Jerry Fujikawa

Hatsuo "Jerry" Fujikawa (February 18, 1912 — April 30, 1983) was an American stage, screen and television actor known most notably as the gardener in Roman Polanski's film Chinatown.

Personal life Fujikawa was born on February 18, 1912, in Monterey County, California. During early publicity surrounding his career, he was said to be a native of Salinas. His family, along with other Japanese-Americans on the west coast, were summarily detained in concentration camps following the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent issuance of Executive Order 9066 in February 1942. At the time, he was living in Los Angeles. Fujikawa was detained at Manzanar War Relocation Center. Before he and his family were interned, Fujikawa listed his former occupations as a gardener, in agriculture, and as a salesman.

While interned at Manzanar, Fujikawa volunteered for the United States Army, joining as a messenger of Charlie Company in the 100th Infantry Battalion in June 1943. Fujikawa's first marriage disintegrated soon after he returned from the war in Europe. Fujikawa and Gates were married until his death in 1983.

Career Fujikawa initially gained publicity for his stage roles: debuting as a villager in the original Broadway production of The Teahouse of the August Moon (1953). Other stage appearances included a role in Wedding in Japan (1957, off-Broadway), as the butler Toy in The Pleasure of His Company (1958), and as Father Ling in It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman (1966).

During the early part of his career, Fujikawa also appeared in the films Go For Broke! (1951) and The Journey (1959). At the time, he was known primarily as a character actor, wearing special effects makeup for varied television roles in The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, Bachelor Father, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and single roles for Taxi (S4E7, 1981) and The Winds of War (1983).

Fujikawa had a recurring role as Matsu, the uncle of the eponymous Mr. Takahashi played by Pat Morita in the short-lived sitcom Mr. T and Tina (1976).

Legacy In 1991, Fujikawa's daughter Cynthia began researching her father's life, which led to her reuniting in 1993 with her half-sister Tirsa from Jerry's first marriage. The research eventually was developed into the solo play Old Man River, first workshopped in 1995. It debuted in 1997 at the New Victory Theater and was filmed in 1998. Based on his work, the film's director, Allan Holzman, would later receive an American Cinema Editors Eddie Award in 2000 for Documentaries.

Television

Filmography