At just 18, Nancy Kwan was studying dance with England's Royal Ballet School, when she was spotted by producer Ray Stark, who tested her and gave her the starring role of a free-spirited Hong Kong prostitute who captivates artist William Holden in The World of Suzie Wong (1960). She followed it the next year with the hit musical, Flower Drum Song ...
[interview in 1990] I don't have that [need] to prove myself. I have a passion to do good roles but luckily I don't have to do it for economic reasons. I'm not a big spender and I don't need a lot of frills.
2
[interview in 1962] It's not that I don't like reading about myself. But I get unhappy with the kind of things that are written about me. For instance, after "Suzie Wong" . . . I was being written up as a kind of sex kitten. I'm not really at all like that.
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Fact
1
Her only son, Bernie Pock, died June 5, 1996 after he contracted aids from a relationship with an older woman whom he later married. Nancy Kwan penned a book entitled, "Celebration of a Life: Memories of my Son".
2
Lives in Los Angeles when she's not on location. [2004]
3
Politically active as the spokeswoman for the Asian American Voters Coalition.
4
Has a brother named Ka Keung.
5
Chosen by Goldsea Asian American Daily as one of the "100 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time".
6
In a 1993 interview, she revealed she turned down a role in The Joy Luck Club (1993) due to a disagreement over the script.
7
Her father, Kwan Wing Hong, was an architect of Chinese origin, and her mother, Marquita Scott, was a model of Scottish descent. Her parents divorced when she was two years old. Her father worked for British intelligence during World War II.
8
Classically trained ballet dancer, educated in Great Britian.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Window Horses
2016
Gloria (voice)
Paint It Black
2016
Margaret
Ray of Sunshine
2006
Lilly
Murder on the Yellow Brick Road
2005
Natalie Chung
ER
2000
TV Series
Mrs. Chen
Mr. P's Dancing Sushi Bar
1998
Mitsuko McFee
Soul of the Avenger
1997
Ling Li
Rebellious
1995
Joni
Shan shui you xiang feng
1995
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
1993
Gussie Yang
Babies
1990
TV Movie
Dr. Liu
Cold Dog Soup
1990
Madame Chang
Miracle Landing
1990
TV Movie
C.B. Lansing
Night Children
1989
Deborah
Keys to Freedom
1988
Dr. Lao
Noble House
1988
TV Mini-Series
Claudia Chen
The A-Team
1986
TV Series
Lin Wu
Blade in Hong Kong
1985
TV Movie
Lily
Walking the Edge
1985
Christine Holloway
Knots Landing
1984
TV Series
Beverly Mikuriya
Partners in Crime
1984
TV Series
Anna Chen
Trapper John, M.D.
1984
TV Series
Dr. Lois Miyoshiro
The Last Ninja
1983
TV Movie
Noriko Sakura
Chicago Story
1982
TV Series
Hoanh Anh
Angkor: Cambodia Express
1982
Sue
Streets of Hong Kong
1979
Mei Mei
Fantasy Island
1978
TV Series
Adela
Night Creature
1978
Leslie
Project: Kill
1976
Lee Su
Hadleigh
1976
TV Series
Kai Yin
That Lady from Peking
1975
Sue Ten Chan
Supercock
1975
Yuki Chan
Fortress in the Sun
1975
Maria
The Pacific Connection
1974
Leni
Bu zai you chun tian
1974
as Kwan Nan-See
Kung Fu
1974
TV Series
Mayli Ho
Wonder Women
1973
Dr. Tsu
Karioka etchos de America
1971
The McMasters
1970
Robin
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
1969
Revel Drue
Hawaii Five-O
1968-1969
TV Series
Rosemary Quong
The Wrecking Crew
1968
Yu-Rang
Nobody's Perfect
1968
Nurse Tomiko Momoyama
The Corrupt Ones
1967
Tina
Mong fu sek
1966
Short
Mei Ching
Arrivederci, Baby!
1966
Baby
Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.
1966
Wednesday
The Wild Affair
1965
Marjorie Lee
Fate Is the Hunter
1964
Sally Fraser
Honeymoon Hotel
1964
Lynn Jenley (Lynn Hope in Credits)
Tamahine
1963
Tamahine
The Main Attraction
1962
Tessa
Flower Drum Song
1961
Linda Low
The World of Suzie Wong
1960
Suzie Wong
Make Up Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Ho's on 7th Avenue
2012
TV Series makeup artist - 7 episodes
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ray of Sunshine
2006
producer
Rebellious
1995
producer
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Flower Drum Song
1961
performer: "Fan Tan Fannie", "I Enjoy Being a Girl", "You Be the Rock", "Grant Avenue", "Sunday", "A Hundred Million Miracles reprise/Finale"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey
2010
Documentary
Herself
TalkAsia
2010
TV Series
Herself
You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story
2009
Documentary
Herself
Ka Shen's Journey
2008
Documentary
Herself
Hollywood Chinese
2007
Documentary
Herself
Anna May Wong, Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legend
2007
Documentary
Narrator (voice)
A Classic Evolves: From Print to Stage to Screen
2006
Video documentary short
Herself
An All-Access Pass to the Sets and Costumes of 'Flower Drum Song'
2006
Video documentary short
Herself
Faces of the East: Casting Flower Drum Song
2006
Video documentary short
Herself
The Songs of 'Flower Drum Song'
2006
Video documentary short
Herself
2006 Asian Excellence Awards
2006
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
My Hong Kong
2003
TV Movie documentary
Herself - Host
Good Day L.A.
1997
TV Series
Herself
Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of Movies
1996
TV Movie documentary
Herself, presenter
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
1995
Video documentary
Herself
Slaying the Dragon
1988
TV Movie documentary
Herself (actress)
Heisse Ware aus Hongkong
1974
TV Movie documentary
Herself
V.I.P.-Schaukel
1973
TV Series documentary
Herself
The Dean Martin Show
1970
TV Series
Herself
Enjoy Yoursef Tonight
1967
TV Series
Herself
Here's Hollywood
1960-1961
TV Series
Herself
The Bob Hope Show
1961
TV Series
Herself
What's My Line?
1960
TV Series
Herself - Mystery Guest
Three Seasons
1958
Documentary short
Third Fairy, in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
American Masters
2009
TV Series documentary
Herself
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee
2001
Video documentary
Herself
Reel Horror
1985
Leslie
Hollywood: The Great Stars
1963
TV Movie documentary
Actress 'The Main Attraction' (uncredited)
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2011
Lifetime Achievement Award
San Diego Asian Film Festival
2010
Maverick Award
Hawaii International Film Festival
2009
The Lifetime Tribute Award
TheWIFTS Foundation International Visionary Awards
$400,000
