Harlan Hatsuo "Jerry" Fujikawa (,北米毎日新聞= North American Daily 1952.06.05: Page 2 February 18, 1912 — April 30, 1983) was an American stage, screen and television actor known most notably as the gardener in Roman Polanski's film Chinatown.

Personal life Fujikawa was born on February 18, 1912, in Monterey County, California. During early publicity surrounding his career, he was said to be a native of Salinas. His family, along with other Japanese-Americans on the west coast, were summarily detained in concentration camps following the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent issuance of Executive Order 9066 in February 1942. At the time, he was living in Los Angeles. Fujikawa was detained at Manzanar War Relocation Center.

He was first married to Emily Elizabeth (); they had three children: a daughter, Tirsa Meiko and twin sons (Gerald Matsuo and Eugene Takeo). Before he and his family were interned, Fujikawa listed his former occupations as a gardener, in agriculture, and as a salesman.

While interned at Manzanar, Fujikawa volunteered for the United States Army, joining as a messenger of Charlie Company in the 100th Infantry Battalion in June 1943. Fujikawa's family moved to Longmont, Colorado; his young son Gerald was killed in an automobile accident in Denver on June 5, 1943. His wife and children had planned to meet him in Denver prior to his induction ceremony in Salt Lake City.

During his war service, Fujikawa was wounded on July 9, 1944 near Castellina, Italy. Although his service record contains no further entries until his discharge date (May 17, 1945), Fujikawa participated in operations in France later in 1944. Fujikawa's first marriage disintegrated soon after he returned from the war in Europe.

After the war, Fujikawa adopted the stage name Jerry and married Marion "Skeeter" Gates, a Broadway actress, in 1953. Together they had three children: Charles, Peter, and Cynthia. Fujikawa and Gates were married until his death in 1983.

Career Fujikawa initially gained publicity for his stage roles: debuting as a villager in the original Broadway production of The Teahouse of the August Moon (1953). Other stage appearances included a role in Wedding in Japan (1957, off-Broadway), as the butler Toy in The Pleasure of His Company (1958), and as Father Ling in It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman (1966).

During the early part of his career, Fujikawa also appeared in the films Go For Broke! (1951) and The Journey (1959). At the time, he was known primarily as a character actor, wearing special effects makeup for varied television roles in The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, Bachelor Father, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. His career would go on to include numerous guest roles on other prominent television shows, including seven appearances on M*A*S*H, and single roles for Taxi (S4E7, 1981) and The Winds of War (1983).

Fujikawa had a recurring role as Matsu, the uncle of the eponymous Mr. Takahashi played by Pat Morita in the short-lived sitcom Mr. T and Tina (1976).

Legacy In 1991, Fujikawa's daughter Cynthia began researching her father's life, which led to her reuniting in 1993 with her half-sister Tirsa from Jerry's first marriage. The research eventually was developed into the solo play Old Man River, first workshopped in 1995. It debuted in 1997 at the New Victory Theater and was filmed in 1998. Based on his work, the film's director, Allan Holzman, would later receive an American Cinema Editors Eddie Award in 2000 for Documentaries.

Television Year Title Role Notes1961 The Twilight Zone Japanese Captain Episode: A Quality of Mercy1981 Taxi Louie's Mom Remarries Uncredited

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1950 Three Came Home Japanese Soldier Uncredited1951 Halls of Montezuma Japanese Soldier Uncredited1951 I Was an American Spy Japanese Guard Uncredited1951 Go for Broke! Communications Sergeant Uncredited1952 Japanese War Bride Man at Fish Market 1959 The Journey Mitsu 1961 Bachelor Flat Frank - Gardener Uncredited1962 A Girl Named Tamiko Manager Uncredited1968 Nobody's Perfect Watanabe 1969 The Extraordinary Seaman Admiral Shimagoshi 1970 Which Way to the Front? Japanese Naval Officer Uncredited1971 The Million Dollar Duck Japanese Official Uncredited1971 Made for Each Other Vietnamese Man Uncredited1972 The King of Marvin Gardens Agura 1974 Chinatown Gardener 1975 Farewell, My Lovely Fence 1975 I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? Roulette Winner 1976 Eat My Dust! Chou Lick 1976 Midway Japanese Gentleman Uncredited1978 The End Japanese Gardener 1978 The Cat from Outer Space 2nd E.R.L. Expert 1979 Scavenger Hunt Sakamoto 1981 There Was a Little Girl Mr. Kimura 1983 Second Thoughts Yamashiro (final film role)

References

External links

Fujikawa family internee data files: Jerry (Hatsuo) Emily Gerald Tirsa