Jack Soo, Acting - KorPlix:Korean Person Archives

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Jack Soo
Acting

Jack Soo
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1917-10-28,Oakland, California, U.S.
Gender
Male
Biography
A genial, laid back, slumber-eyed character player especially adept at the relaxed wisecrack or dry comment, Japanese-American actor Jack Soo was born in Oakland, California, in 1917, his real name being Goro Suzuki. In the post-WWII years, he entertained as a stand-up performer in nightclubs and had made a reasonable dent on the Midwest circuit by the time he earned his big break playing the club MC/comedian in the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit Broadway musical "Flower Drum Song" in 1958. Three years later, Soo was upgraded to the Sammy Wong character in the film version and decided to settle in Hollywood. Over the next decade, despite a typical lack of roles for Asian-Americans, he managed to find a niche for his hip, deadpan demeanor on TV and a few other films including Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963), the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), and John Wayne's controversial pro-Vietnam War film The Green Berets (1968). Soo is probably best remembered for his smart-aleck Detective Sgt. Nick Yemana on Barney Miller (1974), one of the more popular sitcoms of the 1970s alongside Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda. Sadly, he died of cancer during the show's fifth season in 1979 at the height of his popularity.

Filmography

The Green Berets

5.7

The Green Berets
1968-07-04

Flower Drum Song

6.271

Flower Drum Song
1961-11-09

Return from Witch Mountain

5.874

Return from Witch Mountain
1978-03-10

5

The Oscar
1966-03-04

6.6

She Lives!
1973-09-12

You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story

0

You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story
2009-03-15

Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?

6.063

Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
1963-12-25

Thoroughly Modern Millie

6.9

Thoroughly Modern Millie
1967-03-22

8

The Monk
1969-10-21

7.933

M*A*S*H
1972-09-17

7.821

The Odd Couple
1970-09-24

7.172

Hawaii Five-O
1968-09-20

7.353

Barney Miller
1975-01-23

Valentine's Day

8

Valentine's Day
1964-09-18

6.855

Ironside
1967-03-28

6.422

Police Woman
1974-09-13

7

Police Story
1973-03-20

6.444

Julia
1968-09-17

6.5

Amy Prentiss
1974-12-01

0

Summer Fun
1966-07-22

6.333

Busting Loose
1977-01-17

The Mike Douglas Show

5.8

The Mike Douglas Show
1961-12-11

6.855

Ironside
1967-03-28

7.933

M*A*S*H
1972-09-17

7.353

Barney Miller
1975-01-23

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

6.714

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968-01-22