Kim Chan, Obituary Options

[Linda J.]

It was announced that Kim Chan passed away on Sunday. Since so many of us were fans of his also, I thought it was appropriate to post this here.

I remember meeting him at the last Fu-Fest a few years ago; he was a charming old rogue of a man and so much fun to talk to and to be around.

International Herald Tribune
Kim Chan, actor in diverse Asian roles
By William Grimes
Friday, October 10, 2008

NEW YORK: Kim Chan, an actor who became a familiar face in a variety of Asian roles, notably as Jerry Lewis's butler in the Martin Scorsese film "The King of Comedy," a character who did furious battle with an obsessed fan played by Robert De Niro, has died in Brooklyn.

His niece Judy Gee, who confirmed his death, which occurred Sunday, said that he was probably 93 or 94.

From bit parts as a houseboy or a Japanese soldier, Chan worked his way up to playing dignified old men with access to the wisdom of the East, as he did in "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues," a spinoff of the 1970s television series "Kung Fu" that ran from 1993 to 1997.

He actually played two roles in that series: the apothecary and martial arts expert Lo Si, "the Ancient," and the evil monk Ping Hai.

Chan emigrated as a boy to the United States from the Chinese province of Canton, now called Guangdong. He discovered show business while working in his family's restaurant, the House of Chan, which was in the theater district of Manhattan.

The outgoing Chan began picking up walk-on parts on the stage. He made his film debut in "A Face in the Crowd" (1957), as a radio announcer, Gee said.

He went on to play a theater cashier in "The Owl and the Pussycat," a Korean flower vendor in "Jumpin' Jack Flash," a dim sum cook in "Cadillac Man," the Thai fast-food vendor Kim in "The Fifth Element," Uncle Benny Chan in "Lethal Weapon 4" and Jackie Chan's father in "Shanghai Knights."

He was a producer of one of his final films, "Zen Noir" (2004), a murder mystery in which he played a character described on the film's Web site (zenmovie.com) as "an infuriatingly obscure Zen teacher, who does a lot of strange things with oranges."

His survivors include a son, Michael Chandler, of Queens.
Correction:
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International Herald Tribune Copyright © 2008 The International Herald Tribune | www.iht.com

[minoz]

I should feel sad but every time I think of him I have to smile,

he was such a character.

The day we all spent at The Falls in 2003, when he got his camera wet,
how surprised he was when someone recognised him and asked for his autograph.
his story of how he pretended to have a coughing fit on a plane during the sars epidemic so everyone
would move and give him space, and another time when he was tired and pretended to have chest pains so they would move him and he could lay down!
really he was like The Ancient, and I feel he will be remembered for a very long time.

Pleasant Journey Kim

[Jannine]

I have been reading lots of tributes to Kim today and it appears from all accounts he was a lovely old soul with an awesome sense of humour!

For those who met him, treasure your memories.

He was a huge part of KF:TLC and will always be remembered by fans for that role.

RIP Mr Chan.

[Valerie]

I really loved him as Lo Si in Fu and I will surely miss him.

[Pan]

This was a man who loved his fans and loved being loved by them. It was wonderful how he shared stories and his films and, best of all, just his time with us at that last Fu Fest. He was a lovely and generous man.

[k_ballan@yahoo.c...]

I have been reading lots of tributes to Kim today and it appears from all accounts he was a lovely old soul with an awesome sense of humour!

For those who met him, treasure your memories.

He was a huge part of KF:TLC and will always be remembered by fans for that role.

RIP Mr Chan. he well be missed by fans young and old a lkie. from kim