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Miyoshi Umeki (May 8th 1929 - August 28th 2007) was a Japanese-born American actress, who has the distinction of being the first actor of East Asian descent to win an Academy Award.
Born in Otaru, she got her start in show business as part of a GI jazz band with the US army - traveling and performing all around Japan. She was especially proficient in singing American style pop songs, and became quite popular on the radio and at nightclubs. Her popularity led to a move to America in 1955 - and she made her screen debut on the musical VarietyShow ''Arthur Godfrey and His Friends''. Her fame was about to skyrocket however.
Miyoshi Umeki (May 8th 1929 - August 28th 2007) was a Japanese-born American actress, who has the distinction of being the first actor of East Asian descent to win an Academy Award.
Born in Otaru, she got her start in show business as part of a GI jazz band with the US army - traveling and performing all around Japan. She was especially proficient in singing American style pop songs, and became quite popular on the radio and at nightclubs. Her popularity led to a move to America in 1955 - and she made her screen debut on the musical VarietyShow ''Arthur Godfrey and His Friends''. Her fame was about to skyrocket however.
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Miyoshi Umeki (May 8th 1929 - August 28th 2007) was a
Born in Otaru,
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/miyoshi.jpg]]
'''Miyoshi Umeki''' (May 8th 1929-August 28th 2007) was a Japanese-American actress, who has the distinction of being the first actor of East Asian descent to win an Academy Award.
'''Miyoshi Umeki''' (May 8th 1929-August 28th 2007) was a Japanese-American actress, who has the distinction of being the first actor of East Asian descent to win an Academy Award.
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The Creator/MarlonBrando vehicle ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' cast Miyoshi in a supporting role as Katsumi - a Japanese woman who marries an American AcePilot, and features persecution for it. The film was a hit, and Miyoshi won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 1957 Oscars. As of 2019, she is the only East Asian performer to win an Oscar. She was then cast as the lead in Rogers & Hammerstein's ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' and reprised her role in the film adaptation - which became the first Hollywood film to have an all-Asian cast.[[note]]Not completely; Madam Liang was played by the African-American Juanita Hall, and a caucasian mugger appears midway through.[[/note]]
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The Creator/MarlonBrando vehicle ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' cast Miyoshi in a supporting role as Katsumi - a Japanese woman who marries an American AcePilot, and features persecution for it. The film was a hit, and Miyoshi won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 1957 Oscars. As of 2019, she is the only East Asian performer to win an Oscar. She was then cast as the lead in Rogers & Hammerstein's ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' and reprised her role in the film adaptation - which became the first Hollywood film to have an all-Asian cast.[[note]]Not completely; Madam Liang was played by the African-American Juanita Hall, and a caucasian mugger appears midway through.[[/note]]
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* {{Typecasting}}:[[invoked]] Often as a YamatoNadeshiko.
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* {{Typecasting}}:[[invoked]] Often as a YamatoNadeshiko.YamatoNadeshiko.
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** In ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' she is billed sixth, even though her character is more of a presence than James Garner's Bailey or Martha Scott's Mrs Webster - who get third and fourth billing.
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** In ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' she is billed sixth, even though her character is more of a presence than James Garner's Creator/JamesGarner's Bailey or Martha Scott's Creator/MarthaScott's Mrs Webster - who get third and fourth billing.
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* ''Theatre/TheTeehouseOfTheAugustMoon'' (1962 MadeForTVMovie remake of the 1956 theatrical version) - Lotus Blossom
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* ''Theatre/TheTeehouseOfTheAugustMoon'' ''Theatre/TheTeahouseOfTheAugustMoon'' (1962 MadeForTVMovie remake of the 1956 theatrical version) - Lotus Blossom
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* RealitySubtext: Mei Li becomes fascinated with American culture when she moves there in ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'', paralleling how Miyoshi herself enjoyed American music in her childhood.
* ReclusiveArtist: After her retirement she rarely gave interviews.
* ReclusiveArtist: After her retirement she rarely gave interviews.
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* RealitySubtext: RealitySubtext:[[invoked]] Mei Li becomes fascinated with American culture when she moves there in ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'', paralleling how Miyoshi herself enjoyed American music in her childhood.
*ReclusiveArtist: ReclusiveArtist:[[invoked]] After her retirement she rarely gave interviews.
*
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* Typecasting: Often as a YamatoNadeshiko.
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* Typecasting: {{Typecasting}}:[[invoked]] Often as a YamatoNadeshiko.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/miyoshi.jpg]]
'''Miyoshi Umeki''' (May 8th 1929-August 28th 2007) was a Japanese-American actress, who has the distinction of being the first actor of East Asian descent to win an Academy Award.
Born in Otaru, she got her start in show business as part of a GI jazz band with the US army - traveling and performing all around Japan. She was especially proficient in singing American style pop songs, and became quite popular on the radio and at nightclubs. Her popularity led to a move to America in 1955 - and she made her screen debut on the musical VarietyShow ''Arthur Godfrey and His Friends''. Her fame was about to skyrocket however.
The Creator/MarlonBrando vehicle ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' cast Miyoshi in a supporting role as Katsumi - a Japanese woman who marries an American AcePilot, and features persecution for it. The film was a hit, and Miyoshi won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 1957 Oscars. As of 2019, she is the only East Asian performer to win an Oscar. She was then cast as the lead in Rogers & Hammerstein's ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' and reprised her role in the film adaptation - which became the first Hollywood film to have an all-Asian cast.[[note]]Not completely; Madam Liang was played by the African-American Juanita Hall, and a caucasian mugger appears midway through.[[/note]]
Following film and television appearances throughout the 1960s, she achieved another notable role in ''Series/TheCourtshipOfEddiesFather'' as Mrs Livington - the Japanese housekeeper. However, she announced a retirement from acting at the end of the 1960s, and spent the rest of her life running an editing business with her husband. She died of cancer in 2007.
!!Selected Filmography:
* ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' (1957) - Katsumi
* ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' (1961) - Mei Li
* ''The Horizontal Lieutenant'' (1962) - Akiko
* ''Theatre/TheTeehouseOfTheAugustMoon'' (1962 MadeForTVMovie remake of the 1956 theatrical version) - Lotus Blossom
* ''A Girl Named Tamiko'' (1962) - Eiko
* ''{{Series/Rawhide}}'' (1963) - Nami (episode "Incident of the Geisha")
* ''Series/MisterEdd'' (1964) - Ako Tenaka (episode "Ed in the Peace Corps")
* ''Series/TheCourtshipOfEddiesFather'' (1969-1972) - Mrs Livingston
!!Tropes associated with her work:
* BillingDisplacement:[[invoked]]
** ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' bills Creator/NancyKwan first (who was suddenly experiencing worldwide fame thanks to ''Film/TheWorldOfSuzieWong'') and Miyoshi is billed third - despite Mei Li being a more prominent character than Linda Low.
** In ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' she is billed sixth, even though her character is more of a presence than James Garner's Bailey or Martha Scott's Mrs Webster - who get third and fourth billing.
* TheCastShowOff: ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' allows her to show off her singing.
* CastingGag: In the remake of ''Teahouse of the August Moon'', she plays Lotus Blossom. She had starred with Marlon Brando in ''Sayonara'', who had appeared in the film version just one year previously.
* CreatorBacklash:[[invoked]] Her son later confessed that she wasn't happy having to speak pidgin English in ''Series/TheCourtshipOfEddiesFather'' but did so because she needed the work.
* DoItYourselfThemeTune: She sang the theme to ''{{Film/Sayonara}}''. She also sang the theme for the film ''Cry for Happy''.
* FakeNationality: ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' and ''Theatre/TheTeahouseOfTheAugustMoon'' see her playing Chinese characters.
* FunnyCharacterBoringActor: Inverted. Often cast as demure, quiet characters - she was known for being very witty and funny out of character.
* RealitySubtext: Mei Li becomes fascinated with American culture when she moves there in ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'', paralleling how Miyoshi herself enjoyed American music in her childhood.
* ReclusiveArtist: After her retirement she rarely gave interviews.
* StageNames: She first started out using Nancy Umeki, before using her own name in America.
* StarMakingRole:[[invoked]] ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' for sure!
* Typecasting: Often as a YamatoNadeshiko.
'''Miyoshi Umeki''' (May 8th 1929-August 28th 2007) was a Japanese-American actress, who has the distinction of being the first actor of East Asian descent to win an Academy Award.
Born in Otaru, she got her start in show business as part of a GI jazz band with the US army - traveling and performing all around Japan. She was especially proficient in singing American style pop songs, and became quite popular on the radio and at nightclubs. Her popularity led to a move to America in 1955 - and she made her screen debut on the musical VarietyShow ''Arthur Godfrey and His Friends''. Her fame was about to skyrocket however.
The Creator/MarlonBrando vehicle ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' cast Miyoshi in a supporting role as Katsumi - a Japanese woman who marries an American AcePilot, and features persecution for it. The film was a hit, and Miyoshi won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 1957 Oscars. As of 2019, she is the only East Asian performer to win an Oscar. She was then cast as the lead in Rogers & Hammerstein's ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' and reprised her role in the film adaptation - which became the first Hollywood film to have an all-Asian cast.[[note]]Not completely; Madam Liang was played by the African-American Juanita Hall, and a caucasian mugger appears midway through.[[/note]]
Following film and television appearances throughout the 1960s, she achieved another notable role in ''Series/TheCourtshipOfEddiesFather'' as Mrs Livington - the Japanese housekeeper. However, she announced a retirement from acting at the end of the 1960s, and spent the rest of her life running an editing business with her husband. She died of cancer in 2007.
!!Selected Filmography:
* ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' (1957) - Katsumi
* ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' (1961) - Mei Li
* ''The Horizontal Lieutenant'' (1962) - Akiko
* ''Theatre/TheTeehouseOfTheAugustMoon'' (1962 MadeForTVMovie remake of the 1956 theatrical version) - Lotus Blossom
* ''A Girl Named Tamiko'' (1962) - Eiko
* ''{{Series/Rawhide}}'' (1963) - Nami (episode "Incident of the Geisha")
* ''Series/MisterEdd'' (1964) - Ako Tenaka (episode "Ed in the Peace Corps")
* ''Series/TheCourtshipOfEddiesFather'' (1969-1972) - Mrs Livingston
!!Tropes associated with her work:
* BillingDisplacement:[[invoked]]
** ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' bills Creator/NancyKwan first (who was suddenly experiencing worldwide fame thanks to ''Film/TheWorldOfSuzieWong'') and Miyoshi is billed third - despite Mei Li being a more prominent character than Linda Low.
** In ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' she is billed sixth, even though her character is more of a presence than James Garner's Bailey or Martha Scott's Mrs Webster - who get third and fourth billing.
* TheCastShowOff: ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' allows her to show off her singing.
* CastingGag: In the remake of ''Teahouse of the August Moon'', she plays Lotus Blossom. She had starred with Marlon Brando in ''Sayonara'', who had appeared in the film version just one year previously.
* CreatorBacklash:[[invoked]] Her son later confessed that she wasn't happy having to speak pidgin English in ''Series/TheCourtshipOfEddiesFather'' but did so because she needed the work.
* DoItYourselfThemeTune: She sang the theme to ''{{Film/Sayonara}}''. She also sang the theme for the film ''Cry for Happy''.
* FakeNationality: ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' and ''Theatre/TheTeahouseOfTheAugustMoon'' see her playing Chinese characters.
* FunnyCharacterBoringActor: Inverted. Often cast as demure, quiet characters - she was known for being very witty and funny out of character.
* RealitySubtext: Mei Li becomes fascinated with American culture when she moves there in ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'', paralleling how Miyoshi herself enjoyed American music in her childhood.
* ReclusiveArtist: After her retirement she rarely gave interviews.
* StageNames: She first started out using Nancy Umeki, before using her own name in America.
* StarMakingRole:[[invoked]] ''{{Film/Sayonara}}'' for sure!
* Typecasting: Often as a YamatoNadeshiko.
