Miyoshi Umeki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miyoshi Umeki
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| Born |
Umeki Miyoshi (梅木 美代志)
May 8, 1929 |
| Died | August 28, 2007 (aged 78) Licking, Missouri, U.S.
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| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 1953–1972 |
| Spouse(s) |
Wynn Opie
(m. 1958; div. 1967)Randall Hood
(m. 1968–1976) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Tony Awards, Golden Globe, Oscars |
Miyoshi Umeki (梅木 美代志, Umeki Miyoshi, May 8, 1929 – August 28, 2007) was a talented Japanese-American singer and actress. She made history as the first Asian woman to win an Academy Award for acting. She was also nominated for a Tony Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Miyoshi Umeki was born in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, on May 8, 1929. She was the youngest of nine children. Her father owned a factory that made iron.
After World War II, Miyoshi started her career as a singer in nightclubs in Japan. She used the stage name Nancy Umeki. She was inspired by traditional Japanese theater called kabuki and American pop music. She even did impressions of American singers like Billy Eckstine.
A Star's Journey
Miyoshi Umeki became famous for her role as Katsumi in the 1957 film Sayonara. This role won her an Academy Award. She also played Mei Li in the Broadway musical and 1961 film Flower Drum Song. Later, she was known as Mrs. Livingston in the TV show The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
She moved to the United States in 1955. She appeared on a TV show called Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts. This helped her get noticed by director Joshua Logan, who cast her in Sayonara.
In 1958, Miyoshi was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as Mei-Li in the Broadway musical Flower Drum Song. The show was very popular and ran for two years. A magazine called Time said her acting had a "tranquil magic." She also starred in the movie version of Flower Drum Song and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for it.
Miyoshi appeared on many TV variety shows. She also acted in a few more movies, including Cry for Happy (1961), The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962), and A Girl Named Tamiko (1963).
From 1969 to 1972, she played Mrs. Livingston, the kind housekeeper, in the TV series The Courtship of Eddie's Father. She was nominated for another Golden Globe Award for this role. After the show ended, she decided to stop acting.
Personal Life
Miyoshi Umeki was married twice. Her first marriage was to television director Frederick Wynn Opie in 1958. They had one son, Michael, born in 1964. They divorced in 1967. In 1968, she married Randall Hood. He adopted her son, who then became Michael Randall Hood. Miyoshi and Randall ran a business together. Randall Hood passed away in 1976.
Later in her life, Miyoshi moved to Licking, Missouri. She wanted to be closer to her son and his family, which included her three grandchildren. She passed away on August 28, 2007, at the age of 78, due to cancer.
Music Career
Miyoshi Umeki recorded many songs during her career.
Recordings in Japan (1950–1954)
Before moving to the U.S., Miyoshi recorded for RCA Victor Japan. She sang mostly American jazz songs. She would sing them partly in Japanese and partly in English, or sometimes fully in one language. Some of her songs from this time include "It Isn't Fair", "Sentimental Me", "My Foolish Heart", and "Vaya con Dios".
Recordings in the U.S. (1955–1959)
After moving to the U.S., she signed with Mercury Records. She released several singles and two albums.
- Miyoshi Sings For Arthur Godfrey (1956)
- Miyoshi (1959)
She also recorded theme songs for films she appeared in, such as "Sayonara" for the movie Sayonara and "Cry for Happy" for Cry for Happy.
Awards and Achievements
Miyoshi Umeki won several important awards for her acting and singing:
- 1958: Won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Sayonara.
- 1958: Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for Sayonara.
- 1959: Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Flower Drum Song.
- 1962: Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for Flower Drum Song.
- 1970: Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
Images for kids
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Miyoshi Umeki
See also
In Spanish: Miyoshi Umeki para niños
