff, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Jeff Bridges, Andy Griffith, Blythe Danner, and Alan Arkin. Set in 1930s ...

'' (1920) *'' Mamma's Boy'' (1920) *'' Brownie, the Peacemaker'' (1920) *'' Over the Ocean Waves'' (1920) *'' Charlie Gets a Job'' (1919) *'' A Barnyard Romance'' (1919) *'' A Tight Fix'' (1919) *'' A Popular Villain'' (1919) *'' An Oriental Romeo'' (1919) *'' Charlie, the Hero'' (1919) *'' A Pair of Deuces'' (1919) *'' Elmo, the Mighty'' (1919) *'' The Star Boarder'' (1919) *'' Good Night, Turk'' (1919) *'' Charlie in Turkey'' (1919) *''

The Freckled Fish ''The Freckled Fish'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Chai Hong as Chai Chow * Oliver Hardy as Solomon Soopmeat (as Babe Hardy) * Eva Novak See also * List of American films of 1919 * Oliver Hardy filmog ...

'' (1919) *'' Charlie, the Little Daredevil'' (1919) *''

A Clean Sweep '' A Clean Sweep'' is a 1958 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Thora Hird, Eric Barker and Vera Day. Plot A woman tries to keep her family of gamblers away from temptation. Cast * Thora Hird as Vera Watson * Eric Bar ...

'' (1918) *'' Romance and Dynamite'' (1918) *''

The Blind Pig The Blind Pig is a music venue in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The club was established as a home for blues musicians, although today it books predominantly indie rock acts and local groups. History The Blind Pig opened in 1971. Tom Isaia and Jerry D ...

'' (1918)

References

Korean male silent film actors 1885 births Korean male film actors Year of death missing {{US-film-actor-1880s-stub