Chao Li Chi
Actor, Writer
April 5, 1927 — October 16, 2010 (83 years)
Chao-Li Chi (冀朝理; 5 April 1927, Shanxi Province, China – 16 October 2010, Granada Hills, California) was a Chinese-American actor and dancer, one of the first native Chinese actors to break into Hollywood. He fled China at age 12 during the Second Sino-Japanese War, became an accomplished dancer who toured with Maya Deren, and studied acting through Pearl S. Buck's East-and-West Association. He was best known for his 227-episode run as Chao-Li on Falcon Crest (1981–1990). His film credits include Big Trouble in Little China (1986), The Joy Luck Club (1993), Blood Work (2002), and The Prestige (2006, his final film). On television he also appeared in M*A*S*H, Barney Miller, NYPD Blue, and Pushing Daisies. He was also a philosopher and teacher who promoted Taoist philosophy and Tai Chi in the U.S. He died peacefully in his sleep at age 83. No major awards are on record.
Filmography
| 2007 | Pushing Daisies · as Hua Jaing |
| 2006 | The Prestige · as Chung Ling Soo |
| 2006 | American Dreamz · as Chinese Premiere |
| 2005 | Wedding Crashers · as Old Chinese Man |
| 2002 | Robbery Homicide Division · as Wing Quang |
| 2002 | Blood Work · as Mr. Kang |
| 2002 | The Master of Disguise · as Mongolian |
| 2001 | Extremedays · as Grandpa G |
| 2000 | What's Cooking? · as Grandpa Nguyen |
| 2000 | The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood · as Chinese Man |
| 2000 | Now Chinatown · as Mr. Quong |
| 1999 | Providence · as Tao |
| 1998 | Martial Law · as Timothy Chang |
| 1997 | Still Breathing · as Formosa BartenderOn Plex |
| 1997 | Warriors of Virtue · as Master Chung |
| 1996 | The Nutty Professor · as Asian Man |
| 1996 | High Incident · as Cast |
| 1995 | The Single Guy · as Mr. Pao |
| 1994 | Party of Five · as Ling |
| 1993 | The Joy Luck Club · as Canning Woo |
| 1993 | NYPD Blue · as Mr. Shen |
| 1993 | Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story · as Elder |
| 1993 | Eye of the Stranger · as Mr. Lee |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series · as Yoru (voice) |
| 1991 | Civil Wars · as Kee Mun Ki |
| 1991 | Extralarge · as Wong |
| 1991 | Seeds of Tragedy · as Dishwasher |
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China · as Uncle Chu |
| 1982 | Faerie Tale Theatre · as Gardener |
| 1981 | Falcon Crest · as Chao-LiOn Plex |
| 1981 | The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire · as Astrologer |
| 1981 | Eyewitness · as Mr. Long |
| 1980 | First Family · as Chinese Ambassador |
| 1980 | |
| 1980 | Battle Creek Brawl · as KwanOn Plex |
| 1980 | The Dream Merchants · as Chinese Man |
| 1979 | |
| 1979 | Hello, Larry · as Mr. Wong |
| 1978 | The Eddie Capra Mysteries · as Cook |
| 1977 | |
| 1977 | |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island · as The Elder |
| 1976 | Once an Eagle · as Chinese Doctor |
| 1976 | |
| 1976 | How the West Was Won · as Storekeeper |
| 1975 | |
| 1975 | Barney Miller · as Victor Ling (as Chao-Li Chi) |
| 1974 | Police Woman · as Butler |
| 1972 | The ABC Afterschool Special · as The Kurmese Ambassador |
| 1972 | M*A*S*H · as Korean Husband |
| 1958 | Naked City · as Curio Shop Owner |
| 2001 | In the Mirror of Maya Deren · as Himself |
| 1949 | Meditation on Violence · as Himself |