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Tetsu Komai

Actor

Tetsu Komai

Born April 23, 1894 in Kumamoto, JapanDied August 10, 197048 films

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  Tetsu Komai (駒井哲 Komai Tetsu) (April 23, 1894 – August 10, 1970), also known as Tetsuo Komai, was a Japanese-American actor, known for his minor roles in Hollywood films. Born in Kumamoto, Kyushu, Komai had small parts in over 50 films from the 1920s until the mid-1960s. In his early films, Tetsu, who was usually called on to play Chinese characters, was often described with derogatory terms such as "Chinaman,". He played the villain in many of his films.

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He immigrated to the United States in December 1907, arriving at the Port of Seattle; he lived in Seattle for several years after this initial immigration. During the Second World War, the actor, his wife, and their children were interned with groups of other Japanese-Americans and Japanese resident aliens at the Gila River War Relocation Center in Arizona from August 27, 1942 to November 3, 1945.

He died in Gardena, California of congestive heart failure, aged 76. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bette Davis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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The best way into Tetsu Komai's work
The Letter posterFirst watchThe Letter19407.3as Head BoyAfter a woman shoots a man to death, a damning letter she wrote raises suspicions.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Island of Lost Souls poster6.9Island of Lost Souls1932History Is Made at Night poster6.7History Is Made at Night1937The Night Walker poster6.4The Night Walker1964

Filmography

48 films as actor
  1. 1964The Night WalkerGardener
  2. 1952Japanese War BrideJapanese servant
  3. 1949Tokyo JoeLt. Gen. 'The Butcher' Takenobu (uncredited)
  4. 1941SundownKuypens' Shenzi Aide (uncredited)
  5. 1941Adventures of Captain MarvelChan Lai
  6. 1940The LetterHead Boy
  7. 1939The Real GloryAlipang
  8. 1939Torchy Blane in ChinatownLem Kee (uncredited)
  9. 1937West of ShanghaiGeneral Mah
  10. 1937The Singing MarineChang
  11. 1937That Man's Here AgainWong
  12. 1937China PassageWong (uncredited)
  13. 1937History Is Made at Night
  14. 1936Isle of FuryKim Lee
  15. 1936The Princess Comes AcrossKawati
  16. 1936Roaming LadyGeneral Fang
  17. 1936Klondike Annie
  18. 1935Hong Kong NightsWong
  19. 1935China SeasMalay Pirate (uncredited)
  20. 1935Oil for the Lamps of ChinaHo
  21. 1934Now and ForeverMr. Ling
  22. 1934Four Frightened PeopleNative Chief
  23. 1933White Woman
  24. 1932Island of Lost SoulsM`ling
  25. 1932The Secrets of Wu SinWu Sin
  26. 1932War CorrespondentFang
  27. 1932Roar of the DragonMessenger on Horseback
  28. 1932Radio PatrolValet (uncredited)
  29. 1932Border DevilsThe General
  30. 1932PrestigeSergeant
  31. 1931Daughter of the DragonLao (uncredited)
  32. 1931East of BorneoHrang the Raftsman
  33. 1931The Criminal CodeConvict
  34. 1930East is WestHop Toy
  35. 1930East Is WestHop Toy
  36. 1930The Sea WolfIgo - Waiter in Honky Tonk (uncredited)
  37. 1930The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
  38. 1929Welcome DangerFlorist Henchman (uncredited)
  39. 1929Bulldog DrummondChong
  40. 1929Chinatown NightsWoo Chung, Riley's principal henchman
  41. 1928The Woman from MoscowGroom
  42. 1928Moran of the MarinesSun Yat
  43. 1927Streets of ShanghaiChang Ho
  44. 1927Shanghai BoundScarface
  45. 1927Mr. WuExecutioner (uncredited)
  46. 1926Tell It to the MarinesHangchow Leader
  47. 1926Old IronsidesPirate (uncredited)
  48. 1925The Unchastened Woman