Kim Chan (December 28, 1917 – October 5, 2008) was a Chinese–American actor and producer. He was most notable for his roles as Lo Si, a.k.a. The Ancient, in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues and Mr. Kim in The Fifth Element.

Kim Chan
BornDecember 28, 1917
DiedOctober 5, 2008(2008-10-05) (aged 90)
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Years active1951–2007

Early life, family and education

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Kim Shung Chan was born in Guangdong, then under the government of the Republic of China. His father was a restaurant owner. Kim Chan emigrated to the US in 1928.[1]

Career

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Chan was a familiar character actor, especially when he was elderly. An early role that brought him notice was in the Martin Scorsese classic The King of Comedy with Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis, in which he played Lewis' butler.[2]

He played the character Lo Si a.k.a. The Ancient in 52 episodes of Kung Fu: The Legend Continues from 1993 thru 1997. He also played the villainous monk Ping Hai on the TV series.[2] The series was a revised version of the original 1973 classic, Kung Fu with both series starring David Carradine. He played the recurring villain The Eggman in four episodes of the science fiction TV series Now and Again. He appeared in many guest roles in series, including Mad About You (1998), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2002), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2004).

Other film roles include Uncle Benny Chan in Lethal Weapon 4(1998), the father of Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) in Shanghai Knights(2003), Mr. Kim in The Fifth Element (1997), [2] Fuji in Who's the Man? (1993), Benny Wong in The Corruptor(1999), The Master in Zen Noir (2004), and a cameo appearance as a waiter in Private Parts (1997). He was also a producer on Zen Noir. [2]

He was featured in a photography exhibit when he was in his 90s. In October 2009, a year after his death, Chan appeared on the cover of the journal The Gerontologist beside his photography portrait.[3]

Honors and awards

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In November 1999, the Screen Actors Guild presented Chan with an award for lifetime achievement.[4] He received another award for lifetime achievement in August 2004 at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.[5]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1957 A Face in the Crowd Commercial Spokesperson No Dialogue / Uncredited
1970 The Owl and the Pussycat Theatre Cashier
1979 Squadra antigangsters Chan Chu Kai Uncredited
1982 Soup for One Harold The Cook
1983 The King of Comedy Jonno
1984 Over the Brooklyn Bridge Japanese Buyer #2
1984 Moscow on the Hudson Chinese Customer
1984 The Cotton Club Ling
1985 Desperately Seeking Susan Park Bum
1985 Streetwalkin' Desk Clerk
1986 9½ Weeks Chinatown Butcher
1986 Gung Ho Member of Board
1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash Korean Flower Vendor
1986 No Mercy Old Asian Man
1987 Fatal Attraction Party Guest Uncredited
1989 Cookie Hong Kong Tailor
1989 Second Sight Chinese Store Owner
1990 Cadillac Man Dim Sum Cook
1990 Alice Dr. Yang's Patient
1991 Thousand Pieces of Gold Li Ping
1991 American Shaolin Master Kwan
1993 Who's the Man? Fuji
1994 Robot in the Family Massage Parlor Patron #1
1996 Breathing Room Meditation Teacher
1997 Private Parts Waiter
1997 The Fifth Element Mr. Kim
1997 The Devil's Advocate Chinese Man
1997 Kundun Second Chinese General
1998 Lethal Weapon 4 Benny 'Uncle Benny' Chan
1999 A Fish in the Bathtub Medicine Shop Owner
1999 The Corruptor Benny 'Uncle Benny' Wong
1999 On the Q.T. Asian Busker
2002 High Times' Potluck Saki
2003 Shanghai Knights Chon Wang's Father
2004 Zen Noir The Master
2005 The Honeymooners Quinn
2006 16 Blocks Sam
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Outlaws Mr. Luk
1990 Law & Order Juror
1993–1997 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Lo Si (The Ancient) / Ping Hai
1999–2000 Now and Again The Eggman
2004 Law & Order: SVU Mr. Zhang

References

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  1. ^ "Kim Chan Biography (1917-2008)". filmreference.com.
  2. ^ a b c d Grimes, William (2008-10-09). "Kim Chan, Who Had Roles in TV and 'King of Comedy,' Is Dead". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  3. ^ Levine, Jeffrey. "Cover Photo". The Gerontologist. Oxford Journals. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  4. ^ Millis, Mike (5 November 1999). "SAG to Honor Veteran Actor Kim Chan". Back Stage. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  5. ^ "RIIFF Awards". film-festival.org (Press release). Retrieved 16 January 2014.
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