Kam Tong

Acting

Kam Tong

Born
Died
(aged 62)
Birthplace
San Francisco, California, USA
Credits
35 titles

Biography

Kam Tong (December 18, 1906 – November 8, 1969) was a Chinese-American actor. He was best known for his role as Hey Boy on the CBS television series Have Gun, Will Travel and as Dr. Li in the film version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song. Curiously, though appearing as a series regular on Have Gun, Will Travel he was never afforded a regular featured credit, always instead listed undistinguished from the support guest cast, perhaps an indication of inherent discrimination in that regard.

Kam was also a regular on the short run CBS-TV series Mr. Garlund in 1960. He appeared in many movies, often as an uncredited Chinese, Japanese, or Filipino character. He appeared in many television shows, including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Big Valley, The Time Tunnel, The Final War of Olly Winter, and I Spy.

After serving in World War II in an OSS intelligence unit, he became involved in efforts to raise awareness over gun violence. He also owned and operated a restaurant called Shanghai Lil's in San Francisco.

On November 8, 1969, Kam Tong died of non-communicable disease. At the time of his death, he was 63 years old. At the time of his death he survived by his large extended friends and family.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 35

YearTitleRole
1982 All The Wrong Shoes TV (20 ep)
1967 Kill a Dragon Film Win Lim
1966 CBS Playhouse TV Chief Elder (1 ep)
1966 Dimension 5 Film Kim Fong
1966 The Time Tunnel TV Sgt. Itsugi (1 ep)
1966 Mister Buddwing Film Dice Player
1966 Stagecoach Film
1966 Women of the Prehistoric Planet Film Jung
1965 The Big Valley TV Wing Lee, Key, Wong (1 ep)
1964 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. TV Yukio, Ra Pandu (1 ep)
1964 Espionage Target: You Film Mr. Kai (uncredited)
1963 It Happened at the World's Fair Film Uncle Walter Ling
1962 The Virginian TV Ning Yang, Chang (1 ep)
1961 Flower Drum Song Film Doctor Li
1961 Kraft Mystery Theatre TV (1 ep)
1960 Who Was That Lady? Film Lee Wong (uncredited)
1959 The Third Man TV (1 ep)
1958 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse TV (1 ep)
1957 Have Gun, Will Travel TV Hey Boy (91 ep)
1956 Telephone Time TV (1 ep)
1955 Crossroads TV Japanese Officer (1 ep)
1955 Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing Film Dr. Sen (uncredited)
1955 Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Film Chinese Busboy (uncredited)
1954 This Is My Love Film Harry
1954 The Lone Wolf TV Chang (1 ep)
1952 Cavalcade of America TV (1 ep)
1947 Dishonored Lady Film Courtland's Houseboy
1942 China Girl Film
1942 The Hidden Hand Film Mallo
1942 Across the Pacific Film T. Oki
1942 Rubber Racketeers Film Tom
1941 The Man Who Came to Dinner Film Chinese Guest (uncredited)
1940 Drums of Fu Manchu Film Crawford's Manservant
1938 International Settlement Film Waiter
1936 The General Died at Dawn Film Houseboy (uncredited)
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