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{{short description|British actor (1930–2016)}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| image          = Burt Kwouk in The Last of the Summer Wine.png
| image          = Burt Kwouk in The Last of the Summer Wine.png
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| caption        = Kwouk in ''Last of the Summer Wine''
| caption        = Kwouk in ''Last of the Summer Wine''
| birth_name      = Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk<ref name=telegraph_obit/><br>郭弼
| birth_name      = Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk<ref name=telegraph_obit/><br>郭弼
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|1930|7|18|df=yes}}
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|1930|07|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place    = [[Warrington]], [[Lancashire]], England
| birth_place    = [[Warrington]], [[Lancashire|Lancashire]], England
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|2016|5|24|1930|7|18|df=yes}}
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|2016|05|24|1930|07|18|df=yes}}
| death_place    = London, England
| death_place    = London, England
| years_active    = 1957–2012
| years_active    = 1957–2012
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}}
}}


'''Herbert Tsangtse [[Guo|Kwouk]]''', {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}  ({{IPAc-en|k|w|ɒ|k}}; {{zh|c=郭弼}}; 18 July 1930 – 24 May 2016) was a British actor, known for his role as [[List of The Pink Panther characters|Cato]] in the ''[[The Pink Panther (film series)|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 (TV series)|Tenko]]'' and as [[List of Last of the Summer Wine characters#'Electrical' Entwistle|Entwistle]] in ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]''.
'''Herbert Tsangtse [[Guo|Kwouk]]''', {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}  ({{IPAc-en|k|w|ɒ|k}}; {{zh|c=郭弼}}; 18 July 1930 – 24 May 2016) was a British actor, known for his role as [[List of The Pink Panther characters|Cato]] in the ''[[The Pink Panther (film series)|Pink Panther]]'' films. He made appearances in many television programmes, including a portrayal of [[Imperial Japanese Army|Imperial Japanese Army]] Major Yamauchi in the British drama series ''[[Tenko (TV series)|Tenko]]'' and as [[List of Last of the Summer Wine characters#'Electrical' Entwistle|Entwistle]] in ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]''.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Kwouk was born on 18 July 1930 in [[Warrington]],<ref name=telegraph_obit>{{Cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/05/24/burt-kwouk-actor--obituary/ | work = The Daily Telegraph | title= Burt Kwouk, actor – obituary |access-date = 25 May 2016| date = 25 May 2016}}</ref><ref>England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916–2005: Registration district: Manchester South; Inferred County: Cheshire; Volume Number: 8d; Page Number: 40</ref> [[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.<ref name=telegraph_obit/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19884660|title=Obituary: Burt Kwouk|work=BBC News|date=24 May 2016}}</ref> Between the ages of 12 and 16, he attended the Shanghai [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit Mission School]], which he described as "the Far East equivalent" of [[Eton College]].<ref name=telegraph_obit/> He left China in 1947 when his parents returned to Britain, and was sent to the United States to complete his education.<ref name="Not Now, Cato!">{{Cite news| title = Not Now, Cato! OBE for Pink Panther Star Kwouk| work = Press Association Regional Newswire – North West |date=1 January 2011}}</ref> In 1953, he graduated from [[Bowdoin College]] in [[Brunswick, Maine]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bowdoin.edu/news/archives/1bowdoincampus/008683.shtml| publisher = [[Bowdoin College]] | title = Actor Burt Kwouk '53 Receives Honor from English Crown | date = 28 July 2011 | access-date = 24 May 2016}}</ref> The Kwouk family fortune was lost in the [[Chinese Communist Revolution|Chinese communist revolution]] in the 1940s. In 1954, he returned to Britain, where a girlfriend "nagged [him] into acting".<ref name="Not Now, Cato!" />
Kwouk was born on 18 July 1930 in [[Warrington|Warrington]],<ref name=telegraph_obit>{{Cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/05/24/burt-kwouk-actor--obituary/ | work = The Daily Telegraph | title= Burt Kwouk, actor – obituary |access-date = 25 May 2016| date = 25 May 2016}}</ref><ref>England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916–2005: Registration district: Manchester South; Inferred County: Cheshire; Volume Number: 8d; Page Number: 40</ref> [[Lancashire|Lancashire]], to Chinese parents; his parents were on a business trip touring Europe. He was brought up in [[Shanghai|Shanghai]]; his father was a textile tycoon descended from a [[Tang dynasty|Tang dynasty]] general.<ref name=telegraph_obit/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19884660|title=Obituary: Burt Kwouk|work=BBC News|date=24 May 2016}}</ref> Between the ages of 12 and 16, he attended the Shanghai [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit Mission School]], which he described as "the Far East equivalent" of [[Eton College|Eton College]].<ref name=telegraph_obit/> He left China in 1947 when his parents returned to Britain, and was sent to the United States to complete his education.<ref name="Not Now, Cato!">{{Cite news| title = Not Now, Cato! OBE for Pink Panther Star Kwouk| work = Press Association Regional Newswire – North West |date=1 January 2011}}</ref> In 1953, he graduated from [[Bowdoin College|Bowdoin College]] in [[Brunswick, Maine|Brunswick]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bowdoin.edu/news/archives/1bowdoincampus/008683.shtml| publisher = [[Bowdoin College|]] | title = Actor Burt Kwouk '53 Receives Honor from English Crown | date = 28 July 2011 | access-date = 24 May 2016}}</ref> The Kwouk family fortune was lost in the [[Chinese Communist Revolution|Chinese communist revolution]] in the 1940s. In 1954, he returned to Britain, where a girlfriend "nagged [him] into acting".<ref name="Not Now, Cato!" />


==Career==
==Career==
Kwouk made his film debut in ''[[Windom's Way]]'' (1957). One of his earliest film roles was in ''[[The Inn of the Sixth Happiness]]'' (1958) in the role of the leader of a [[Prison riot|prison revolt]] who later aids the main character Gladys Aylward ([[Ingrid Bergman]]) in heroically leading orphans to safety.<ref name=bfibio/> He was best known for playing Cato Fong, [[Inspector Clouseau]]'s manservant, in the ''[[The Pink Panther (film series)|Pink Panther]]'' film series. The character was first introduced in ''[[A Shot in the Dark (1964 film)|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 [[running gag]] was that Cato was ordered to attack Clouseau when he least expected it to keep him alert, usually resulting in a ruined romantic encounter or Clouseau's flat being completely destroyed. Amid the chaos, the phone would ring and Cato would calmly answer it before dutifully handing the phone to his employer and being thumped by Clouseau.<ref name=guardobit/>
Kwouk made his film debut in ''[[Windom's Way|Windom's Way]]'' (1957). One of his earliest film roles was in ''[[The Inn of the Sixth Happiness|The Inn of the Sixth Happiness]]'' (1958) in the role of the leader of a [[Prison riot|prison revolt]] who later aids the main character Gladys Aylward ([[Ingrid Bergman|Ingrid Bergman]]) in heroically leading orphans to safety.<ref name=bfibio/> He was best known for playing Cato Fong, [[Inspector Clouseau|Inspector Clouseau]]'s manservant, in the ''[[The Pink Panther (film series)|Pink Panther]]'' film series. The character was first introduced in ''[[A Shot in the Dark (1964 film)|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 [[running gag|running gag]] was that Cato was ordered to attack Clouseau when he least expected it to keep him alert, usually resulting in a ruined romantic encounter or Clouseau's flat being completely destroyed. Amid the chaos, the phone would ring and Cato would calmly answer it before dutifully handing the phone to his employer and being thumped by Clouseau.<ref name=guardobit/>


He was a stalwart of several 1960s [[ITC Entertainment|ITC]] television series, such as ''[[Danger Man]]'', ''[[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]]'' and ''[[Man of the World (TV series)|Man of the World]]'', when an [[oriental]] character was required. Kwouk featured as one of the leads in the short-lived series ''[[The Sentimental Agent]]'' (1963)<ref name=guardpix>{{Cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/gallery/2016/may/24/burt-kwouk-cato-pink-panther-films-a-life-in-pictures | work = The Guardian | title= Burt Kwouk, Cato in the Pink Panther films – a life in pictures |access-date = 24 May 2016| date = 24 May 2016}}</ref> and had minor roles in three [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] films. In ''[[Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]]'' (1964), he played Mr. Ling, a Chinese expert in nuclear fission; in the [[James Bond in film#Non-Eon films|non-Eon]] spoof ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (1967), he played a general and, in ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' (also 1967), Kwouk played the part of a [[Japan]]ese operative of [[Ernst Stavro Blofeld|Blofeld]], credited as Spectre 3.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0477297/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1/  Burt Kwouk] at IMDB</ref> He appeared with [[Laurence Olivier]] and [[Anthony Quinn]] in ''[[The Shoes of the Fisherman]]'' (1968).{{Cn|date=June 2022}}
He was a stalwart of several 1960s [[ITC Entertainment|ITC]] television series, such as ''[[Danger Man|Danger Man]]'', ''[[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]]'' and ''[[Man of the World (TV series)|Man of the World]]'', when an [[oriental|oriental]] character was required. Kwouk featured as one of the leads in the short-lived series ''[[The Sentimental Agent]]'' (1963)<ref name=guardpix>{{Cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/gallery/2016/may/24/burt-kwouk-cato-pink-panther-films-a-life-in-pictures | work = The Guardian | title= Burt Kwouk, Cato in the Pink Panther films – a life in pictures |access-date = 24 May 2016| date = 24 May 2016}}</ref> and had minor roles in three [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] films. In ''[[Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]]'' (1964), he played Mr. Ling, a Chinese expert in nuclear fission; in the [[James Bond in film#Non-Eon films|non-Eon]] spoof ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (1967), he played a general and, in ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' (also 1967), Kwouk played the part of a [[Japan]]ese operative of [[Ernst Stavro Blofeld|Blofeld]], credited as Spectre 3.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0477297/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1/  Burt Kwouk] at IMDB</ref> He appeared with [[Laurence Olivier|Laurence Olivier]] and [[Anthony Quinn|Anthony Quinn]] in ''[[The Shoes of the Fisherman|The Shoes of the Fisherman]]'' (1968).


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."<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=biKazcH-dXoC&q=your+face+is+familiar+sellars+kwouk&pg=PA797 | title = The Life and Death of Peter Sellers | first = Roger | last = Lewis | page = 797 | publisher = Arrow | isbn = 978-0099747000 | date = 16 February 1995}}</ref> His next major role was as the honourable but misguided Major Yamauchi in the [[World War II]] television drama ''[[Tenko (TV series)|Tenko]]'' (1981–84). Kwouk featured in many British television productions that called for an oriental actor.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19884660| title = Obituary: Burt Kwouk| work =BBC News  | date = 24 May 2016 | access-date = 27 Dec 2020}}</ref> As a result, he became a familiar face in the United Kingdom and appeared as himself in the ''[[Harry Hill (TV series)|Harry Hill Show]]'' as well as several of Hill's live tours.<ref name=bbcobit>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36370997 | title = Burt Kwouk dies aged 85| work =BBC News  | date = 24 May 2016 | access-date = 24 May 2016}}</ref> Burt also had a cameo in ''[[Super Gran]]'' in 1985.{{Cn|date=June 2022}}
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|The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu]]'' (1980) where Sellers says to him "your face is familiar."<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=biKazcH-dXoC&q=your+face+is+familiar+sellars+kwouk&pg=PA797 | title = The Life and Death of Peter Sellers | first = Roger | last = Lewis | page = 797 | publisher = Arrow | isbn = 978-0099747000 | date = 16 February 1995}}</ref> His next major role was as the honourable but misguided Major Yamauchi in the [[World War II;|World War II;]] television drama ''[[Tenko (TV series)|Tenko]]'' (1981–84). Kwouk featured in many British television productions that called for an oriental actor.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19884660| title = Obituary: Burt Kwouk| work =BBC News  | date = 24 May 2016 | access-date = 27 Dec 2020}}</ref> As a result, he became a familiar face in the United Kingdom and appeared as himself in the ''[[Harry Hill (TV series)|Harry Hill Show]]'' as well as several of Hill's live tours.<ref name=bbcobit>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36370997 | title = Burt Kwouk dies aged 85| work =BBC News  | date = 24 May 2016 | access-date = 24 May 2016}}</ref> Burt also had a cameo in ''[[Super Gran|Super Gran]]'' in 1985.


In 2000, he appeared in an episode of the syndicated western TV series ''[[Queen of Swords (TV series)|Queen of Swords]]'' as Master Kiyomasa, an aged [[Japan]]ese warrior-priest. [[Sung-Hi Lee]] played his female pupil, Kami.<ref name=qos>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SE2nCgAAQBAJ&q=%22queen+of+swords%22+%22burt+kwouk%22&pg=PA62 | title = Crime Fighting Heroes of Television: Over 10,000 Facts from 151 Shows, 1949–2001 | first = Vincent | last = Terrace | page = 62 | publisher = McFarland & Co. | isbn = 978-0786413959 | date = 14 October 2002}}</ref> He provided [[voice-over]]s on the spoof Japanese betting show ''[[Banzai (TV series)|Banzai]]'' (2001–04) and subsequently appeared in adverts for the betting company, [[Bet365]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=57c22337b08c32b08c5b609516963223|title=Fox's 'Banzai' Premieres to Protests|last=Tang|first=Irwin|date=24 July 2003|publisher=New America Media|access-date=8 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714161520/http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=57c22337b08c32b08c5b609516963223|archive-date=14 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> From 2002 to the series's end in 2010, he had a [[regular character|regular role]] as one of the three main characters in the long-running series ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'', as [[List of Last of the Summer Wine characters#'Electrical' Entwistle|'Electrical' Entwistle]]. His later work also included [[voice acting]] for [[radio drama]], video games,<ref>{{Cite web | url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qbvzt | publisher = BBC | title = Spirit Warriors | access-date = 25 May 2016}}</ref> and television commercials.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/may/24/burt-kwouk-obituary|title=Burt Kwouk obituary|author=[[Ronald Bergan]]|work=The Guardian|date=24 May 2016|access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref>  
In 2000, he appeared in an episode of the syndicated western TV series ''[[Queen of Swords (TV series)|Queen of Swords]]'' as Master Kiyomasa, an aged [[Japan|Japan]]ese warrior-priest. [[Sung-Hi Lee|Sung-Hi Lee]] played his female pupil, Kami.<ref name=qos>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SE2nCgAAQBAJ&q=%22queen+of+swords%22+%22burt+kwouk%22&pg=PA62 | title = Crime Fighting Heroes of Television: Over 10,000 Facts from 151 Shows, 1949–2001 | first = Vincent | last = Terrace | page = 62 | publisher = McFarland & Co. | isbn = 978-0786413959 | date = 14 October 2002}}</ref> He provided [[voice-over|voice-over]]s on the spoof Japanese betting show ''[[Banzai (TV series)|Banzai]]'' (2001–04) and subsequently appeared in adverts for the betting company, [[Bet365|Bet365]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=57c22337b08c32b08c5b609516963223|title=Fox's 'Banzai' Premieres to Protests|last=Tang|first=Irwin|date=24 July 2003|publisher=New America Media|access-date=8 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714161520/http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=57c22337b08c32b08c5b609516963223|archive-date=14 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> From 2002 to the series's end in 2010, he had a [[regular character|regular role]] as one of the three main characters in the long-running series ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'', as [[List of Last of the Summer Wine characters#'Electrical' Entwistle|'Electrical' Entwistle]]. His later work also included [[voice acting|voice acting]] for [[radio drama|radio drama]], video games,<ref>{{Cite web | url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qbvzt | publisher = BBC | title = Spirit Warriors | access-date = 25 May 2016}}</ref> and television commercials.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/may/24/burt-kwouk-obituary|title=Burt Kwouk obituary|author=[[Ronald Bergan|Ronald Bergan]]|work=The Guardian|date=24 May 2016|access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Kwouk married Caroline Tebbs in [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], in the summer of 1961.<ref>England & Wales Marriage Index, 1916–2005; Date of Registration: Jul–Aug–Sep 1961; Registration district: Wandsworth; Inferred County: Surrey; Volume Number: 5d; Page Number: 1975</ref> Their son Christopher was born in 1974.<ref>England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916–2005; Registration district: St Pancras; Volume 14; Page 2309</ref> Kwouk was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2011 New Year Honours]] for services to drama.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=59647 |date=31 December 2010 |page=11 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12090365 | work=BBC News | title=New Year Honours unveiled | date=31 December 2010}}</ref> In later years, he lived in [[Hampstead]], London.
Kwouk married Caroline Tebbs in [[Wandsworth|Wandsworth]], [[London|London]], in the summer of 1961.<ref>England & Wales Marriage Index, 1916–2005; Date of Registration: Jul–Aug–Sep 1961; Registration district: Wandsworth; Inferred County: Surrey; Volume Number: 5d; Page Number: 1975</ref> Their son Christopher was born in 1974.<ref>England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916–2005; Registration district: St Pancras; Volume 14; Page 2309</ref> Kwouk was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2011 New Year Honours|2011 New Year Honours]] for services to drama.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=59647 |date=31 December 2010 |page=11 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12090365 | work=BBC News | title=New Year Honours unveiled | date=31 December 2010}}</ref> In later years, he lived in [[Hampstead|Hampstead]], London.


==Death==
==Death==
Kwouk died on 24 May 2016 at the age of 85, from cancer at the [[Marie Curie Hospice]] in [[Hampstead]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/close_friend_pays_tribute_to_pink_panther_actor_burt_kwouk_1_4548485|title = Close friend pays tribute to Pink Panther actor Burt Kwouk|date = 24 May 2016}}</ref><ref name=guardobit>{{Cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/may/24/burt-kwouk-cato-from-pink-panther-dies-age-85 | title = Burt Kwouk, Cato from Pink Panther, dies age 85 | work = The Guardian | access-date = 24 May 2016 | first = Ben | last= Child | date = 24 May 2016}}</ref>
Kwouk died on 24 May 2016 at the age of 85, from cancer at the [[Marie Curie Hospice|Marie Curie Hospice]] in [[Hampstead|Hampstead]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/close_friend_pays_tribute_to_pink_panther_actor_burt_kwouk_1_4548485|title = Close friend pays tribute to Pink Panther actor Burt Kwouk|date = 24 May 2016}}</ref><ref name=guardobit>{{Cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/may/24/burt-kwouk-cato-from-pink-panther-dies-age-85 | title = Burt Kwouk, Cato from Pink Panther, dies age 85 | work = The Guardian | access-date = 24 May 2016 | first = Ben | last= Child | date = 24 May 2016}}</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
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* [http://www.kinotv.com/page/bio.php?namecode=57463&q=0&l=en Burt Kwouk](Kinotv)
* [http://www.kinotv.com/page/bio.php?namecode=57463&q=0&l=en Burt Kwouk](Kinotv)
* {{Discogs artist|Burt Kwouk}}
* {{Discogs artist|Burt Kwouk}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwouk, Burt}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwouk, Burt}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:British male actors of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:British male actors of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]

Latest revision as of 09:51, 20 February 2023

Burt Kwouk
OBE
Burt Kwouk in The Last of the Summer Wine.png
Kwouk in Last of the Summer Wine
Born
Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk[1]
郭弼

(1930-07-18)18 July 1930
Warrington, Lancashire, England
Died24 May 2016(2016-05-24) (aged 85)
London, England
Years active1957–2012
Spouse
Caroline Tebbs
​
(m. 1961)​
Children1
Burt Kwouk
Chinese郭弼

Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk, OBE (/kwɒk/; Chinese: 郭弼; 18 July 1930 – 24 May 2016) was a British actor, 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,[1][2] 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.[1][3] 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.[1] He left China in 1947 when his parents returned to Britain, and was sent to the United States to complete his education.[4] In 1953, he graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick.[5] The Kwouk family fortune was lost in the Chinese communist revolution in the 1940s. In 1954, he returned to Britain, where a girlfriend "nagged [him] into acting".[4]

Career

Kwouk made his film debut in Windom's Way (1957). One of his earliest film roles was in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) in the role of the leader of a prison revolt who later aids the main character Gladys Aylward (Ingrid Bergman) in heroically leading orphans to safety.[6] He 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 running gag was that Cato was ordered to attack Clouseau when he least expected it to keep him alert, usually resulting in a ruined romantic encounter or Clouseau's flat being completely destroyed. Amid the chaos, the phone would ring and Cato would calmly answer it before dutifully handing the phone to his employer and being thumped by Clouseau.[7]

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. Kwouk featured as one of the leads in the short-lived series The Sentimental Agent (1963)[8] 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-Eon spoof Casino Royale (1967), he played a general and, in You Only Live Twice (also 1967), Kwouk played the part of a Japanese operative of Blofeld, credited as Spectre 3.[9] He appeared with Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn in The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968).

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."[10] His next major role was as the honourable but misguided Major Yamauchi in the World War II; television drama Tenko (1981–84). Kwouk featured in many British television productions that called for an oriental actor.[11] As a result, he became a familiar face in the United Kingdom and appeared as himself in the Harry Hill Show as well as several of Hill's live tours.[12] Burt also had a cameo in Super Gran in 1985.

In 2000, he 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.[13] He provided voice-overs on the spoof Japanese betting show Banzai (2001–04) and subsequently appeared in adverts for the betting company, Bet365.[14] From 2002 to the series's end in 2010, he had a regular role as one of the three main characters in the long-running series Last of the Summer Wine, as 'Electrical' Entwistle. His later work also included voice acting for radio drama, video games,[15] and television commercials.[16]

Personal life

Kwouk married Caroline Tebbs in Wandsworth, London, in the summer of 1961.[17] Their son Christopher was born in 1974.[18] Kwouk was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to drama.[19][20] 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.[21][7]

Selected filmography

Film

Television

Audio theatre

Video games

Miscellaneous

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Burt Kwouk, actor – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  2. ^ England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916–2005: Registration district: Manchester South; Inferred County: Cheshire; Volume Number: 8d; Page Number: 40
  3. ^ "Obituary: Burt Kwouk". BBC News. 24 May 2016.
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External links

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