Richard Loo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Loo
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| Born | October 1, 1903 |
| Died | November 20, 1983 (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1931–1982 |
| Spouse(s) |
Bessie Loo
(m. 1929; div. 1960)Hope Loo
(m. 1964) |
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Richard Loo (born October 1, 1903 – died November 20, 1983) was an American actor. He was known for playing many different characters in movies, especially during the 1930s and 1940s. Richard Loo appeared in over 120 films and TV shows between 1931 and 1982.
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Richard Loo's Early Life
Richard Loo was born in Hawaii and had Chinese family roots. He grew up in Hawaii before moving to California as a teenager. He went to the University of California at Berkeley. After college, he started a career in business.
Richard Loo's Acting Career
A big event called the stock market crash of 1929 happened, which led to a tough time called the economic depression. This meant Richard Loo had to find a new path. He started acting in plays, first as a hobby, then as a job. In 1931, he made his very first movie.
Playing Different Roles
Like many Asian actors at the time, Richard Loo often played smaller, common types of roles. However, he quickly became a familiar face in many films. His serious look often led him to play villains in movies.
When World War II started, he became even more well-known. He often played tough Japanese soldiers in popular movies. Some of these films included The Purple Heart (1944) and God Is My Co-Pilot (1945). He was often cast as a Japanese enemy pilot, spy, or someone who questioned prisoners during the war.
Richard Loo's daughter, Beverly Jane Loo, said that her father didn't mind playing these villain roles. He felt proud to play these parts because he was very patriotic. He was also known as an "atmosphere" player, meaning he helped set the mood of a scene. Other actors like Spencer Chan, Willie Fung, and Frank Chew also did this.
Heroic Roles and Later Career
In 1944, Richard Loo played a Chinese army lieutenant alongside Gregory Peck in the movie The Keys of the Kingdom. He had a rare chance to play a hero in the Korean War movie The Steel Helmet (1951). In this film, he played a tired Japanese-American soldier.
Later in his career, he mostly continued to play familiar roles in movies. He also had smaller parts in television shows.
James Bond and TV Shows
In 1974, Richard Loo appeared in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. He played a rich Thai businessman named Hai Fat. He acted alongside famous actors like Roger Moore and Christopher Lee.
Richard Loo also appeared in the popular TV series Kung Fu from 1972 to 1975. He played a teacher of Shaolin monks in three episodes. He also appeared three more times as a different character. His last acting role was in The Incredible Hulk TV series in 1981. He also appeared in Toyota commercials until 1982. Richard Loo passed away on November 20, 1983, at the age of 80.
Richard Loo's Family Life
Richard Loo's first wife was Bessie Sue. She was a well-known agent in Hollywood, helping actors find jobs. They had twin daughters named Angela Marie Loo and Beverly Jane Loo. Beverly Loo became important in the publishing world. Angela Loo Levy became a Hollywood agent and was also a skilled ski patroller. Richard Loo stayed with his second wife, Hope, until he died in 1983. He also had a stepdaughter named Christel Hope Mintz.
Images for kids
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Richard Loo in The Purple Heart (1944)
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