Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk (; ; 18 July 1930 – 24 May 2016) was a British actor. He played 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, as Entwistle in Last of the Summer Wine and as himself in the Harry Hill Show.
Early life Kwouk was born on 18 July 1930 in Warrington,England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916–2005: Registration district: Manchester South; Inferred County: Cheshire; Volume Number: 8d; Page Number: 40 Lancashire, while his Chinese parents were on a business trip touring Europe. He was brought up in Shanghai, where his father, descended from a Tang dynasty general, was a textile tycoon. 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. He left China in 1947 when his parents returned to Britain, and was sent to the United States to complete his education. In 1953, he graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. 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".
Career Kwouk made his film debut with an uncredited part in Windom's Way (1957). His next film role in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) was described as his "big break"; Kwouk featured as the leader of a prison revolt who later aids the main starring character Gladys Aylward (Ingrid Bergman) in heroically leading orphans to safety.
Kwouk 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 Pink Panther series used a running gag; Cato was ordered to attack Clouseau when he least expected it to keep Clouseau alert, usually resulting in a ruined romantic encounter or Clouseau's flat being damaged or destroyed. Amidst the chaos, the phone would ring and Cato would calmly answer it before dutifully handing the phone to Clouseau who would then give Cato a final assault.
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. He appeared in the episode "Assault Force" in Return of the Saint. Kwouk also featured as one of the leads in the short-lived series The Sentimental Agent (1963) 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-Ian Fleming spoof Casino Royale (1967), he played a general; in You Only Live Twice (1967), Kwouk is a Japanese operative of Blofeld, credited as Spectre 3. He also appeared with Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn in The Shoes of the Fisherman.
A reference to Kwouk's appearances in several films as Cato with Peter Sellers is found in the opening scene of Seller's last film, The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980) where Sellers, as Fu Manchu says to him "your face is familiar." His next major role was as the honourable but misguided Major Yamauchi in the BBC World War II television drama Tenko (1981–1984). Kwouk featured in many British television productions that called for an Oriental actor. As a result, he became a well-known face in the United Kingdom and appeared as himself in the Harry Hill Show, in addition to supporting several of Hill's live tours. Kwouk had a guest role in Super Gran in 1985, appearing as himself in the episode "Super Gran and the TV Villains". He also played a supportive role in the 1985 RKO film Plenty, portraying a Burmese diplomat at a dinner party.
In 2000, Kwouk 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. He provided voice-overs on the spoof Japanese betting show Banzai (2001–2004) and subsequently appeared in adverts for the betting company, Bet365. From 2002 to 2010 Kwouk had a regular role as one of the three main characters in the long-running BBC series Last of the Summer Wine, featuring as 'Electrical' Entwistle. His later work also included voice acting for radio drama, video games, and television commercials.
Personal life Kwouk married Caroline Tebbs in Wandsworth, London, in the summer of 1961.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 Their son was born in 1974.England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916–2005; Registration district: St Pancras; Volume 14; Page 2309 Kwouk was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to drama. 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.
Selected filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1957Windom's WayFather Amyam's aideUncredited1958The Inn of the Sixth Happiness Li1959Yesterday's Enemy Japanese SoldierUpstairs and DownstairsChinese Restaurant Proprietor UncreditedExpresso Bongo Soho Youth1960Passport to China Jimmy1961The Terror of the TongsMr MingThe Sinister ManCapt. Feng1962Satan Never Sleeps Ah WengThe War LoverRadio OperatorUncredited1963The Cool MikadoArt Teacher/Man on Aeroplane55 Days at Peking Old ManVoice1964A Shot in the Dark Cato FongGoldfingerMr Ling1965Curse of the Fly Tai1966Our Man in Marrakesh Export ManagerLost Command OfficerThe Sandwich Man Ice Cream ManThe Brides of Fu ManchuFeng1967Casino Royale Chinese GeneralUncreditedYou Only Live Twice SPECTRE 3Dubbed1968Nobody Runs ForeverPam ChimhThe Shoes of the FishermanChairman Peng1969The Chairman Chang Shou1970Deep End Hot Dog Salesman1972Madame SinScarred Operator1974Just One More TimeSashimi1975The Return of the Pink PantherCato FongRollerballJapanese Doctor1976The Pink Panther Strikes AgainCato Fong1977The Last Remake of Beau Geste Father ShapiroThe Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know ItChinese Delegate1978Revenge of the Pink PantherCato Fong1979The London Connection Mat at MeetingUncredited1980The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu Fu Manchu's Servant1982Trail of the Pink Panther Cato Fong1983Curse of the Pink Panther1985Plenty Mr Aung1987Empire of the SunMr Chen1990I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle Fu King OwnerAir AmericaGeneral Lu Soong1992Police Story 3: Super Cop GeneralUncredited voiceLeon the Pig Farmer Art CollectorCarry On Columbus Wang1993Son of the Pink Panther Cato Fong1997Peggy Su! Dad2001Kiss of the Dragon Uncle Tai2003Beyond Borders Colonel Gao2004Stratosphere Girl Papa-SanFat SlagsDalai LamaWake of DeathTommy Li
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1957Hancock's Half Hour1st JapaneseEpisode: "How to Win Money and Influence People" 1961–1965The AvengersVarious3 episodes1961–1967Danger Man 5 episodes1961The Edgar Wallace Mystery TheaterCaptain FengEpisode: "The Sinister Man"1962Man of the World LiuEpisode: "The Frontier"1963CompactChinese WaiterEpisode: "Chicken and Champange"The Sentimental Agent Chin12 episodes1965–1968The Saint Various3 episodes1965Out of the UnknownNoveeEpisode: "Sucker Bait"1966BBC Play of the MonthWu Hsien ChengEpisode: "The Devil's Eggshell"1967The ChampionsChinese MajorEpisode: "The Beginning"1967–1969CallanRobert E. Lee/Tao Tsing2 episodes1970The Misfit BarmanEpisode: "On Being British"1971ITV PlayhouseThe PrisonerEpisode: "The Switch"1972Shirley's WorldShunji2 episodesJason KingLee ChangEpisode: "Every Picture Tells a Story"1972–1973The Adventurer Johnny Morrison/Taiho2 episodes1975Whodunnit?Dr. LingEpisode: "Evidence of Death"1975–1976Lucky Feller Chinese Waiter/Wedding Guest3 episodes1976Yes, HonestlyNing NingEpisode: "Black and White and Red All Over"The Melting Pot 4 episodes1976–1978The Water MarginNarratorEnglish dub1977WarshipForeign Minister Zee Khay LimEpisode: "Diplomatic Package"1977–1978It Ain't Half Hot Mum Me Thant2 episodes1978The Tomorrow PeopleMatsu TanSerial: "The Lost Gods"Return of the SaintChulaEpisode: "Assault Force"1978–1979Monkey MagicNarratorEnglish dub1979Robin's Nest BarmanEpisode: "Sorry Partner"1980Keep It in the Family Japanese Juror/Maitre 'd2 episodesShoestring Mr WingEpisode: "The Dangerous Game"Minder SojoEpisode: "A Nice Little Wine"1981–1984TenkoMajor Yamauchi19 episodes1982Doctor WhoLin FutuSerial: "Four to Doomsday" 1983Hart to HartToshiEpisode: "Passing Chance"1984Hammer House of Mystery and SuspenseLeeEpisode: "Mark of the Devil"1986–1987Tickle on the Tum Willie Wok2 episodes1987Howards' WayLee3 episodesT-Bag Bounces Back Hi HattEpisode: "Hi Hatt Bounces Back"1988Noble House Phillip ChenMiniseries1989BoonVan Der HaanEpisode: "The Not So Lone Ranger"1991The House of Eliott Peter Lo Chen3 episodes1992–1993Lovejoy Banker/Mr Ying2 episodes1994Space Precinct Slik OstraskyEpisode: "Protect and Survive"1995Bullet to BeijingKim SooTV film1997–2000The Harry Hill Show Himself2000Arabian NightsCaliph BederMiniseries2001Queen of SwordsMaster KiyomassaEpisode: "The Dragon"Banzai Narrator2002–2010Last of the Summer WineEntwistleSeasons 24–312003–2005The Bill Father Kwong/George Sim3 episodes2005Judge John DeedProfessor Vang PaoEpisode: "Separation of Powers"2006Silent WitnessJimmy HanEpisode: "Cargo"Doctors Mr ChangEpisode: "Sleepless in Selly Heath"2008HonestMr Hong5 episodes2009Spirit WarriorsShen4 episodes2012Whatever Happened to Harry HillHimself
Audio theatre Doctor Who: Loups-Garoux (2001) as Doctor Hayashi
Video games +YearTitleRole2003Fire Warrior El'LushaEyeToy: Play Notes
Miscellaneous 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.
References
External links
Burt Kwouk (Aveleyman) Burt Kwouk(Kinotv)