Robert Ya Fu Lee

Robert Ya Fu Lee (1913 – 1 December 1986) was a Chinese actor based in the United Kingdom.

Robert Lee
Born
Robert Ya Fu Lee

1913 (1913)
Tianjin, Republic of China
Died1 December 1986 (aged 73)
Hampstead, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1944–1986

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. 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.[1]

TV and filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1944Dragon SeedYoung FarmerUncredited
1951Outcast of the IslandsExtra in Snooker Room scenesUncredited
1954The Desperate WomenPublisher
1960The World of Suzie Wong BarmanUncredited
1961Visa to Canton (also known as Passport to China in the USA)Chinese Officer
1961The Sinister ManNam Lee
1962Satan Never SleepsChung Ren
1967You Only Live Twice2nd Chinese VIPUncredited
1967The Mini-AffairManager - Chinese Restaurant
1967JackanoryNarratorTV Series, 5 episodes - Narrating traditional Chinese tales
1968Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the RiverBruce
1969The ChairmanHotel Night Manager
1969Moon Zero TwoHotel EmployeeUncredited
1971The ProjectionistUsher / Henchman
1974-1979Hawaii Five-OAirport Guard / Kauai Police Captain / Capt. Tanaka / Lew Kameka / TasTV Series, 5 episodes
1975Bakit May Bilanggo Sa Anak Ni Eba
1975RollerballExecutiveUncredited
1976-1978It Ain't Half Hot MumBandit / Chung SooTV Series, 2 episodes
1977-1979Mind Your LanguageTarō NagazumiTV Series, 29 episodes
1979Grange HillLing ChingTV Series, 1 episode
1979PorridgeTinkler
1980The ProfessionalsShusaiTV Series, 1 episode
1981The Chinese DetectiveJoe HoTV Series, 4 episodes
1982Tout feu, tout flammeaka All Fired UpTout feu tout flamme (France: DVD title)
1982Britannia HospitalMr. Banzai
1983High Road to ChinaZura
1983Reilly: Ace of SpiesAdmiral TogoTV Mini-Series, 1 episode
1984Hammer House of Mystery and SuspenseChong WoyTV Series, 1 episode
1984The BillChinese RestaurateurTV Series, 1 episode
1984TenkoMr. LingTV Series, 1 episode
1985John and Yoko: A Love StoryEisuke OnoTV movie
1986Half Moon StreetChinese Ambassador
1987A Cor do seu DestinoThe Officer
1987Ping PongMr. Chen(final film role)

References
  1. Ooi, Teresa (19 February 1984). "Friends told him to act". The Straits Times. p. 15. Retrieved 8 March 2016 – via NewspaperSG.


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