Robert Ya Fu Lee (30 November 1913 – 1 December 1986) was a Chinese actor based in the United Kingdom.
Background Born in Tianjin, he arrived in England as an international student, attaining a BA in history from Trinity College, Cambridge. He then worked at a Chinese restaurant and a Japanese restaurant before being encouraged by friends to become an actor in 1944. Lee played supporting roles in many films and television programmes throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and was frequently called upon whenever a production required an East Asian character. His film appearances include You Only Live Twice (1967) and Half Moon Street (1986), and his television appearances include The Avengers, The Chinese Detective and The Bill, but his best known role is as Tarō Nagazumi, the Japanese business executive and English language student, in the sitcom Mind Your Language from 1977 to 1979. He never married, citing marriage in a 1984 interview as "Too much responsibility", and lived in a flat in Hampstead, North London, where he died after two years of ill health on 1 December 1986, aged 73.
TV and filmography Year Title Role Notes1944 Dragon Seed Young Farmer Uncredited1951 Outcast of the Islands Extra in Snooker Room scenes 1954 The Desperate Women Publisher 1960 The World of Suzie Wong Barman Uncredited1961 Visa to Canton (also known as Passport to China in the USA) Chinese Officer The Sinister Man Nam Lee 1962 Satan Never Sleeps Chung Ren 1967 You Only Live Twice 2nd Chinese VIP Uncredited The Mini-Affair Manager - Chinese Restaurant 1968 Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River Bruce 1969 The Chairman Hotel Night Manager Moon Zero Two Hotel Employee Uncredited1971 The Projectionist Usher / Henchman 1975 Bakit May Bilanggo Sa Anak Ni Eba Rollerball Executive Uncredited1979 Porridge Tinkler 1982 Tout feu, tout flamme aka All Fired Up Tout feu tout flamme (France: DVD title) Britannia Hospital Mr. Banzai 1983 High Road to China Zura 1986 Half Moon Street Chinese Ambassador 1987 A Cor do seu Destino The Officer Ping Pong Mr. Chen (final film role)
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes 1960ITV Television PlayhouseChinese newsreaderEpisode: "Bridge of Sighs"Knight Errant LimitedPo KongEpisode: "A Touch of the Orient" 1961The Arthur Askey ShowEpisode: "Pilbeam, the Journalist"Edgar Wallace Mysteries (also known as The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre in the USA)Mr. Nam Lee Episode: "The Sinister Man"1962A World InsideJoseph YapTV film1963CompactRestaurant ProprietorEpisode: "Chicken and Champagne"The Odd ManKosugiEpisode: "The Long Wound"The Sentimental AgentLingEpisode: "Finishing School"The AvengersMr. LoEpisode: "The Golden Fleece"1964Diary of a Young ManBuddhistEpisode: "Life, or a Girl Called Fred"1965ITV Play of the WeekCardinal of MacaoEpisode: "The Successor"Danger ManChin LeeEpisode: "Loyalty Always Pays"Dixon of Dock GreenMr. LingEpisode: "Witness Summons"1966Breaking PointShoni1967Hugh and IEpisode: "Chinese Crackers"Danger ManManager of Two-Tailed DragonEpisode: "Shinda Shima"Armchair TheatreMr. LiEpisode: "Any Number Can Play"JackanoryNarrator5 episodes - Narrating traditional Chinese talesSexton BlakeKir Tan3 episodes1974–1979Hawaii Five-OAirport Guard / Kauai Police Captain / Capt. Tanaka / Lew Kameka / Tas5 episodes1976–1978It Ain't Half Hot MumBandit / Chung Soo2 episodes1977–1979Mind Your LanguageTarō NagazumiSeries 1–31978GangstersShen Tang4 episodes1979Grange HillLing Ching1 episode1980The ProfessionalsShusaiEpisode: "Wild Justice"1981-1982The Chinese DetectiveJoe Ho7 episodes1983Reilly: Ace of SpiesAdmiral TogoEpisode: "Prelude to War"1984Hammer House of Mystery and SuspenseChong WoyEpisode: "Mark of the Devil"The BillChinese RestaurateurEpisode: "A Friend in Need"TenkoMr. Ling1 episode1985John and Yoko: A Love StoryEisuke OnoTV film
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