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Photo of Jack Soo

Jack Soo

Actor
Born October 28, 1917Died January 11, 1979 (61 years)
A genial, laid back, slumber-eyed character player especially adept at the relaxed wisecrack or dry comment, Japanese-American actor Jack Soo was born in Oakland, California, in 1917, his real name being Goro Suzuki. In the post-WWII years, he entertained as a stand-up performer in nightclubs and had made a reasonable dent on the Midwest circuit by the time he earned his big break playing the club MC/comedian in the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit Broadway musical "Flower Drum Song" in 1958. Three years later, Soo was upgraded to the Sammy Wong character in the film version and decided to settle in Hollywood. Over the next decade, despite a typical lack of roles for Asian-Americans, he managed to find a niche for his hip, deadpan demeanor on TV and a few other films including Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963), the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), and John Wayne's controversial pro-Vietnam War film The Green Berets (1968). Soo is probably best remembered for his smart-aleck Detective Sgt. Nick Yemana on Barney Miller (1974), one of the more popular sitcoms of the 1970s alongside Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda. Sadly, he died of cancer during the show's fifth season in 1979 at the height of his popularity.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Flower Drum Song

Known For

  • The Green Berets
  • Barney Miller
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie
  • Return from Witch Mountain
  • Flower Drum Song
  • Valentine's Day
  • Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?

Filmography

1978
Return from Witch Mountain · as Mr. "yo-Yo" Yokomoto
1977
Busting Loose (TV Series)
1975
Barney Miller (TV Series) · as Nick Yemana
1974
Amy Prentiss (TV Series)
1974
Police Woman (TV Series)
1973
She Lives! · as Dr. Osikawa
1973
Police Story (TV Series)
1972
M*A*S*H (TV Series) · as Quoc
1971
The Jimmy Stewart Show (TV Series) · as Woodrow Yamada
1970
The Odd Couple (TV Series) · as Chuk Mai Chin
1969
The Monk · as Hip Guy
1968
The Name of the Game (TV Series) · as Sergeant George Kwan
1968
Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) · as Sam Quong
1968
Julia (TV Series)
1968
The Green Berets · as Colonel Cai
1967
Ironside (TV Series) · as Joe Lee
1967
Thoroughly Modern Millie · as Oriental #1
1966
The Oscar · as Sam
1965
The Wackiest Ship in the Army (TV Series) · as Shiru
1964
Valentine's Day (TV Series)
1963
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? · as Yoshimi Hiroti
1961
Flower Drum Song · as 'sammy' Fong
1951
The Red Skelton Show (TV Series) · as Jimmy Howe
1950
The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) · as Jack Soo, The Japanese Agent

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