Nancy Kwan
Biography
Nancy Kwan is a Hong Kong-born American actress. Born on May 19, 1939, in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony, she rose to fame in Hollywood films. She is known for starring in The World of Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song, which were among the first to cast Asian actors in major roles. Her acting career includes numerous credits, with 71 known credits listed. Kwan has also been involved in philanthropy, particularly in AIDS awareness.
Career overview
Nancy Kwan is a Hong Kong-born American actress. She rose to fame in the early 1960s with starring roles in two Hollywood films. Kwan's acting career is notable for her early appearances in major film roles, which were among the first to cast Asian actors in significant parts. Her performances in these films helped establish her status as a prominent actress of her time.
Kwan's acting credits include appearances in numerous films and possibly other media, with a total of 71 known credits. The details of her specific roles and the nature of her work are not specified in the available information. However, her early success in Hollywood films is well-documented, and she remains a notable figure in the history of Asian representation in the film industry.
Kwan's acting career has been marked by her early success and her status as a pioneering figure in the representation of Asian actors in major film roles. The specifics of her later career and the nature of her work are not detailed in the available information.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
73 titles- Bruce Lee: A Life in Ten Pictures (2023)
- Be Water (2020) as Self - Actress / Friend
- Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming (2017) as Gloria (voice)
- Paint It Black (2016) as Margaret
- To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey (2010) as Herself
- Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story (2009) as Self
- Hollywood Chinese (2007) as Self
- Anna May Wong - Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legend (2007) as Narrator
- Ray of Sunshine (2006) as Lilly
- Murder on the Yellow Brick Road (2005) as Natalie Chung
- The Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001)
- Mr. P's Dancing Sushi Bar (1999) as Mitsuko McFee
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- For Life or Death (1996) as Ling Li
- Rebellious (1995) as Joni
- Rebellious (1995) Producer
- Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities (1995) as Self
- ER (1994) as Mrs. Chen
- Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) as Gussie Yang
- Miracle Landing (1990) as C.B. Lansing
- Cold Dog Soup (1990) as Madame Chang
- Sally's Beauty Spot (1990) as Suzie Wong (archive footage)
- Babies (1990) as Dr. Liu
- Night Children (1989) as Diane Martin
- Noble House (1988) as Claudia Chen
- Keys to Freedom (1988) as Dr. Lao
- Slaying the Dragon (1988)
- Walking the Edge (1985) as Christine Holloway
- Blade in Hong Kong (1985) as Lily
- Reel Horror (1985) as Leslie (archive footage)
- Partners in Crime (1984)
- The A-Team (1983) as Lin Wu
- The Last Ninja (1983) as Noriko Sakura
- Angkor: Cambodia Express (1981) as Sue
- Dreams of Desire (1981) Producer
- Dreams of Desire (1981) Story
- Knots Landing (1979) as Beverly Mikuriya
- Streets of Hong Kong (1979) as Mei Mei
- Fantasy Island (1978) as Adela
- Night Creature (1978) as Leslie
- Project: Kill (1976) as Lee Su
- Supercock (1975) as Yuki Chan
- Fortress in the Sun (1975) as Maria
- That Lady from Peking (1975) as Sue Ten Chan
- Spring Comes Not Again (1974)
- The Pacific Connection (1974) as Leni
- Wonder Women (1973) as Dr. Tsu
- Heiße Ware aus Hong Kong (1973) as Self
- Kung Fu (1972) as Mayli Ho
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self
- Karioka etchos de America (1971)
- The McMasters (1970) as Robin
- Hadleigh (1969) as Kai Yin
- The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969) as Revel Drue
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Rosemary Quong
- The Wrecking Crew (1968) as Wen Yu-Rang
- Nobody's Perfect (1968) as Nurse Tomiko Momyama
- Cocoon (1968) as Rosemary Quong
- The Corrupt Ones (1967) as Tina
- Lt. Robin Crusoe U.S.N. (1966) as Wednesday
- The Magic Stone (1966) as Mei Ching
- Arrivederci, Baby! (1966) as Baby
- The Wild Affair (1965) as Marjorie Lee
- Fate Is the Hunter (1964) as Sally Fraser
- Honeymoon Hotel (1964) as Lynn Hope
- Tamahine (1963) as Tamahine
- The Main Attraction (1962) as Tessa
- Flower Drum Song (1961) as Linda Low
- The World of Suzie Wong (1960) as Suzie Wong
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Nancy Kwan best known for?
Nancy Kwan is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Daniel Druskat (1976), The Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001), The Daily Show (1996), For Life or Death (1996).
When and where was Nancy Kwan born?
Nancy Kwan was born on May 19, 1939 in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China].
How many credits does Nancy Kwan have?
Nancy Kwan has accumulated over 73 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2023.
What is Nancy Kwan's background in cinema and television?
Nancy Kwan is a Hong Kong-born American actress. Born on May 19, 1939, in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony, she rose to fame in Hollywood films. She is known for starring in The World of Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song, which were among the first to cast Asian actors in major roles. Her acting career includes numerous c...
Nancy Kwan by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001) — aged about 62
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self — aged about 32
- ER (1994) as Mrs. Chen — aged about 55
- Hadleigh (1969) as Kai Yin — aged about 30
- Kung Fu (1972) as Mayli Ho — aged about 33
- The A-Team (1983) as Lin Wu — aged about 44
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