Burt Kwouk

Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk ( Kwouk; ; ; 18 July 1930 – 24 May 2016) was a British actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Cato in the '' Pink Panther'' films. He made appearances in many television programmes, including a portrayal of Imperial Japanese Army Major Yamauchi in the British drama series '' Tenko'' and as Entwistle in ''Last of the Summer Wine''.

Early life

Kwouk was born on 18 July 1930 in Warrington, Lancashire, to Chinese parents; his parents were on a business trip touring Europe. He was brought up in Shanghai; his father was a textile tycoon descended from a Tang dynasty general. Between the ages of 12 and 16, he attended the Shanghai Jesuit Mission School, which he described as "the Far East equivalent" of Eton College. He left China in 1947 when his parents returned to Britain, and was sent to the United States to complete his education. In 1953, he graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. The Kwouk family fortune was lost in the Chinese communist revolution in the 1940s. In 1954, he returned to Britain, where a girlfriend "nagged iminto acting".

Career

Kwouk made his film debut with an uncredited part in '' Windom's Way'' (1957). His next film role in '' The Inn of the Sixth Happiness'' (1958) was described as his "big break"; Kwouk featured as the leader of a prison revolt who later aids the main starring character Gladys Aylward (Ingrid Bergman) in heroically leading orphans to safety.

Kwouk was best known for playing Cato Fong, Inspector Clouseau's manservant, in the '' Pink Panther'' film series. The character was first introduced in '' A Shot in the Dark'' (1964), the second film in the series, and was a role that Kwouk would reprise on another six occasions until the 2006 series reboot. The Pink Panther series used a running gag; Cato was ordered to attack Clouseau when he least expected it to keep Clouseau alert, usually resulting in a ruined romantic encounter or Clouseau's flat being completely destroyed. Amidst the chaos, the phone would ring and Cato would calmly answer it before dutifully handing the phone to his employer and being thumped again by Clouseau.

He was a stalwart of several 1960s ITC television series, such as ''Danger Man'', '' The Saint'' and '' Man of the World'', when an oriental character was required. He appeared in the episode "Assault Force" in '' Return of the Saint''. Kwouk also featured as one of the leads in the short-lived series '' The Sentimental Agent'' (1963) and had minor roles in three James Bond films. In '' Goldfinger'' (1964), he played Mr Ling, a Chinese expert in nuclear fission; in the non-Ian Fleming spoof '' Casino Royale'' (1967), he played a general; in '' You Only Live Twice'' (1967), Kwouk is a Japanese operative of Blofeld, credited as Spectre 3. He also appeared with Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn in ''The Shoes of the Fisherman''.

A reference to Kwouk's appearances in several films with Peter Sellers is found in the opening scene of '' The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu'' (1980) where Sellers says to him "your face is familiar." His next major role was as the honourable but misguided Major Yamauchi in the BBC World War II television drama '' Tenko'' (1981–1984). Kwouk featured in many British television productions that called for an Oriental actor. As a result, he became a well-known face in the United Kingdom and appeared as himself in the '' Harry Hill Show'', in addition to supporting several of Hill's live tours. Kwouk had a guest role in '' Super Gran'' in 1985, appearing as himself in the episode "Super Gran and the TV Villains". He also played a supportive role in the 1985 '' RKO'' film '' Plenty (film)'', portraying a Burmese diplomat at a dinner party.

In 2000, Kwouk appeared in an episode of the syndicated western TV series '' Queen of Swords'' as Master Kiyomasa, an aged Japanese warrior-priest; Sung-Hi Lee played his female pupil, Kami. He provided voice-overs on the spoof Japanese betting show '' Banzai'' (2001–2004) and subsequently appeared in adverts for the betting company, Bet365. From 2002 to 2010 Kwouk had a regular role as one of the three main characters in the long-running BBC series ''Last of the Summer Wine'', featuring as 'Electrical' Entwistle. His later work also included voice acting for radio drama, video games, and television commercials.

Personal life

Kwouk married Caroline Tebbs in Wandsworth, London, in the summer of 1961. Their son was born in 1974. Kwouk was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to drama. In later years, he lived in Hampstead, London.

Death

Kwouk died on 24 May 2016 at the age of 85, from cancer, at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead.

Selected filmography

Film

Television

* ''Hancock's Half Hour'': "How to Win Money and Influence People" (1957) as 1st Japanese (credited as Burd Kwouk)
* ''Danger Man'' (1961) as Chen Tung / Tai
* '' Man of the World'' (1962) as Liu
* '' The Sentimental Agent'' (1963) as Chin
* '' The Avengers'' (1961-1965) as Tusamo / Mason / King Tenuphon
* '' The Saint'' (1965-1968) as Mr Ching / Col. Wing / Tawau
* ''The Champions'': "The Beginning" (1967) as Chinese Major
* '' Shirley's World'': "A Hell of an Engineer" (1972) as Shunji
* '' Lucky Feller'' (1976) as Chinese waiter
* ''Warship'' (1977) as Foreign Minister Zee Khay Lim
* '' The Water Margin'': (1976–1978) as Narrator (English dub)
* '' It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' (1977–1978) as Me Thant
* ''The Tomorrow People'': "The Lost Gods" (1978) as Matsu Tan
* '' Monkey Magic'' (1978–1979) as Narrator (English dub)
* '' Shoestring'' (1980) as Mr Wing
* '' Minder'' (1980) as Sojo
* '' Tenko'' (1981) as Major Yamauchi
* ''Doctor Who'': " Four to Doomsday" (1982) as Lin Futu
* '' Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense'': "Mark of the Devil" (1984) as Lee
* '' Tickle on the Tum'' (1984) as Willie Wok
* '' Howards' Way'' (1987) as Mr Lee
* '' T-Bag Bounces Back'' (1987) as Hi Hatt
* '' Noble House'' (1988) as Phillip Chen
* ''The House of Eliott'' (1991) as Peter Lo Ching
* ''Lovejoy'' (1992, "Eric of Arabia") as Banker
* ''Lovejoy'' (1993, "The Peking Gun") as Mr Ying
* '' Space Precinct'' (1994, "Protect and Survive") as Slik Ostrasky
* '' Bullet to Beijing'' (1996) as Kim Soo
* '' The Harry Hill Show'' (1997–2000)
* ''Arabian Nights'' (2000) as Caliph Beder
* '' Queen of Swords'': "The Dragon" (2001) as Master Kiyomassa
* '' Banzai'' (2001) as Narrator
* ''Last of the Summer Wine'' (2002–2010) as Entwistle
* '' Judge John Deed'' (2005, "Separation of Powers") as Professor Vang Pao
* '' Silent Witness'' (2006, "Cargo") as Jimmy Han
* '' Honest'' (2008) as Mr Hong
* '' Spirit Warriors'' (2009) as Shen
* '' Whatever Happened to Harry Hill'' (2012)

Audio theatre

* ''Doctor Who: Loups-Garoux'' (2001) as Doctor Hayashi

Video games

* '' Fire Warrior'' (2003) as El'Lusha
* '' EyeToy: Play'' (2003) as Announcer

Miscellaneous

* Film trailer – ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' (1974) as Asian Voiceover Announcer
* A 17-minute interview with Burt Kwouk from 2010 about his appearances in ITC shows is featured on the Network DVD '' The Sentimental Agent''.

References

External links

*

Burt Kwouk
(Aveleyman)

Burt Kwouk
Kinotv)
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwouk, Burt
1930 births
2016 deaths
20th-century English male actors
21st-century English male actors
Bowdoin College alumni
Deaths from cancer in England
English male film actors
English male television actors
English male voice actors
English people of Chinese descent
Male actors from Warrington
Male actors from Shanghai
Officers of the Order of the British Empire