Sumi Haru

Sumi Haru (also known as Sumi Sevilla Haru; August 25, 1939 – October 16, 2014) was an American film and television actress,[2][3] producer, actor, journalist, poet, and the first national vice-president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).[4] Haru is best known for such films and television shows as Krakatoa, East of Java,[5] MASH, The Beverly Hillbillies and Hill Street Blues.

Sumi Haru
Born
Mildred Sevilla

(1939-08-25)August 25, 1939[1]
Orange, New Jersey, United States[1]
DiedOctober 16, 2014(2014-10-16) (aged 75)[1]
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1969–1981, 2008–2014
Websitesumiharu.com

She served as interim president of Screen Actors Guild in 1995, the first and to-date only woman of color to hold the position.[6]

Haru was born Mildred Sevilla in 1939[7] at Orange, New Jersey[7] to Filipino immigrants.[8] After changing her name to Sumi Haru when launching her acting career, she became involved with the film and television labor movement to address issues concerning the lack of opportunities and roles for Asians.[3]

Haru was a board member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) beginning in 1974, and also served multiple terms as the national recording secretary and first vice president.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Her autobiography, Iron Lotus: Memoirs of Sumi Sevilla Haru (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, October 9, 2012; ISBN 978-1479331536), was published in 2012.[1] The following year, she was elected for a two-year term as a member of the first elected national board of the merged SAG-AFTRA.[6][14]

Advocacy

Haru was very active and vocal as an advocate for the representation and career development of minorities in media. Her multitude of projects constantly pushed for opening America's minds to the inclusion of underrepresented ethnic groups.

She was a co-founder of SAG's Ethnic Employment Opportunities Committee in 1971 and helped negotiate affirmative action clauses into contracts. In 1995, Haru became a national vice president of the AFL-CIO.[6]

Haru served as the co-president of the County of Los Angeles Media Image Coalition, which pushes for representation and career opportunities for underrepresented groups in the television and film industry. She is also the co-founder and president of the Association of Asian Pacific Artists.

In 1998, Haru was awarded the Visionary Award by East West Players (EWP), one of the oldest Asian Pacific American (APA) theater companies in the United States, in recognition for her contributions toward the APA community.[15] She had previously served on EWP's board for 10 years, and had also starred in several productions as well.[16]

Her six-year term as a national vice president marked the first time an Asian American has served on the AFL-CIO's executive council. She was president and co-founder of the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists, executive board member of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and co-chair of the Rainbow Coalition Commission on Fairness in the Media. In 2009, Haru was honored with SAG's Ralph Morgan Award for distinguished service to SAG's Hollywood Division.[6]

Death

Haru died in North Hollywood, aged 75, on October 16, 2014. She had been battling emphysema.[14][17]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1968Krakatoa, East of JavaSumi
1969IronsideWitness
1970MASHJapanese NurseUncredited
1971The Beverly HillbilliesJapanese Girl/Girl #2
1973Marcus Welby, M.D.Patient
1979Fast FriendsTV Reporter
1981Hill Street BluesPublic Defender
2008Frank TVAsian Passerby #1
2010Getting PlayedHerself

References
  1. Colker, David (October 19, 2014). "Sumi Haru dies at 75; SAG official sought better roles for Asian Americans". Los Angeles Times.
  2. "Sumi Haru". The New York Times.
  3. Leroy Robinson (June–July 1985). "Media Invisibles". The Crisis.
  4. Notable Asian Americans. Zia, Helen., Gall, Susan B. (1st ed.). New York: Gale Research. 1995. ISBN 0810396238. OCLC 31170596.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. "Krakatoa, East of Java". The New York Times. 1969.
  6. Dave McNary (2009-06-23). "SAG taps Coe, Haru for Morgan Award". Variety.
  7. "SAG-AFTRA Remembers Former Interim SAG President Sumi Haru". Broadway World. October 16, 2014.
  8. "Vice President Sumi Haru". Aflcio.org. 2002-02-26.
  9. "SAG's Sumi Haru Among LEAP Honorees". Los Angeles Times. 1996-06-11.
  10. "Longtime Screen Actors Guild Members to Receive Hollywood Division's Ralph Morgan Award". Sag.org. 2009-06-23.
  11. Anne-Marie Johnson (2009-07-15). "A Message From The 1st Vice President". Sag.org.
  12. "2010 Los Angeles Film Festival - SAG Diversity Party". Wireimage.com. 2010-06-26.
  13. "Dreamworlds 3" (PDF). Cah.csudh.edu.
  14. THR staff (October 16, 2014). "Former Interim SAG President Sumi Sevilla Haru Dies at 75". The Hollywood Reporter.
  15. "East West celebrates 32nd anniversary". www.aatrevue.com. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  16. "Sumi Haru, Pioneering Advocate for Asian American Artists, Dies at 75". www.rafu.com. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  17. McNary, Dave (October 16, 2014). "Sumi Haru, Former SAG Interim President, Dies at 75". Variety.
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