I love putting on the costume just like when I was a little kid. Hence, the queries about his wife, past affairs, and children still remain as a mystery. To provide you some context, the movie centres on Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald), an angsty teenager whose much-anticipated 16th birthday is overshadowed by her sister's upcoming wedding and, thus, completely forgotten by her family. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Goat enjoy being alone in their thoughts. Instagram, Facebook, Twiter, Youtube, etc. Moreover, Watanabe was an American whose first and only language was English. [1] He is perhaps best known for voicing the character of Ling in the 1998 animated film Mulan and its 2004 sequel Mulan II, as well as playing Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles, and as Nurse Yoshi Takata in the NBC medical drama ER from 1997 to 2003. Zelda Rubenstein, who played the wedding organist, and I became friends years later. He was in several dramatic productions in high school, both acting and singing. And so, well into their 40s, they bravely shook things up and reinvented themselves, finding happiness and success as a result of the changes they made., Both of these are very different approaches to the same dilemma, Burns acknowledges. People born on Sundays typically are bright, creative, bold, loud, usually natural leaders. Sixteen Candles is filled with stereotypes the blonde queen bees, the uptight grandparents, the bratty little brothers, the Greek in-laws which serve to make Molly Ringwalds very normal desire for a great 16th birthday and a handsome boyfriend seem that much funnier.Yes, the movie isnt mean to the character and doesnt single him out. The Dongle needs food!" By choice! I hope they follow this with a series about Senior Gays. Two or three Asian kids in elementary school, maybe four or five when I got to high school. Maybe if I do an accented role. Required fields are marked *. He talked about Asian actors that are doing. Gedde Watanabe fathers name is under review and mother unknown at this time. [7] The actor did recognize the popularity of his character and created voice mail messages in the voice of Long Duk Dong to auction off for charity. In 1976, Watanabe's first role was as a member of the original Broadway cast of Pacific . In an interview with Vulture last year, he envisioned what Long Duk Dong might be up to now. He is perhaps best known for voicing the character of Ling in the 1998 animated film Mulan and its 2004 sequel, Mulan II as well as playing Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. "[2], Catherine Driscoll, writing in Teen Film: A Critical Introduction, said Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles, Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (1984), and Maria in West Side Story (1961) all represent "the homogenization of racial difference in US popular culture including teen film". He said, "I was making people laugh. My ethnicity works both for and against me. [13], Gedde Watanabe commented that perhaps John Hughes thought he was breaking a stereotype with the character because Long Duk Dong was not the stereotypical nice studious Asian boy and was instead interested in going out and partying. Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Television 4 External links Personal life Watanabe was born in Ogden, Utah, of Japanese (Okinawan) descent. Dress & Shoe size. He practices his conversational English with others, has his hair parted down the middle as an uncool style, is mystified by American food, and calls himself "The Donger". Back Lived San Francisco Artists. Then I couldnt stop laughing but the crew couldnt either! Actually, he's probably been married a few times. What's icky about this relationship is how the filmmakers present it Dong's femininity makes him weak, and we're meant to laugh at this. But because there were so few Asian actors onscreen at that time, people were looking for Kurosawa in a comedy and Sixteen Candles wasnt that kind of movie. "[12], In the 2007 book Don't You Forget About Me: Contemporary Writers on the Films of John Hughes, Long Duk Dong is described as defying stereotypes, noting that "uberdork Long Duk Dong proves himself to be a party animal" and "by the nights end the school's entire social strata will have turned upside down" with Samantha, the freshman geek, and also foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong finding romantic and social success. A lot of people complained when the grandmother kicked me:Why does the Asian kid need to get kicked? Family: He was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. Full Real Name. He never spilled the beans about his love affairs and being married, though. Therefore, regarding his wife, past affairs, and children is still a mystery. In addition to Burns, the series features Gedde Watanabe, James Campbell and Trevor LaPaglia. And he's about to make a bid for the L.A. Actually, he's probably been married a few times. And he's kinda well known for it. At the time of his death, he was -1955 years old. Additional episodes will be released each following Monday. Gedde Watanabe was born Gary Watanabe in Utah, USA, on 26 June 1955 in a Japanese-American family. I guess the right word for that is safe. Required fields are marked *. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I then went to the audition in character using my friends accent. "[4] He auditioned for casting director Jackie Burch in-character, convincing her that he was from Korea and barely spoke English. Below you can check his net worth, salary and much more from previous years. [8], Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a positive review and said of the character, "There are a lot of effective performances in this movie, including Gedde Watanabe as the exchange student (he elevates his role from a potentially offensive stereotype to high comedy). Prueba a ver si Netflix, iTunes, Amazon o cualquier otro servicio te deja reproducirlo en streaming, alquilarlo o comprarlo! I was a theater kid. Five models stormed down a narrow, elevated runway installed at the Oratoire du Louvre, a Protestant church, and then came to a dead stop, evenly spaced. "[7], After Sixteen Candles, Watanabe was cast in several accented roles but later mostly stopped using exaggerated Asian accents for his roles. He portrayed the character of Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film, Sixteen Candles. When I get cast, I never feel like I fit the part. So that scene improved its way into the script. . He is perhaps best known for voicing the character of Ling in the 1998 animated film Mulan and its 2004 sequel . Family: He was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. Gedde Watanabe was born on the 26th of June, 1955. For Gedde Watanabe, life began in the rural town of Ogden, UT. Sure, lets try this. Gedde Watanabe Height, Weight & Measurements At 67 years old, Gedde Watanabe height is 5 7 . As gay men, we should all understand this. His zodiac sign is Cancer. At the time of his death, he was -1955 years old. Just because it never happened doesnt mean they cant get back together. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. The Ogden born kicked off his acting career in 1976 from Broadway cast of Pacific Overtuners. Weve got romance, breakups, emotionally loaded dumplings this episode has a little bit of everything! his Basic income source was mostly from being a successful Actor. Gedde Watanabe (born Gary Watanabe, June 26, 1955, Ogden, Utah) is an American theatre, film, and television actor. So I didnt so much go for the jokes, but played to his excitement and enthusiasm. he was born on June 26, 1955, in Utah. There he attended the American Conservatory Theater for formal education. Debbie and I keep in contact. The Disappointments, from creator Rich Burns, is a new web series about three middle-aged gay best friends trying to figure out how to live their best lives. Sixteen Candles was shot in the summer of 1983 in the Chicago suburb of Skokie, Illinois, which didnt have a lot of Japanese-Americans running around. Who was Howland Chamberlains girlfriend/Boyfriend. I was so in love with Michael Schoeffling. After graduation, Watanabe relocated to San Francisco, where he worked as a street musician while honing his acting skills. I didnt really have a sense about my nationality all that much. "[7] Actress Molly Ringwald, who starred in Sixteen Candles, wrote in 2018 that in the film, "Long Duk Dong is a grotesque stereotype. trivia, Gedde Watanabe is a 67 year old American Actor. His mother, who had been previously interned during World War II, worked as a seamstress at the Utah Tailoring Company. I was 28 so could drive, take trips to Chicago, go out on my own. Watanabe and Minami have been married since 2005, and have been looked upon as one of the most stable couples in the Japanese show business world, having undergone major health issues together, including Watanabe's battle with leukemia in 2016. After graduating from high school, Watanabe moved from Odgen to San Francisco, where he hoped to make a living as a street musician while improving his histrionic skills. You want to try this? To celebrate three decades of the movie, Vulture spoke with the actor about exercise bikes, growing up in Utah, and having his feet tickled by John Hughes. He previously suffered a brain aneurysm on February 18, and was ultimately taken off life support. He reminded me of John. "[2], Of Dong's love interest who is physically larger than him, Kent Ono and Vincent Pham write in Asian Americans And The Media, "The gender roles are switched. Upload media. There have been no announcements or articles that can confirm any current relationships. He is perhaps best known for voicing the character of Ling in the 1998 animated film Mulan and its 2004 sequel, Mulan II as well as playing Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. Its easy to predict his income, but its much harder to know how much he has spent over the years. After graduation, Watanabe left Ogden for San Francisco, where he hoped to make his living as a street musician while honing his acting skills. Actually, hes probably been married a few times. Gedde Watanabe was born on June 26, 1955, in Ogden, Utah. Watanabe showed the machine to Hughes, who ultimately filmed the sequence in which Long Duk Dong and his American girlfriend awkwardly ride the machine together. How Old he was when he started his career? These were people in their late 40s and early 50s, all of them feeling hopeless about how their lives had turned out., At the same time, we had friends at whom we marveled, added Burns. When the film came out in 1984, several Asian-American groups condemned the character "as stereotypical, racist and part of a long history of Hollywood's offensive depictions of Asian men". Similarly, his other movie, Gung Ho (1986)earned $36.6 million on the budget of $13 million. Uploaded: 31 Dec, 2006. Similarly, his other film, Gung Ho (1986)earned$36.6millionon the budget of$13 million. May 3, 2008 5:37 AM. He portrayed the character of Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film, Sixteen Candles. Dating: According to CelebsCouples, Gedde Watanabe is single . (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Gedde Watanabes Net Worth: How Much Has He Accumulated? The way we got that take is John found a feather and started tickling my feet. It said the character of Long Duk Dong was a foreign exchange student and from Asia, but that was about it. He said his surgery was a success, but he needs time to heal before he can tour again. I think I found my new crush. They're creative, thinkers, wanderers, unorganized, high-strung and insecure, and can be anxiety-ridden. His other credits include Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Armageddon, and Mulan II. Actor Gedde Watanabe was born in 1955 in Ogden, UT, and he got bit by the acting bug as a teen. I hope they also focus on those of us who never found love or engaged in a lot of dating, as every single gay show likes to show men having sex left and right. Everything Everywhere All at Once has won in every category they were nominated for. Gedde Watanabe is probably married to his girlfriend. he was born on 26 Jun 1955 in Ogden, Utah, United States.Her is nationality American. But it's funny, too, because at the same time I laugh at the character. During his career, the prolific actor inhabited an array of troubled characters. Terms of Service apply. Gedde Watanabe: Top 10 Must-Know Facts About Movie Actor. What's icky about this relationship is how the filmmakers present it. He is perhaps best known for voicing the character of Ling in the 1998 animated film Mulan and its 2004 sequel, Mulan II as well as playing Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles . Gedde Watanabes Estimated Net Worth, Age, Biography, Career, Social media accounts i.e. He is an actor, known for Mulan (1998), Sixteen Candles (1984) and Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990). Band founder Shaun Justice said, "It's odd that a character that's not a primary character would have so much notability. [1] He also finds a love interest, an athletic large-breasted young woman who is physically larger than him. This web series aims to be unique by featuring gay men in their 50s dealing with the fallout from faltering careers and empty bank accounts and generally scrambling to figure out how to set themselves up to survive in the decades yet to come. How did the acting bug bite you?My mother was an incredible seamstress. I found an exercise bike upstairs where we were shooting that day and told about John about it. There have been no articles or birth announcements concerning his having had children. Work period (start) 1976. [4], A 1980s cover band based in Lexington, Kentucky calls itself Long Duk Dong after the character. Career. Probably lots of grandchildren. Dong, a foreign exchange student, hangs upside down from a bunk bed. He guested twice on The Simpsons: In Marge We Trust and Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo. I was not in the film business. 12,242 views Jun 15, 2010 35 Dislike Share Save theroomlivecom 6.37K subscribers Gedde Watanabe appears with Lyla KaRug on Lyla Live! It's nice to think that after 31 years, Long Duk Dong was able to break out of his mold. I was mostly worried about hitting my marks and stuff like that. May 3, 2008 5:30 AM. With John you wanted to make sure he got what he wanted but never felt censored as an actor and didnt hesitate to try anything. Social Network Born on June 26, 1955, the Actor Gedde Watanabe was arguably the world's most influential social media star. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. It also says so much about John Hughes, his movies, their resilience and his brilliance. You grew up in Ogden, Utah, as one of the few Japanese families in town. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. I didn't realize how it was going to affect people," he said. Do you remember auditioning for Sixteen Candles? "I was working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and I was accosted a couple of times by a couple of women who were just really irate and angry. I also had really good friends through theater and was able to blend in thanks to them. But I look for parts that aren't necessarily Asian, parts that can be played by someone of any background. "The gender roles are switched," Kent Ono and Vincent Pham write in their book, Asian Americans And The Media. Now that Meredith is gone, it is business as usual at Grey Sloan Memorial. [4][6], Watanabe said he had "a great experience" making Sixteen Candles but recognized in retrospect that he was "a bit naive" about his role. But that one certainly did."[1]. Gary started his career as Actor in 1976 when Gary was just 21 Years old. On screen, Watanabe is often seen as a romantic and flirty guy. He never spilled the beans about his love affairs and being married, though. Have you had any contact with Long Duk Dong, the 80s cover band from Lexington, Kentucky? The series explores a pivotal issue people face as they navigate their 50s: What do you do when you realize that time is running short, the road behind you is longer than the road ahead, and your job, your marriage, your relationship with your kids, your life has not turned out at all the way you had hoped and planned when you were young? That would actually be really funny! Gedde Watanabe (born Gary Watanabe; June 26, 1955) is an American actor and comedian. Gedde Watanabe zodiac sign is a Cancer. Long Duk Dong is a fictional character who appears in Sixteen Candles, a 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes.Played by Japanese American actor Gedde Watanabe, the character is a Chinese foreign exchange student and a supporting character in the film set at a US suburban high school.The character has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people. But the Grandmother kicks Long Duk Dong because hes been out partying and not being the nice studious Asian boy she thought she was getting.Exactly. he is a American Actor. Till date, Watanabe appeared in numerous film and televisions series, the first one of which was The Long Island Four (1980). I look forward to seeing you kill it in Assassins. He portrayed the character of Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film, Sixteen Candles. In an interview with Vulture last year, he envisioned what Long Duk Dong . Related Authors. Nationality. Birthday: Jun 26, 1955. The actor has a net worth of around $2 millionas of2019 which he earned from his career as a television and film actor. In the years since the portrayal Long Duk Dong and Sixteen Candles was released 30 years ago this month Gedde Watanabe has . Itd be kinda great to reunite with them for the 30th. Gedde Watanabe 1955 626 - [ ] American Conservatory Theater 1976 [1] She wanted me for the role and said, Dont tell John. So we kept it a secret until the table read in Chicago when I took him aside and said, John, I have to tell you something He said, Wheres your accent? I was just so nervous telling him that I was afraid Id get fired and aware of my own embarrassment that Id told a huge lie. Watanabe said the rap went something like: 'I like Coca-Cola, lady skate roller, rock 'n' rolla'". His birth sign is Cancer and his life path number is 7. "[1] In addition to being called "Donger", the students were taunted with quotes of the character's lines in poor English such as "Oh, sexy girlfriend. He is an actor and director, known for Sixteen Candles (1984), UHF (1989) and Parental Guidance (2012). Gary "Gedde" Watanabe is an American actor and comedian. I need to find someone who does fit it so I can. For Gedde Watanabe, life began in the rural town of Ogden, UT. Gedde Watanabe was born on a Sunday. American actor and comedian. As of 2022, Gedde Watanabe's net worth is $100,000 - $1M. Portrayal of East Asians in American film and theater, "Long Duk Dong: Last of the Hollywood Stereotypes? Their lucky numbers are 3, 4, 9, and lucky colors are green, red, purple. In 1976, Watanabe's first role was as a member of the original Broadway cast of . *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. Which I guess made me the black sheep of the Asians in Ogden. The scene with you and Debbie Pollack riding the exercise bike together was one of those lets try this scenes.Yes! And for someone who fell so in love with America, hes probably changed his name. Silver fox is hot! Gedde Watanabe was born in the middle of Baby Boomers Generation. On Wikispro,Gedde was ranked in the list of most popular Actor,s. Gedde Watanabe. In Thursday's post about failed Asian-American TV shows, I called actor Gedde Watanabe's notorious performance as Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles "cringeworthy." Birthplace: Ogden, Utah, USA. The Mentalist is one of my favorite TV shows and I have seen Paz Vega in other movies. John Tartaglia, Jonah Platt, Kris Lythgoe; Gedde Watanabe. He found his escape in acting, having first appeared in a local . They need lots of love, support and reassurance. I would see that movie.I have a friend writing something about the Donger. On this week's On the Rocks, we chat with veteran actor Gedde Watanabe about his 45 years plus career that began with his debut in Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures and has included. he was only 21 Years old when he started his career as Actor, What was Howland Chamberlains marital status? In the years since the portrayal Long Duk Dong and Sixteen Candles was released 30 years ago this month Gedde Watanabe has appeared more than two dozen films, played Nurse Yosh on ER, and done voice work on the The Simpsons. Gedde Watanabe, better known by the Family name Gary, was a popular Actor. This one looks terrific and Ill be watching it on Monday! She just gives him a look; it's not gonna happen. [2], Susannah Gora, writing about Sixteen Candles, said, "The role of 'The Donger' is pure comedy; a gong sounds every time Dong enters a scene. He is an actor and director, known for Sixteen Candles (1984), UHF (1989) and Parental Guidance (2012). Oh, Loosey! hide caption. Also, he featured in a handful of blockbuster movies such as in Sixteen Candlesalong withMolly Ringwald,Michael Schoeffling,Anthony Michael Hall,andJohn Cusackwhich collected an impressive box office of$23.7 millionon the budget of$6.5 million. If you found this page interesting or useful, please share it. Connect any celebrity with Gedde Watanabe to see how closely they are linked romantically! He performed in several dramatic productions in high school, both acting and singing. In addition to his massive social media following actor. Gedde Watanabe has a net worth of 2 million dollars as of 2022. his primary source is the roles he plays like a television and film actor. (Single, Engaged, Married, Fiance in Relation or Divorce). Especially when I was living in New York in the 1970s. His mother, who had been previously interned during the World War II internment of Japanese Americans, worked as a seamstress at the Utah Tailoring Company. Who is Gedde Watanabe: Gedde Watanabe is a famous Movie Actor. Thank you again, Gedde! Gold, just gold. And to single out your character to me misses the point. By choice! Born in Utah, Watanabe grew up in Chinatown, San Francisco, California. Date of birth. "I was making people laugh. [5], Watanabe said some sequences with Long Duk Dong were left out of the final cut of the movie including a scene with him and his love interest in bed smoking and a rap performance at the school dance which got everyone dancing. Now 59, Watanabe has acted in dozens of roles since Sixteen Candles, including the openly gay Nurse Yosh Takata in ER. Gedde Watanabe's full name is Gary Watanabe and his nickname is Gedde Watanabe. About Gedde Watanabe. He holds an American nationality and belongs to a white ethnic group. Nader of Plymouth died on Thursday, March 2, at St . Gedde Watanabe was born on June 26, 1955 in Ogden, Utah, USA. Ive heard of the band. And hes kinda well known for it. It's a mixed marriage. Tom Hanks plays Lawrence Bourne III in Volunteers, a character who is a spoiled rich kid with a lot of gambling debt. Gedde Watanabe is a 67 year old American Actor. As per some sources claim that he earns around $52 thousandper annum as a movie actor and$15 thousandto$25 thousand per episode from his television series. He lived in an artist commune called Project Artaud, earning his living as a street singer accompanying himself on guitar. While this representation aims to provide comic relief, it both feminizes Asian American men and simultaneously constructs alternative gender and sexuality as aberrant." Dates of Cancer are June 21 - July 22. March 5,. I am not surprised a lot of us end up on a similar path of this web series, gay life wasnt all flowers like is today, it was more like, me the problematic gay guy vs the world, a world full of rejection, out of any protection, lonely. They are all not in the arts. Some of it straight-up disastrous. She shouts out all the ladies (mothers and wives) in the room. "[11], The co-founders of the Asian American popular culture magazine Giant Robot, Martin Wong and Eric Nakamura, said before Sixteen Candles, students of Asian descent in the United States were often nicknamed "Bruce Lee". Probably lots of grandchildren. Gedde Watanabe as Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles. Also, ranked in the list with that person who was born in 1955. There is no evidence that Gedde Watanabe has children. Youve heard a thousand times that Long Duk Dong is an offensive stereotype of a young Asian man who just arrived in this country, Im sure.Yes, and all Ill say about that is that because there werent enough Asians onscreen, comedy was kind of looked down upon. Weber State University would do these wonderful shows and had a really great theater department that I didnt know was well known. I was living in New York and had been in the original cast of [Stephen Sondheims] Pacific Overtures and done work with the Public Theater and Joe Papp. . ", "Gedde Watanabe Discusses 30 Years of Sixteen Candles and Long Duk Dong", "Sixteen Candles Movie Review & Film Summary (1984)", "Screen: '16 Candles,' A Teen-Age Comedy", 'Fresh Off the Boat' Tackles a 1980s Asian Caricature: Long Duk Dong, The death of Long Duk Dong: Crazy Rich Asians puts tired sidekick trope to rest, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Long_Duk_Dong&oldid=1140260927, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 07:15. That scene was so much Heres everything this guy loved about America.. We had other acquaintances who had done the same thing, all within the past few years. The worlds population was 2,772,242,535 and there were an estimated year babies born throughout the world in 1955, Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican) was the president of the United States, and the number one song on Billboard 100 was [Not available]. Their strengths are gentle, softhearted, considerate, attractive, hardworking, and persistent. They are nurturing, supportive, healing, compassionate, and unconditionally loving. It's an odd animal.". [1], In 2011, Susannah Gora, writing about the 1980s films of John Hughes, said, "The only significant non-white character in any of these films is also the basest caricature of all: Long Duk Dong A heightened national sense of cultural sensitivity (or political correctness, depending on how you look at it) swept America and the movie studios in the early nineties, and so the 1980s were, in many ways, the last moment when racially questionable jokes regularly found their place in mainstream comedies. Long Duk Dong is a fictional character who appears in Sixteen Candles, a 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes. [1], In Sixteen Candles (1984), Long Duk Dong (played by Gedde Watanabe) is a Chinese foreign exchange student who stays with the grandparents of the film's protagonist Samantha (played by Molly Ringwald). After graduation, he left Ogden to become a street singer in San Francisco. Gedde Watanabe girlfriend, wife list. His notable work in television series includes Gung Ho (1986), Sesame Street (1988), Murphy Brown (1988), Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995 and 1997), Duckman (1996), ER (19972003), Batman Beyond (1999, 2000) and Model Family (2006). I hope they address the reality of this situation. ER was less interesting as an actor as the character was closer to who I actually am as a person. "What's happening, hot stuff?" Im still sideswiped by it all. What was it like to work with John Hughes?John made a movie shoot a situation where you want to join in, jump in the hot tub, and try things: Oh, lets try this.