Born: May 8, 1929
Died: August 28, 2007
Aged: 78 years from cancer
Married: 2 times
Great Friend: Bill Bixby
Tiny powerhouse who stole many scenes from much bigger stars. The youngest of 9 children, she was born into a prosperous family and showed a passion for music. She could play the Piano, Mandolin and Harmonica plus she could sing. Much to her parent's chagrin she loved American songs and sang them in the English language. This helped her after the war since she could play with a G.I. band on radio and in nightclubs becoming very popular under the name Nancy Umeki. She was noticed for her talent and came to the United States joining the Arthur Godfrey show. From there she hit the jackpot acting in "Sayonara" with Red Buttons and Marlon Brando. She became the first Asian and, so far, only Asian woman to win an Oscar (she accepted the Oscar wearing her traditional dress which is beautiful). She then conquered Broadway receiving a Tony nomination for "Flower Drum Song" which she repeated in film. She guest starred on several shows and became a regular on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" where she met and became a life-long friend of Bill Bixby. Once that show was done, she retired with her 2nd husband, raised a family and started a business, with her husband, renting editing equipment. Once widowed, she moved closer to her son to be near him and his family.
Oscar Win: "Sayonara"
Films: "Flower Drum Song", "Cry For Happy", "The Horizontal Lieutenant".
Quote: After receiving Oscar " I really don't know what to say. I wish somebody would help me right now. I did not expect this cos I have nothing in my mind right now. I thank you, you and all fo you thank you American People."
She was always such a enjoyable actress, so innocent and sweet. I know folks think it is sappy, but I really enjoyed 'Flower Drum Song'.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed that film and thought it was wonderful. She has such a nice voice too
DeleteI don't remember her, but she looks beautiful - and she seems to have led a fairly stable life unless you've missed out loads of scandal! Unusual.
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Adventures of a retired librarian
Nope-no scandal for her:) She had a really nice and ordinary life apart from being an actress
DeleteShe always seem so sweet in the show and honestly I only knew of her work from the tv show... though I had seen the films.
ReplyDeleteI thought she should be showcased because of winning that Oscar and still being the only Asian woman to do so
DeleteHi, Birgit! Thank you for shining the spotlight on the beautiful and talented actress Miyoshi Umeki. I remembered her face but never knew her name. As a little boy in mid 50s I regularly watched Arthur Godfrey with my mother and I recall seeing Miyoshi on that program. I saw her in Sayonara, Flower Drum Song, The Horizontal Lieutenant and, of course, on The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, dear Birgit, and have a wonderful weekend!
You know her really well! I am so glad and she is another actress many people do not know about
DeleteI remember her in Sayonara, which was a very sad movie. Brando changed the ending for Hollywood to make it a bit happier, he always did change things in his films. The novel by James Michner did not end on a happy note.
ReplyDeleteI never read the novel but in Hollywood there usually had to be happy endings.
DeleteI don't know her work at all. She was from Hokkaido! That's the only one of Japan's four major islands which I was never able to visit. Someday...
ReplyDeleteYup and lucky you to have visited Japan. Someone from my University days has made his home there and has lived there for close to 30 years now
DeleteI've spent five years there - three as a child, two as an adult. I'd go back to visit in a heartbeat, even given the rest of the world to choose from.
DeleteI liked her in the few films of her's that I've seen (Flower Drum Song, Sayonara), but I never loved her as an actress. Still, it's nice to see you mention a foreign actress here, and a classic one at that!
ReplyDeleteWell I thought she needed some loving:)
DeleteAnther I never knew, at least that I can recall. Don't think I've seen her in anything at my sea.
ReplyDeleteShe didn't do many films and most probably know her from the TV show
DeleteLike Pat, she's another one I don't remember. Good for her for being the first Asian woman to win an Oscar. I thought the second should've been Ziyi Zhang for her work in Memoirs of a Geisha.
ReplyDeleteShe isn't much talked about yet she broke barriers actually. I never have seen Memoirs of a Guisha
DeleteSadly I don't know her work. She sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
She is under-stated and really quite good
DeleteI thought I recognized her face, now that it makes sense that I did with her being on the Courtship of Eddie's Father (that was such a cute show). I had not heard of her name before, very talented! How interesting she went from acting to a renting business :)
ReplyDeletebetty
I know! I think she enjoyed being in business with her husband and that other part of her life became history
DeleteI remember her as Mrs. Livingston on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." I don't think I've seen "Flower Drum Song" except for a couple of clips.
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Blogging from A to Z 2015 Cohost
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Oh she was good in that show but she was great in Sayonara and Flower Drum Song
DeleteSayonara was an amazing film. I appreciate them or now than I did as a kid. The beauty of the kabuki scenes amaze me. The intricate plot lines are rarely seen now.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we need to take another look at a film to truly appreciate it
DeleteNever saw any of her work, Sounds like a fascinating actress.
ReplyDeleteI think so because she loved the American music much to her family's chagrin and made a name for herself as a singer before she started acting
DeleteI remember her from that television show. Only one to win an Oscar? Wow.
ReplyDeleteYup Only Female Asian actor to win an Oscar so far
DeleteI remember Sayonara. Good movie.
ReplyDeleteIt is so good
DeleteI don't remember ever hearing of this actress before and I haven't seen any of the movies she was in. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
hahahaaa-that's why they need to get some love on my little ole blog:)
DeleteI don't remember seeing her on tv or film but she looks like a sweet person who had a rich life.
ReplyDeleteShe did and I thought she was great in Flower Drum Song
DeleteGreat she won an Oscar, but I would have at least prepared a speech just in case.
ReplyDeleteI know:) She didn't and seemed genuinely surprised
DeleteYeah, I remember her from 'The Courtship Of Eddie's Father'. Wow! You sure know your Hollywood, BIRGIT. You got me beat bad!
ReplyDelete~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
Well, Thank you! When I was thinking about my next list hers was the only name that popped into my head since I already wrote about Peter Ustinov last year.
DeleteLovely actress. I adore Sayonara, though it's sad, and Flower Drum Song. I remember watching The Courtship of Eddie's Father. People, let me tell ya bout my best friend. He's a one boy cuddly toy who'll love ya to the end.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Sayonara is sad and she was so good in that film. I do remember her from that TV show even though I was little
DeleteAnother fascinating tale of an actress. Many of them have died of cancer. Perhaps that's because it was "cool" to smoke in films in the mid-twentieth century!
ReplyDeleteBack in the day, it was sophisticated to smoke especially if you had one of those long cigarette holders to put the cig in. They use to give out free smokes to all the soldiers (my dad told me that since he was in the army). The sad thing is if one did a list now, I think Cancer and heart disease still are the top 2
DeleteI wonder if she was as calm and composed in real life as the characters she played. She was great in "Flower Drum Song." I like the duet she did with Jack Soo.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure but from what I have read I think she probably was a calm person overall
Delete"U" is always a hard one to come up with - but you did great! I never knew about this lady and I'm so impressed that she's the only Asian to win an Oscar. Wow! Good luck with the rest of the A-Z, and have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYes U is hard!. It's funny some letters there are so many to choose and others...ughh but I am glad I picked this lady
DeleteHello there.
ReplyDeleteI thought she looked familiar...I love watching Sayonara. She was very elegant.
Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog.
(If I ever get the chance to come up your way, I'll definitely visit that tea store in Niagara On The Lake!)
Entrepreneurial Goddess
She was great in that film. Yes that tea store is quite nice and so is the whole town
DeleteSo pleased you chose this actress. Sayonara is a favorite of mine. Miyoshi was pure loveliness, so graceful, and seemed perfect for the part.
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Oh glad you like her so much. This is such a great film and she deserves to be written about
DeleteI recognize her! So cool of you to share her because I never knew any of her history. Thank you! Lisa, co-host A to Z Challenge 2015 and http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
ReplyDeleteoh you are welcome! She was nice lady from what I read and had a good head on her shoulders which is a nice change
DeleteI don't remember hearing of her. She did a lot of great things. Nice read.
ReplyDeleteThank you:)
DeleteI used to watch Courtship of Eddie's Father, and she looks familiar. She was beautiful. You're picking a great mix of shining stars, Birgit. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks-I try and she was good in that show
DeleteI never knew that Mrs. Livingston won an Oscar! A+ for originality, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteJulie
I second the above comment!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of her but she sounds like a remarkable woman. I love the fact that she won an Oscar and then just settled down and lived a fairly normal existence. :-)
ReplyDeleteCait @ Click's Clan
I don't think I know her, did watch courtship of eddies father, but don't remember her. You've come up with quite a variety of people.
ReplyDeleteSandy at Bridge and Beyond U post still working on catching up, but getting there.