Sammee Tong

Sammee Tong (April 21, 1901 – October 27, 1964) was an American film and television character actor. One of Tong's more notable roles was that of Peter Tong on the sitcom Bachelor Father, which aired on all three national networks from 1957 to 1962.

Early life and career Born in San Francisco, Tong lived in Palo Alto before moving with his family to Honolulu. He graduated from Stanford University.

Tong attempted to break into acting on the stage during the Depression, forming an act called the Three Celestials that played in neighborhood theaters and was booked into the Los Angeles Orpheum.

Career Tong signed with Columbia Pictures,

After Bachelor Father'''s cancellation in 1962, Tong was cast as Sammy Ling in the ABC sitcom Mickey, starring Mickey Rooney. Due to low ratings, ABC was considering canceling Mickey. The network was hesitant to cancel the series due to the popularity of Tong's character who had a solid fanbase thanks to Tong's role in Bachelor Father. Tong's death effectively ended any chance for the series' survival and ABC canceled Mickey in December 1964.

Tong's final screen appearance was as "Cook" in the 1965 film Fluffy, starring Tony Randall and Shirley Jones. The film was released after Tong's death.

Death Tong, who was married to May Tong (nee Young) and had one child, Kingsley Tong, was found dead in his Palms, Los Angeles apartment by his close friend, Ben Wong, on October 27, 1964. Tong had died from an intentional barbiturate overdose. Police found an empty bottle of sleeping pills by his body and several notes addressed to his landlady, his attorney and police. In the note addressed to police, he gave no reason why he committed suicide only stating, "I have taken my own life. No one is to blame." Tong is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

In his 1991 autobiography, Life is Too Short, Tong's co-star Mickey Rooney claimed that Tong was a heavy gambler and committed suicide over money problems. According to Rooney, Tong became despondent and upset after learning that Mickey'' faced cancellation because he owed money to the mafia.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 1934 The Captain Hates the Sea Sin Kee Uncredited 1935 Charlie Chan in Shanghai Waiter Uncredited 1936 Love Before Breakfast Steward Uncredited 1936 The Accusing Finger Chinese Man Uncredited 1936 Happy Go Lucky Driver Uncredited 1936 Stowaway Bing Crosby Imitator Uncredited 1937 The Good Earth Chinese Man Uncredited 1937 Think Fast, Mr. Moto Cheela - Marloff's Houseboy Uncredited 1937 Youth on Parole Chinese Orchestra Leader Uncredited 1937 West of Shanghai Messenger Uncredited 1937 Daughter of Shanghai Chinese Alien in Airplane Uncredited 1939 Only Angels Have Wings Sam the Cook Uncredited 1943 China Aide to Japanese General Uncredited 1945 God Is My Co-Pilot Chinese Civilian Uncredited 1945 Out of This World Chinese Radio Announcer Uncredited 1950 Woman on the Run Witness to Suzie's Fall Uncredited 1955 The Left Hand of God Servant Uncredited 1955 Spin and Marty: The Movie George 1956 Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Dr. Yamane Voice, Uncredited 1956 Flight to Hong Kong Shop Proprietor Uncredited 1957 The Iron Sheriff Charley Key - Laundry Owner Uncredited 1957 The Midnight Story Restaurant Proprietor Uncredited 1957 Man of a Thousand Faces Chinese Extra Uncredited 1957 Slaughter on Tenth Avenue Sam, Chinese Waiter Uncredited 1957 Hell Bound Murdered Seaman Uncredited 1957 Stopover Tokyo Diplomat Uncredited 1958 Suicide Battalion Papa Lily Credited as Sammy Tong 1959 Battle Flame Chinese Prisoner Uncredited 1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Chinese Laundryman 1964 For Those Who Think Young Clyde 1965 Fluffy Cook Released posthumously, (final film role)

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1953–1954 You Are There 2 episodes 1955 The Adventures of Spin and Marty George, the cook Unknown episodes 1956 Judge Roy Bean Ah Sid Episode: "Ah Sid, Cowboy" 1956 The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty Sam Unknown episodes 1956 Matinee Theater Nurseryman Episode: "All the Trees In the Field" 1956 Sky King Ipp Episode: "Red Tentacles" 1956 The Man Called X 2 episodes 1956 Death Valley Days Thomas Bottle Episode: "Bill Bottle's Birthday" 1956 Cavalcade of America Episode: "Diplomatic Outpost" 1956 My Friend Flicka Wong Episode: "Lost River" 1956 Hey, Jeannie! Lee Episode: "The Proprietor" 1957 General Electric Theater Peter Tong Episode: "A New Girl In His Life" 1959 The Californians Quon Wei Episode: "Gold-Tooth Charlie" 1959 Bonanza Hop Ling Episode: "A Rose for Lotta" 1960 Hawaiian Eye Mr. Nishimaka Episode: "Dead Ringer" 1957–1962 Bachelor Father Peter Tong 157 episodes 1964 The Jack Benny Program Maitre d' of Lotus Blosom Inn Episode: "How Jack Found Dennis" 1964–1965 Mickey Sammy Ling 17 episodes (some aired posthumously)