Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
April 21, 1901
Place of Birth:
San Francisco, California, USA
Social Media
Sammee Tong
Biography
Sammee Tong (April 21, 1901 – October 27, 1964) was an American film and television character actor. He was best known for his starring role as John Forsythe's live-in houseboy/valet Peter Tong on the sitcom Bachelor Father, which aired on all three national networks from 1957 to 1962.
Tong signed with Columbia Pictures, and made his film debut in a bit part in the comedy film The Captain Hates the Sea (1934). In 1939 he returned to his home town as director of entertainment at the Chinese Village of San Francisco's World's Fair, and began the first Chinese radio hour on KSAN. Throughout the 1940s, he had small, usually uncredited, roles in films. He returned to Hollywood in the early 1950s and took roles on television.
Tong made his television debut in a 1953 episode of You Are There. He had a recurring role as George the cook the first two seasons of the Mickey Mouse Club serial The Adventures of Spin and Marty (1955 - 1956). In 1957, he landed a co-starring role in the sitcom Bachelor Father, starring John Forsythe and Noreen Corcoran. In the series, Tong portrayed "Peter Tong", Bentley Gregg's (Forsythe) live-in houseboy and valet. Although he was playing a servant, Tong enjoyed the role stating, "Houseboys in movies and the theater always bow low, mutter a few sing song words and disappear, but not on this show. I get dialogue and laughs." After Bachelor Father's cancellation in 1962, Tong was cast as Sammy Ling in the ABC sitcom Mickey (1964 - 1965), starring Mickey Rooney. Despite low ratings, Tong's character had a solid fanbase thanks to his role in Bachelor Father. Tong's death effectively ended any chance for the series' survival, and ABC canceled Mickey in its first season.
His final screen appearance was as "Cook" in the film Fluffy (1965), starring Tony Randall and Shirley Jones. The film was released after Tong's death in October 1964 from an intentional barbiturate overdose.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | For Those Who Think Young | Clyde |
| 1963 | It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World | Laundryman |
| 1958 | Suicide Battalion | Papa Lily |
| 1957 | Hell Bound | Murdered Seaman (uncredited) |
| 1957 | The Midnight Story | Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited) |
| 1956 | Godzilla, King of the Monsters! | Dr. Yamane / Dr. Tabata (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Woman on the Run | Witness to Suzie's Fall (uncredited) |
| 1945 | God Is My Co-Pilot | Chinese Civilian (uncredited) |
| 1943 | China | Aide to Japanese General |
| 1939 | Only Angels Have Wings | Sam the Cook |
| 1937 | Youth on Parole | Chinese Orchestra Leader (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Daughter of Shanghai | Chinese Alien in Airplane (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Love Before Breakfast | Steward (uncredited) |
| 1936 | The Accusing Finger | Chinese-American Convict |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Mickey | Sammy Ling |
| 1959 | Hawaiian Eye | |
| 1957 | Bachelor Father | Peter Tong |
| 1956 | Telephone Time | |
| 1956 | The Man Called X | |
| 1956 | Hey, Jeannie! | Lee |
| 1956 | Further Adventures of Spin and Marty | Sam the Cook |
| 1955 | Matinee Theater | |
| 1955 | The Adventures of Spin and Marty | Sam the Cook |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater | Peter Tong |