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Burt Kwouk

Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk, OBE (Kwouk; /kwɒk/; Chinese: 郭弼; 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.

Burt Kwouk

Born
Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk[1]
郭弼

(1930-07-18)18 July 1930
Died24 May 2016(2016-05-24) (aged 85)
Hampstead, London, England
Years active1957–2012
Spouse
Caroline Tebbs
(m. 1961)
Children1

Early life edit

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, Maine.[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 edit

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 East Asian character was required. He appeared in the episode Assault Force in Return of the Saint. 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.

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 East Asian 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.[citation needed]

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 edit

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 edit

Kwouk died on 24 May 2016 at the age of 85, from cancer at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead.[21][7]

Selected filmography edit

Film edit

Television edit

Audio theatre edit

Video games edit

Miscellaneous edit

References edit

  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.
  4. ^ a b "Not Now, Cato! OBE for Pink Panther Star Kwouk". Press Association Regional Newswire – North West. 1 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Actor Burt Kwouk '53 Receives Honor from English Crown". Bowdoin College. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Kwouk, Burt". British Film Institute. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b Child, Ben (24 May 2016). "Burt Kwouk, Cato from Pink Panther, dies age 85". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Burt Kwouk, Cato in the Pink Panther films – a life in pictures". The Guardian. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Burt Kwouk". Bond Scenes. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. ^ Lewis, Roger (16 February 1995). The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. Arrow. p. 797. ISBN 978-0099747000.
  11. ^ "Obituary: Burt Kwouk". BBC News. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Burt Kwouk dies aged 85". BBC News. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  13. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (14 October 2002). Crime Fighting Heroes of Television: Over 10,000 Facts from 151 Shows, 1949–2001. McFarland & Co. p. 62. ISBN 978-0786413959.
  14. ^ Tang, Irwin (24 July 2003). . New America Media. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  15. ^ "Spirit Warriors". BBC. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  16. ^ Ronald Bergan (24 May 2016). "Burt Kwouk obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  17. ^ 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
  18. ^ England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916–2005; Registration district: St Pancras; Volume 14; Page 2309
  19. ^ "No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 11.
  20. ^ "New Year Honours unveiled". BBC News. 31 December 2010.
  21. ^ "Close friend pays tribute to Pink Panther actor Burt Kwouk". 24 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ Howard Reid, John (2009). Film Noir, Detective and Mystery Movies on DVD: A Guide to the Best in Suspense. p. 210. ISBN 9781435730106.
  23. ^ . British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  24. ^ "Curse of the Fly". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Our Man in Marrakesh". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u . British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  27. ^ a b c d Bergan, Ronald (24 May 2016). "Burt Kwouk obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  28. ^ McKie, Andrew (24 May 2016). "Obituary – Burt Kwouk, actor known as Inspector Clouseau's violent butler Cato". The Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  29. ^ "Shoestring". BBC. 21 December 1980. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  30. ^ "Minder – S2-E7 A Nice Little Wine". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  31. ^ ""Lovejoy" Eric of Arabia (TV Episode 1992) - IMDb". IMDb.
  32. ^ "Episode 01: Protect and Survive". SpacePrecinct.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  33. ^ "Judge John Deed – S4-E5 Separation of Powers". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  34. ^ "Pink Panther star Burt Kwouk dies aged 85". RTE. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  35. ^ "20. Loups-Garoux". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  36. ^ Fox, Matt (30 January 2013). The Video Games Guide: 1,000+ Arcade, Console and Computer Games, 1962–2012. McFarland. p. 101. ISBN 978-0786472574. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  37. ^ . Network. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.

External links edit

  • Burt Kwouk at IMDb
  • Burt Kwouk (Aveleyman)
  • Burt Kwouk(Kinotv)
  • Burt Kwouk discography at Discogs

burt, kwouk, herbert, tsangtse, kwouk, kwouk, chinese, 郭弼, july, 1930, 2016, british, actor, perhaps, best, known, role, cato, pink, panther, films, made, appearances, many, television, programmes, including, portrayal, imperial, japanese, army, major, yamauch. Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk OBE Kwouk k w ɒ k Chinese 郭弼 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 Burt KwoukOBEKwouk in The Shoes of the Fisherman 1968 BornHerbert Tsangtse Kwouk 1 郭弼 1930 07 18 18 July 1930Warrington Lancashire EnglandDied24 May 2016 2016 05 24 aged 85 Hampstead London EnglandYears active1957 2012SpouseCaroline Tebbs m 1961 wbr Children1Burt KwoukChinese郭弼TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinGuō BiWade GilesKo1 Pi4IPA kwo pi Yue CantoneseJyutpingGwok3 Bat6 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Selected filmography 5 1 Film 5 2 Television 5 3 Audio theatre 5 4 Video games 5 5 Miscellaneous 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editKwouk 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 Maine 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 editKwouk 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 East Asian character was required He appeared in the episode Assault Force in Return of the Saint 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 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 East Asian 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 citation needed 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 editKwouk 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 editKwouk died on 24 May 2016 at the age of 85 from cancer at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead 21 7 Selected filmography editFilm edit Windom s Way 1957 as Father Amyam s aide uncredited 6 The Inn of the Sixth Happiness 1958 as Li 6 Yesterday s Enemy 1959 as Japanese Soldier Upstairs and Downstairs 1959 as Chinese Restaurant Proprietor uncredited Expresso Bongo 1959 as Soho youth uncredited 6 Passport to China 1960 as Jimmy The Terror of the Tongs 1961 as Mr Ming 6 The Sinister Man 1961 as Capt Feng 22 Satan Never Sleeps 1962 as Ah Wang 23 The War Lover 1962 as Chung Radio Operator on B 17 uncredited The Cool Mikado 1963 as Art Teacher Man on Aeroplane uncredited 55 Days at Peking 1963 as Old Man voice A Shot in the Dark 1964 as Kato Clouseau s man servant 6 Goldfinger 1964 as Mr Ling 6 Curse of the Fly 1965 as Tai 24 Our Man in Marrakesh 1966 as Export manager 25 Lost Command 1966 as Officer 26 The Sandwich Man 1966 as Ice Cream Man 26 The Brides of Fu Manchu 1966 as Feng 26 Casino Royale 1967 as Chinese general uncredited 26 You Only Live Twice 1967 as Spectre 3 6 Nobody Runs Forever 1968 as Pham Chimh 26 The Shoes of the Fisherman 1968 as Chairman Peng 8 The Chairman 1969 as Chang Shou 26 Deep End 1970 as Hot Dog salesman 6 Madame Sin 1972 as Scarred Operator The Return of the Pink Panther 1975 as Cato Fong 6 Rollerball 1975 as Japanese doctor 6 Girls Come First 1975 as Sashimi 26 The Pink Panther Strikes Again 1976 as Cato 6 The Last Remake of Beau Geste 1977 as Father Shapiro 26 The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It 1977 as Chinese Delegate Revenge of the Pink Panther 1978 as Cato Fong 6 The London Connection 1979 as Man at Meeting uncredited The Fiendish Plot of Dr Fu Manchu 1980 as Fu Manchu s Servant 26 Trail of the Pink Panther 1982 as Cato Fong 6 Curse of the Pink Panther 1983 as Cato Fong 6 Plenty 1985 as Mr Aung 6 Empire of the Sun 1987 as Mr Chen 6 Race for Glory 1989 as Yoshiro Tanaka I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle 1990 as Fu King owner 26 Air America 1990 as General Lu Soong 26 Police Story 3 Super Cop 1992 as General voice uncredited Leon the Pig Farmer 1992 as Art collector 26 Carry On Columbus 1992 as Wang 26 Shooting Elizabeth 1992 as Father Chu Son of the Pink Panther 1993 as Cato Fong 6 She Good Fighter 1995 as Liang Peggy Su 1997 as Dad 6 China Dream 1998 as Min Ju Kiss of the Dragon 2001 as Uncle Tai 26 The Wonderland Experience 2002 as Yo Yo Beyond Borders 2003 as Colonel Gao 26 Gate to Heaven 2003 as Muki Stratosphere Girl 2004 as Papa San Les fils du vent 2004 as Wong Fat Slags 2004 as Dalai Lama Wake of Death 2004 as Tommy Li Television edit Hancock s Half Hour How to Win Money and Influence People 1957 as 1st Japanese credited as Burd Kwok 27 Danger Man 1961 as Chen Tung Tai 6 Man of the World 1962 as Liu 8 The Sentimental Agent 1963 as Chin 8 The Avengers 1961 1965 as Tusamo Mason King Tenuphon 6 The Saint 1965 1968 as Mr Ching Col Wing Tawau 6 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 8 Warship 1977 as Foreign Minister Zee Khay Lim The Water Margin 1976 1978 as Narrator English dub 6 It Ain t Half Hot Mum 1977 1978 as Me Thant 27 The Tomorrow People The Lost Gods 1978 as Matsu Tan Monkey Magic 1978 1979 as Narrator English dub 28 Shoestring 1980 as Mr Wing 29 Minder 1980 as Sojo 30 Tenko 1981 as Major Yamauchi 6 Doctor Who Four to Doomsday 1982 as Lin Futu 27 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 26 T Bag Bounces Back 1987 as Hi Hatt Noble House 1988 as Phillip Chen 26 The House of Eliott 1991 as Peter Lo Ching 6 Lovejoy 1992 Eric of Arabia as Banker 31 Lovejoy 1993 The Peking Gun as Mr Ying 8 Space Precinct 1994 Protect and Survive as Slik Ostrasky 32 Bullet to Beijing 1996 as Kim Soo The Harry Hill Show 1997 2000 26 Queen of Swords The Dragon 2001 as Master Kiyomassa 13 Banzai 2001 as Narrator 6 Last of the Summer Wine 2002 2010 as Entwistle 6 Judge John Deed 2005 Separation of Powers as Professor Vang Pao 33 Silent Witness 2006 Cargo as Jimmy Han 34 Honest 2008 as Mr Hong 26 Spirit Warriors 2009 as Shen 26 Whatever Happened to Harry Hill 2012 26 Audio theatre edit Doctor Who Loups Garoux 2001 as Doctor Hayashi 35 Video games edit Fire Warrior 2003 as El Lusha 27 EyeToy Play 2003 as Announcer 36 Miscellaneous edit 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 37 References edit a b c d Burt Kwouk actor obituary The Daily Telegraph 25 May 2016 Retrieved 25 May 2016 England amp Wales Birth Index 1916 2005 Registration district Manchester South Inferred County Cheshire Volume Number 8d Page Number 40 Obituary Burt Kwouk BBC News 24 May 2016 a b Not Now Cato OBE for Pink Panther Star Kwouk Press Association Regional Newswire North West 1 January 2011 Actor Burt Kwouk 53 Receives Honor from English Crown Bowdoin College 28 July 2011 Retrieved 24 May 2016 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Kwouk Burt British Film Institute Retrieved 24 May 2016 a b Child Ben 24 May 2016 Burt Kwouk Cato from Pink Panther dies age 85 The Guardian Retrieved 24 May 2016 a b c d e f Burt Kwouk Cato in the Pink Panther films a life in pictures The Guardian 24 May 2016 Retrieved 24 May 2016 Burt Kwouk Bond Scenes Retrieved 27 March 2023 Lewis Roger 16 February 1995 The Life and Death of Peter Sellers Arrow p 797 ISBN 978 0099747000 Obituary Burt Kwouk BBC News 24 May 2016 Retrieved 27 December 2020 Burt Kwouk dies aged 85 BBC News 24 May 2016 Retrieved 24 May 2016 a b Terrace Vincent 14 October 2002 Crime Fighting Heroes of Television Over 10 000 Facts from 151 Shows 1949 2001 McFarland amp Co p 62 ISBN 978 0786413959 Tang Irwin 24 July 2003 Fox s Banzai Premieres to Protests New America Media Archived from the original on 14 July 2011 Retrieved 8 November 2009 Spirit Warriors BBC Retrieved 25 May 2016 Ronald Bergan 24 May 2016 Burt Kwouk obituary The Guardian Retrieved 29 October 2019 England amp Wales Marriage Index 1916 2005 Date of Registration Jul Aug Sep 1961 Registration district Wandsworth Inferred County Surrey Volume Number 5d Page Number 1975 England amp Wales Birth Index 1916 2005 Registration district St Pancras Volume 14 Page 2309 No 59647 The London Gazette Supplement 31 December 2010 p 11 New Year Honours unveiled BBC News 31 December 2010 Close friend pays tribute to Pink Panther actor Burt Kwouk 24 May 2016 permanent dead link Howard Reid John 2009 Film Noir Detective and Mystery Movies on DVD A Guide to the Best in Suspense p 210 ISBN 9781435730106 Satan Never Sleeps British Film Institute Archived from the original on 14 August 2016 Retrieved 24 May 2016 Curse of the Fly Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved 25 May 2016 Our Man in Marrakesh Radio Times Retrieved 25 May 2016 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Burt Kwouk British Film Institute Archived from the original on 19 April 2016 Retrieved 25 May 2016 a b c d Bergan Ronald 24 May 2016 Burt Kwouk obituary The Guardian Retrieved 25 May 2016 McKie Andrew 24 May 2016 Obituary Burt Kwouk actor known as Inspector Clouseau s violent butler Cato The Herald Retrieved 25 May 2016 Shoestring BBC 21 December 1980 Retrieved 25 May 2016 Minder S2 E7 A Nice Little Wine Radio Times Retrieved 25 May 2016 Lovejoy Eric of Arabia TV Episode 1992 IMDb IMDb Episode 01 Protect and Survive SpacePrecinct com Retrieved 25 May 2016 Judge John Deed S4 E5 Separation of Powers Radio Times Retrieved 25 May 2016 Pink Panther star Burt Kwouk dies aged 85 RTE 24 May 2016 Retrieved 25 May 2016 20 Loups Garoux Big Finish Productions Retrieved 25 May 2016 Fox Matt 30 January 2013 The Video Games Guide 1 000 Arcade Console and Computer Games 1962 2012 McFarland p 101 ISBN 978 0786472574 Retrieved 25 May 2016 Network ON AIR gt Sentimental Agent The The Complete Series Network Archived from the original on 21 December 2016 Retrieved 24 May 2016 External links editBurt Kwouk at IMDb Burt Kwouk Aveleyman Burt Kwouk Kinotv Burt Kwouk discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Burt Kwouk amp oldid 1183094486, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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