Gedde Watanabe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gedde Watanabe (born June 26, 1955, Ogden, Utah) is the stage name of Gary Watanabe, a Japanese American actor.
He appeared on Broadway in 1976 in Pacific Overtures and has appeared in many films.
His acting parts have been mostly stereotypical Asian men with heavy accents. This stereotyping has led to criticism. However, Watanabe speaks perfect English. After filming Sixteen Candles, director John Hughes complimented his acting but advised him that his English needed some work, to which Watanabe replied with a polite "thank you" in perfect, unaccented English.
He appeared on Sesame Street for some years.
He played the starring role in the ABC-TV version of the film Gung Ho, but as it was scheduled against the smash hit show Dallas, it was quickly cancelled.
He has also provided the voice for various Japanese characters on TV's The Simpsons. From 1996 to 2003 he also made occasional appearances as a nurse on the popular television drama ER.
He co-starred as Kuni in the 1989 movie UHF starring Weird Al Yankovic. Perhaps the character's most memorable moment in the film is when he and a group of his martial artist friends jump out of a supply closet to attack a group of thugs. The closet is labeled "Supplies," and as Kuni and his cohorts emerge from the closet they yell "Supplies!" in an Engrish mispronunciation of "Surprise!"
[edit] Notable Filmography
[edit] External links
Categories: 1955 births | Living people | American actors | American character actors | American musical theatre actors | American film actors | American television actors | Asian American actors | ER actors | LGBT actors from the United States | Japanese Americans | Kingdom Hearts voice actors | People from Utah | Simpsons cast members | Seinfeld actors | Kim Possible voice actors | LGBT Asian Americans
