David Carradine, famous for his role as the trainee in the 1970’s ABC drama Kung Fu, was found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok this week where he was filming his latest motion picture.Mystery shrouds Carradine’s death. Initial reports indicated a possible suicide, since he was said to have been found hanging by a curtain in his closet. Later stories seemed to point to an accidental death caused by autoerotic asphyxiation. But a physician interviewed on Larry King rejected the theory. And now the FBI is actively investigating the actor’s death.
Whatever the ultimate cause of death is for the 72-year-old actor, he will be missed. His most recent memorable role was as Bill in the Kill Bill double feature from Quentin Tarantino.
But those of us over 40 will always remember him as grasshopper, the young martial arts apprentice who’s Chinese and American parents helped him bridge the gap between East and West.
David Carradine, dead of mysterious causes at age 72. Sphere: Related Content
2 comments:
I feel like I grew up with him. I've been reading some of the internet stuff about his death and came across a bunch of criticism from Asians that he contributed to the discrimination and all that. What surprised me is that they all said he looked too white to play the famous part. I thought quite the opposite, I thought he looked a little asian. I thought he was cast perfectly as the half-asian and half-white character Caine.
On Terry Gross' Fresh Air in 1991 Carradine said that he wore yellow makeup and had accents placed on the corners of his eyes to make him look more Asian.
For a long time, Asians had difficulty getting cast in Hollywood. For most Americans in the 1960's, the only Asians on television were Hop Sing from Bonanza and Mrs. Livingston from The Courtship of Eddie's Father. It wasn't until Star Trek when people saw Asians playing roles, which were not just servants.
But even after this breakthrough, many Asian roles were still played by whites. And when Asians did play the roles, it was often a scramble for the studios to fill those roles. Often Japanese played Korean, Chinese played Vietnamese. Hispanics played Filipinos.
Even after many Asian actors became famous for being performers, and not just Asian, there is still an under representation of actors on television and in film.
Today there are many shows about Hispanics. There are many shows about African Americans. There are even shows about gay people. But to this day All-American Girl stands out as the exception as a show about Asians on a network--and that was in 1994.
Sure, there are the Japanese guys on Heroes, and Trish Takanawa on Family Guy, but no shows about Asians for Asians.
Consider this. Most conservative, white Americans only contact with Asians is through Michelle Malkin.
Times have changed, but not a lot.
Post a Comment