Lee Tung Foo (also known as Frank Lee) was a

Chinese American Chinese Americans are Americans of Han Chinese ancestry. Chinese Americans constitute a subgroup of East Asian Americans which also constitute a subgroup of Asian Americans. Many Chinese Americans along with their ancestors trace lineage from ...

Vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

performer born in California who performed in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, and

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

.''Sixty years of California song''
By Rosana Margaret Kroh Blake Alversonwas''Yellowface: creating the Chinese in American popular music and performance''
by Moon, Krystyn R., pp 146-147 He became a film actor later in his life. At the age of 45, he ran a Chinese restaurant he bought in New York City called Jung Sy Mandarin Restaurant. He opened a second restaurant, Imig Sy, and both were strategically placed near Broadway. By the 1930s he returned to theater work, playing some minor roles until 1932, when he was cast as Wang Yun in the film, ''The Skull Murder Mystery''. He continued with minor roles, being cast as the servant of the detective, Mr. Wong, in the 1939 film ''

The Mystery of Mr. Wong ''The Mystery of Mr. Wong'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by William Nigh and starring Boris Karloff.Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster'', Tomahawk Press 2011 p 244 The film is the second in the series of Mr. Wong. ...

''. His last work was in ''

The Manchurian Candidate ''The Manchurian Candidate'' is a novel by Richard Condon, first published in 1959. It is a political thriller about the son of a prominent U.S. political family who is brainwashed into being an unwitting assassin for a Communist conspiracy. The ...

'', an uncredited role at the age of 87.

Early life

Born in 1875 in

Watsonville, California Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, located in the Monterey Bay Area of the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California. The population was 52,590 according to the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Predomi ...

, Lee was a son of Chinese immigrants. Lee's parents had started a laundry and grocery business in Watsonville, but they moved many times before finally settling in Ripon, California. In his youth, Lee had run away from home after growing pressure from his father to leave school and work full-time. Working as a servant, Lee was introduced to American music by his employers who had also encouraged him to go to school. A servant in the Oakland home of Zeno Mauvais, a local music store owner, Lee was influenced by Mae S. Mauvais, who worked in the Chinese Presbyterian Mission. Lee joined the church, sang in the mission choir, and played the piano and reed organ. Through the mission, Lee was taken in by Margaret Blake Alverson, a voice teacher who he worked with many years.

Early career

Lee first came in to the vaudeville stage in 1905. Hoping to dismantle the "racist attitudes that had been developing on the stage and in print media over the latter half of the nineteenth century," Lee fused yellowface, a caricature portrayal of Asians done by white actors, with "singing operatic and popular songs, doing ethnic impersonations, and exchanging comedic patter". By combining what the general public were familiar with, yellowface, and using his musical and comedic talent, Lee quickly gained recognition. His singing performance left many thinking that it was remarkable a Chinese man could sing this well. Lee broke the stereotype that Chinese musical ability were limited and inferior and became the forefront of Chinese Americans performing in American popular culture.

Touring and act

At the height of his career Lee toured vaudeville theaters from United States, Canada, and Europe. In these 14 years of touring, Lee's vaudeville acts mainly consisted of singing operatic and popular songs as well as caricature acting of the Irish, Scottish, and Chinese. Lee's most famous sets were of mocking stereotypes of Chinese immigrants and Scottish caricatures, which he based on Harry Lauder's character Highlander. Lee trained for various songs to implement in his routine. His light operatic work were also challenging such as "The Watcher" (1846), "The Holy City" (1892), and "Thora" (1905). Lee also performed many popular acts such as numbers from Tin Pan Alley and "My Own United States" (1909) a song from a Civil War-themed musical, When Johnny comes Marching Home.

Acting in Hollywood

By the 1920s, Lee stopped performing in vaudeville and had worked in his restaurant in New York City. Lee was also married in 1918 and had family commitments to uphold. Lee moved back to Los Angeles and started acting in films as talkies became popular. Lee played minor roles that were often stereotypical of Asians. In at least 39 films, Lee's roles were of the immigrant workers, cooks, servants, waiters, and laundrymen. Some of Lee's most notable appearances are in '' They Knew What They Wanted'' (1940) and ''

Phantom of Chinatown ''Phantom of Chinatown'' is a 1940 American mystery film directed by Phil Rosen starring Keye Luke. This is the last of the Mr. Wong films and the only one to star Luke in the role originated by Boris Karloff. Plot After participating in an ex ...

'' (1940). He also appeared in a 1950 episode of ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

.''

Partial filmography

*''

The General Died at Dawn ''The General Died at Dawn'' is a 1936 American drama film that tells the story of a mercenary who meets a beautiful girl while trying to keep arms from getting to a vicious warlord in war-torn China. The movie was written by Charles G. Booth and ...

'' (1936)''The American Film Institute Catalog'' Feature Films 1931-1940
The American Film Institute, University of California Press, Pg 248 - Mr. Chen *''

Stowaway A stowaway or clandestine traveller is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as a ship, an aircraft, a train, cargo truck or bus. Sometimes, the purpose is to get from one place to another without paying for transportation. In other cas ...

'' (1936) - Bartender (uncredited) *''

Waikiki Wedding ''Waikiki Wedding'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, and Shirley Ross. Crosby plays the part of Tony Marvin, a PR man charged with extolling the virtues of the Territory ...

'' (1937) - Gardener (uncredited) *''

Top of the Town ''Top of the Town'' was a 1950s radio programme, broadcast on the BBC Light Programme and hosted by Terry-Thomas. The pilot episode was broadcast on 5 June 1953 on the BBC Home Service; the first series started shortly afterwards, on 1 November ...

'' (1937) - Chinese Ambassador (uncredited) *'' Thank You, Mr Moto'' (1937) - Man Questioned by Authorities (uncredited) *'' Change of Heart'' (1938) - Chinese Laundryman (uncredited) *''

Mr. Wong, Detective ''Mr. Wong, Detective'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by William Nigh and starring Boris Karloff in his first appearance as Mr. Wong.Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster'', Tomahawk Press 2011 p. 223-224 Plot Simon D ...

'' (1938) - Tchin *'' Red Barry'' (1938, Serial) - Importation Store Clerk (uncredited) *'' Stand Up and Fight'' (1939) - Chinese Cook (scenes deleted) *''

'' (1939) - Willie *'' Mr. Wong in Chinatown'' (1939) - Willie *''

Barricade Barricade (from the French ''barrique'' - 'barrel') is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction. Adopted as a military term, a barricade denot ...

'' (1939) - Houseboy (uncredited) *''

Dance Girl Dance ''Dance Girl Dance'' is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film directed by Frank Strayer from an original screenplay by Robert Ellis. The picture stars Alan Dinehart, Evalyn Knapp, and Edward Nugent, and premiered on September 1, 1933. Cast ...

'' (1940)nytimes.com
''The Screen in Review; Laughton in 'They Knew What They Wanted' at Music Hall--Dance, Girl, Dance' at Palace--New Films at Loew's State, Rialto and Cinecitta'' by Bosley Crowther, New York Times, Published: October 11, 1940 *''

Phantom Raiders ''Phantom Raiders'' is a 1940 film, the second in the series starring Walter Pidgeon as detective Nick Carter. The film was part of a movie trilogy based on original stories featuring the character from the long-running ''Nick Carter, Detective'' ...

'' (1940) - Mr. Yamamoto (uncredited) *'' They Knew What They Wanted'' (1940) - Ah Gee, the Cook *''

'' (1940) - Foo *''

Flight Command ''Flight Command'' is a 1940 American film about a cocky U.S. Navy pilot who has problems with his new squadron and with the wife of his commander. It stars Robert Taylor, Ruth Hussey and Walter Pidgeon. ''Flight Command'' has the distinction of ...

'' (1940) - Jung, Gary's Servant (uncredited) *''

Dead Men Tell ''Dead Men Tell'' is a 1941 American mystery film starring Sidney Toler, who played Charlie Chan in 22 feature films, beginning with ''Charlie Chan in Honolulu'' (1938), and ending with '' The Trap'' (1946). The first 11 Charlie Chan films were p ...

'' (1941) - Wu Mei (uncredited) *''

They Met in Bombay ''They Met in Bombay '' is a 1941 American adventure drama film directed by Clarence Brown, and starring Clark Gable and Rosalind Russell, with Peter Lorre.''Variety'' film review; June 25, 1941, page 16.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; July 5 ...

'' (1941) - Elder Foo Sing (uncredited) *''

Accent on Love ''Accent on Love'' is a 1941 American drama film directed and filmed by Ray McCarey and written by John Larkin. The film stars George Montgomery, Osa Massen, J. Carrol Naish, Cobina Wright, Stanley Clements and Minerva Urecal. It was released ...

'' (1941) - Chinese Man in Courtroom (uncredited) *''

Passage from Hong Kong ''Passage from Hong Kong'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by D. Ross Lederman and written by Fred Niblo Jr. and Earl Derr Biggers. The film stars Lucile Fairbanks, Douglas Kennedy, Paul Cavanagh, Richard Ainley, Marjorie Gateson and ...

'' (1941) - Porter (uncredited) *''

Secret of the Wastelands ''Secret of the Wasteland'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Derwin Abrahams and written by Gerald Geraghty. The film stars William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Brad King, Soo Yong, Barbara Britton, Douglas Fowley and Keith Richards. The ...

'' (1941) - Doy Kee *''

The Tuttles of Tahiti ''The Tuttles of Tahiti'' is a 1942 American adventure comedy romance film directed by Charles Vidor and starring Charles Laughton and Jon Hall. It was based on the novel ''No More Gas'' by James Norman Hall and Charles Nordhoff. Plot When mer ...

'' (1942) - Islander (uncredited) *''

Invisible Agent ''Invisible Agent'' is a 1942 American action and spy film directed by Edwin L. Marin with a screenplay written by Curt Siodmak. The invisible agent is played by Jon Hall, with Peter Lorre and Sir Cedric Hardwicke as members of the Axis, and ...

'' (1942) - Gen. Chin Lee (uncredited) *''

Somewhere I'll Find You ''Somewhere I'll Find You'' is a 1942 film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Clark Gable and Lana Turner, released by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. The film took almost two years to complete and was the last film Gable starred in before he enlisted ...

'' (1942) - Chinese Doctor (uncredited) *''

Across the Pacific ''Across the Pacific'' is a 1942 American spy film set on the eve of the entry of the United States into World War II. It was directed first by John Huston, then by Vincent Sherman after Huston joined the United States Army Signal Corps. It sta ...

'' (1942)nytimes.com
''THE SCREEN; 'Across the Pacific,' Featuring Humphrey Bogart and Sydney Greenstreet in a Tingling Thriller, Arrives at Strand'' By Bosley Crowther, New York Times, Published: September 5, 1942 - Sam Wing On *''

Mission to Moscow ''Mission to Moscow'' is a 1943 film directed by Michael Curtiz, based on the 1941 book by the former U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, Joseph E. Davies. The movie chronicles the experiences of the second American ambassador to the Soviet ...

'' (1943) - Tsiang Ting Fu - Chinese Ambassador (uncredited) *''

Night Plane from Chungking ''Night Plane from Chungking'' (also known as ''China Pass'' and ''Sky Over China'') is a 1943 American war film released by Paramount Pictures, directed by Ralph Murphy, and produced by Michael Kraike and Walter MacEwen from a screenplay by Le ...

'' (1943) - Bus Driver (uncredited) *'' Behind the Rising Sun'' (1943) - Dinner Guest (uncredited) *''

The Purple Heart ''The Purple Heart'' is a 1944 American black-and-white war film, produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, directed by Lewis Milestone, and starring Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, Don "Red" Barry, Sam Levene and Trudy Marshall. Eighteen-year-old Farley ...

'' (1944) - Judge (uncredited) *'' Dragon Seed'' (1944) - Innkeeper (uncredited) *''

Barbary Coast Gent ''Barbary Coast Gent'' is a 1944 American Western comedy film set in 1880s San Francisco's Barbary Coast and Nevada starring Wallace Beery. The movie was directed by Roy Del Ruth and features Binnie Barnes, Beery's brother Noah Beery, Sr., Joh ...

'' (1944) - Wong Gee (uncredited) *'' Laura'' (1944)nytimes.com
''At the Roxy'', by T.M.P., New York Times, Published: October 12, 1944 - Waldo's Servant (uncredited) *''

Mrs. Parkington ''Mrs. Parkington'' is a 1944 drama film. It tells the story of a woman's life, told via flashbacks, from boarding house maid to society matron. The movie was adapted by Polly James and Robert Thoeren from the novel by Louis Bromfield. It was ...

'' (1944) - Sam (uncredited) *''

They Were Expendable ''They Were Expendable'' is a 1945 American war film directed by John Ford, starring Robert Montgomery and John Wayne, and featuring Donna Reed. The film is based on the 1942 novel of the same name by William Lindsay White, relating the story ...

'' (1945) - Asian Bartender (uncredited) *''

It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog ''It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog'' is a 1946 American comedy crime film starring Carole Landis, Allyn Joslyn and Margo Woode, and directed by Herbert I. Leeds.Fleming p.270 Synopsis After returning from World War II, a journalist is assigned by h ...

'' (1946) - Laundryman (uncredited) *''

The Show-Off ''The Show-Off'' is a 1924 stage play by George Kelly about a working-class North Philadelphian family's reluctance to accept their daughter's suitor Aubrey Piper, an overly confident Socialist buffoon. The play has been revived five times on Bro ...

'' (1946) - Chinese Waiter (uncredited) *''

Calcutta Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...

'' (1947) - Kim (uncredited) *'' Heaven Only Knows'' (1947) - Thank You (uncredited) *'' The Chinese Ring'' (1947) - Armstrong's Butler (uncredited) *''

Sleep, My Love ''Sleep, My Love'' is a 1948 American noir film directed by Douglas Sirk. It features Claudette Colbert, Robert Cummings and Don Ameche. Plot Alison Courtland, a wealthy New Yorker, hasn't a clue how she ended up on a train bound for Boston. Wh ...

'' (1948) - Wedding Official (uncredited) *''

Saigon , population_density_km2 = 4,292 , population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2 , population_demonym = Saigonese , blank_name = GRP (Nominal) , blank_info = 2019 , blank1_name = – Total , blank1_ ...

'' (1948) - Chinese Farmer (uncredited) *'' The Checkered Coat'' (1948) - Kim *'' The Golden Eye'' (1948) - Wong Fai (uncredited) *'' Luxury Liner'' (1948) - Fu Dong, Chinese Chef (uncredited) *'' Strange Gamble'' (1948) - Wong *'' Criss Cross'' (1949) - Chinese Cook (uncredited) *''

The Stratton Story ''The Stratton Story'' is a 1949 American biographical film directed by Sam Wood that tells the true story of Monty Stratton, a Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1934 to 1938. The film is the first of three ...

'' (1949) - Waiter (uncredited) *''

The Gay Amigo '' The Gay Amigo '' is a 1949 American Western film starring Duncan Renaldo in the lead role of The Cisco Kid. This film was one entry in a series of Cisco Kid B Westerns produced by Philip N. Krasne. Ziv Television Programs later advanced m ...

'' (1949) - Lee - Cantina Cook (uncredited) *'' Mighty Joe Young'' (1949) - Chinese Waiter (uncredited) *''There's a Girl in My Heart'' (1949) - Charlie Li *'' Annie Get Your Gun'' (1950) - Chinese Cook on Train (uncredited) *''

The Cariboo Trail ''The Cariboo Trail'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Randolph Scott. It was the final film appearance of George "Gabby" Hayes. Plot Montanans Jim Redfern and Mike Evans head into Canada's British Colum ...

'' (1950)''Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide''
By Leonard Maltin, pg 214 - Ling *''

California Passage ''California Passage'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane starring Forrest Tucker, Adele Mara and Estelita Rodriguez.Pitts, p. 52. Plot Cast * Forrest Tucker as Mike Prescott * Adele Mara as Beth Martin * Estelita Rodri ...

'' (1950) - Cook (uncredited) *'' Short Grass'' (1950) - Lin *''

The Thing from Another World ''The Thing from Another World'', sometimes referred to as just ''The Thing'', is a 1951 American black-and-white science fiction-horror film, directed by Christian Nyby, produced by Edward Lasker for Howard Hawks' Winchester Pictures Corporati ...

'' (1951) - Lee - a Cook (uncredited) *''

Smuggler's Island ''Smuggler's Island'' is a 1951 American Technicolor film noir adventure film directed by Edward Ludwig starring Jeff Chandler and Evelyn Keyes Chandler called the film one of his favourites because "I played myself". Around this time Chandler t ...

'' (1951) - Vito (uncredited) *''

China Corsair ''China Corsair'' is a 1951 American adventure film directed by Ray Nazarro, starring Jon Hall and Lisa Ferraday and released by Columbia Pictures. It was the film debut of Ernest Borgnine. Filming took place in February 1951. Ron Randell was u ...

'' (1951) - Police Captain Lee (uncredited) *''

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

'' (1952) - Chinese Waiter (uncredited) *''

Macao Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a pop ...

'' (1952) - Merchant (uncredited) *''

The World in His Arms ''The World in His Arms'' is a 1952 seafaring adventure film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth and Anthony Quinn, with John McIntire, Carl Esmond, Andrea King, Eugenie Leontovich, Hans Conried, and Sig Ruman. Made by U ...

'' (1952) - Chinese Proprietor (uncredited) *'' Soldier of Fortune'' (1955) - Chinese Cook (uncredited) *'' Love Is a Many Splendored Thing'' (1955) - Old Loo (uncredited) *''

Meet Me in Las Vegas ''Meet Me in Las Vegas'' (1956) is an MGM musical comedy produced by Joe Pasternak, directed by Roy Rowland (film director), Roy Rowland, filmed in Eastman Color and CinemaScope, and starring Dan Dailey and Cyd Charisse. The screenplay is by Iso ...

'' (1956) - Lee (uncredited) *'' Badlands of Montana'' (1957) - Ling *''

The Sheepman ''The Sheepman'' is a 1958 American Western comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Glenn Ford, Shirley MacLaine, and Leslie Nielsen. Plot Gambler Jason Sweet (Ford) wins a flock of sheep in a poker game and proceeds to take them b ...

'' (1958) - Willie, Proprietor of Restaurant (uncredited) *''

'' (1962) - Man in Lobby (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Foo, Lee Tung American male film actors American male actors of Chinese descent 1966 deaths 1875 births Male actors from Los Angeles 20th-century American male actors Vaudeville performers American male stage actors American restaurateurs