Spencer Chan

Spencer Chan
Chan in Woman on the Run (1950)
Born(1892-03-28)March 28, 1892
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 1988(1988-01-12) (aged 95)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationCharacter actor
Years active1936–1974

Spencer Chan (March 28, 1892[1] – January 12, 1988) was an American character actor of Chinese descent. He had a long career in numerous films.[2]

Biography

Chan was born in Los Angeles, California, to Kui Sing Chan (a pastor and court interpreter) and Loy Yau.[3] His parents were Chinese immigrants, and they owned a house in Los Angeles's Boyle Heights neighborhood. Chan graduated college at the University of Southern California.[3][4]

Chan began appearing in Hollywood films in the 1930s, and also worked as an interpreter and casting agent when a script called for Chinese actors.[5] Chan was considered an "atmosphere" player, along with Willie Fung, Frank Chew, Richard Loo and others.[6]

Chan died in January 1988 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 95.[7] He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.[8]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ Doyle, Billy; Slide, Anthony (1999). The Ultimate Directory of Silent and Sound Era Performers: A Necrology of Actors and Actresses. Scarecrow Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780810835474 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Landesman, Fred (August 13, 2015). The John Wayne Filmography. McFarland. p. 23. ISBN 9781476609225 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Ford, Sydney (June 28, 1912). "Women's Work; Women's Clubs". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved November 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. ^ Chandler, Robert (2004). California: An Illustrated History. Hippocrene Books. p. 96. ISBN 0781810345 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Riesel, Victor (October 25, 1947). "Coast Communists Seek Control of Film Unions". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. Retrieved November 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Slide, Anthony (September 5, 2012). Hollywood Unknowns: A History of Extras, Bit Players, and Stand-Ins. University Press of Mississippi. p. 195. ISBN 9781617034749 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Spencer E. Chan". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 17, 1988. Retrieved September 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
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