Benson Fong

Biography

Benson Fong was an American film and television character actor. Born in Sacramento, California, into a mercantile Chinese family, he got his start in Hollywood by chance. A Paramount talent scout approached him at dinner in Sacramento in 1943, and he soon appeared in China with Loretta Young and Alan Ladd, then signed a ten-week contract. He played a range of Asian nationalities, and was best known as Number Three Son Tommy Chan in six Charlie Chan films from 1944 to 1946, opposite Sidney Toler. His other films included The Keys of the Kingdom (1944), Flower Drum Song (1961), Our Man Flint (1966), The Love Bug (1968) and The Strongest Man in the World (1975). On television he had guest roles on Perry Mason, My Three Sons and Kung Fu, and played The Old One in the 1986 TV movie Kung Fu: The Movie.

70years old at death

Born October 10, 1916Sacramento
Died August 1, 1987Los Angeles
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 17
Career span: 38 years1944 to 1982

Genres

Comedy41%, 7 films
Drama41%, 7 films
Action24%, 4 films
Crime24%, 4 films
Romance18%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Fong built a chain of five Ah Fong restaurants over 30 years, starting from a casual suggestion by actor Gregory Peck after they appeared together in The Keys of the Kingdom.
A change of course
Fong thought up the name of his Ah Fong restaurants while looking at the wrapper of an "Oh Henry!" candy bar, and Ah is a term of respect in Chinese.
Getting ready for a role
Fong played Mr. Tang Wu in Disney's The Love Bug. At 52, he had jet-black hair that was sprayed bright white so he would look older.

Benson Fong movies on Netflix

Jinxed!1982IMDb rating 4.7as Mr. Wing
Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge1979IMDb rating 4.7as Min Lo Chan
Oliver's Story1978IMDb rating 4.7as John Hsiang
The Strongest Man in the World1975IMDb rating 5.9as Ah Fong
Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend1973IMDb rating 6.2as Himself
Charley Varrick1973IMDb rating 7.5as Honest John
The Love Bug1968IMDb rating 6.5as Mr. Wu
Our Man Flint1966IMDb rating 6.4as Dr. Schneider
Girls! Girls! Girls!1962IMDb rating 5.6as Kin Yung
Flower Drum Song1961IMDb rating 6.9as Wang Chi-Yang
Conquest of Space1955IMDb rating 5.6as Imoto
The Left Hand of God1955IMDb rating 6.4as Chun Tien
Women in the Night1948IMDb rating 4.7as Chang
Calcutta1946IMDb rating 6.4as Young Chinese Clerk
Deception1946IMDb rating 7.1as The Manservant [Jimmy]
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat1944IMDb rating 6.4as Tommy Chan
The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2as Joseph

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Love Bug1968 Comedy, Family, Fantasyas Mr. Wu
IMDb rating 6.519K votes
Charley Varrick1973 Action, Crime, Dramaas Honest John
IMDb rating 7.516K votes
Our Man Flint1966as Dr. Schneider
IMDb rating 6.47.7K votes
Flower Drum Song1961as Wang Chi-Yang
IMDb rating 6.94.1K votes
Deception1946as The Manservant [Jimmy]
IMDb rating 7.14.7K votes
Girls! Girls! Girls!1962as Kin Yung
IMDb rating 5.64.0K votes
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat1944as Tommy Chan
IMDb rating 6.41.6K votes
Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge1979as Min Lo Chan
IMDb rating 4.71.5K votes

Most often with

Don Siegel directed two of these films. Philip Ahn appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Philip Ahn

Lee J. Cobb

William Schallert

Victor Sen Yung

Woodrow Parfrey

Joe Flynn

Don SiegelDirector, 2 films

Films together

Philip Ahn3 films together, 1944 to 1955
Philip Ahn's page
- The Left Hand of God1955IMDb rating 6.4Fong as Chun TienAhn as Jan Teng
- Women in the Night1948IMDb rating 4.7Fong as ChangAhn as Professor Kunioshi(Phillip Ahn)
- The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2Fong as JosephAhn as Mr. Pao, Envoy for Mr. Chia
Lee J. Cobb2 films together, 1955 to 1966
Lee J. Cobb's page
- Our Man Flint1966IMDb rating 6.4Fong as Dr. SchneiderCobb as Cramden
- The Left Hand of God1955IMDb rating 6.4Fong as Chun TienCobb as Mieh Yang
William Schallert2 films together, 1973 to 1975
William Schallert's page
- The Strongest Man in the World1975IMDb rating 5.9Fong as Ah FongSchallert as Prof. Quigley
- Charley Varrick1973IMDb rating 7.5Fong as Honest JohnSchallert as San Miguel Sheriff Bill Horton
Victor Sen Yung2 films together, 1955 to 1961
Victor Sen Yung's page
- Flower Drum Song1961IMDb rating 6.9Fong as Wang Chi-YangYung as Frankie Wing
- The Left Hand of God1955IMDb rating 6.4Fong as Chun TienYung as John Wong
Woodrow Parfrey2 films together, 1973 to 1982
Woodrow Parfrey's page
- Jinxed!1982IMDb rating 4.7Fong as Mr. WingParfrey as Insurance Agent
- Charley Varrick1973IMDb rating 7.5Fong as Honest JohnParfrey as Harold Young
Joe Flynn2 films together, 1968 to 1975
Joe Flynn's page
- The Strongest Man in the World1975IMDb rating 5.9Fong as Ah FongFlynn as Dean Higgins
- The Love Bug1968IMDb rating 6.5Fong as Mr. WuFlynn as Havershaw
Don SiegelDirector, 2 films, 1973 to 1982
All films by Don Siegel
- Jinxed!1982IMDb rating 4.7Fong as Mr. Wing
- Charley Varrick1973IMDb rating 7.5Fong as Honest John
Also two films together2 more actors
- James NolanJinxed! (1982) and Charley Varrick (1973)
- Jacqueline ScottJinxed! (1982) and Charley Varrick (1973)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.