Khigh Dhiegh
American actor (1910–1991)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Khigh Alx Dhiegh (/ˈkaɪ ˈdiː/ KY DEE or /ˈdeɪ/ DAY; born Kenneth G. Dickerson; August 25, 1916 – October 25, 1991)[2] was an American television and motion picture actor of Anglo-Egyptian Sudanese ancestry, noted for portraying East Asian roles.[3] He is perhaps best remembered for portraying villains, in particular his recurring TV guest role as Chinese agent Wo Fat on Hawaii Five-O (from the pilot in 1968, to the final episode in 1980), and brainwashing expert Dr. Yen Lo in 1962's The Manchurian Candidate.[a]
August 25, 1916[1]
- Actor
- author
- recording artist
Khigh Dhiegh | |
|---|---|
 Khigh Dhiegh in trailer for The Manchurian Candidate (1962) | |
| Born | Kenneth G. Dickerson August 25, 1916[1] Spring Lake, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | October 25, 1991 (aged 75) Mesa, Arizona, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1950–1990 |
| Spouse | Mary K. (nee Pearman) Dickerson (1911-1987) |
| Children | Kenneth Dickerson (1935-2011), Kathleen Dickerson (1936-2015) |
| Parent(s) | Nathaniel Beverley Dickerson, Capitola Adelaide Pryor |
Life and death
He was born Kenneth G. Dickerson in Spring Lake, New Jersey.[4][5] Dhiegh stated his mother was "Spanish, English, Egyptian, and Chinese" and his father was "Portuguese, Italian, and South African Zulu"; he was raised in New York City, living in all the boroughs except Staten Island.[6]: 6 He moved to Arizona in 1977.[4]
Dhiegh petitioned to change his name October 16, 1962 with the change becoming effective November 25, 1962, when Dhiegh was 46 years old.[7] His date of birth also appeared in the Legal Notice.
Dhiegh died on October 25, 1991, at Desert Samaritan Hospital of Mesa, Arizona, from kidney and heart failure.[8][9]
Career
In the early 1930s, Dhiegh was asked by a customer at his mother's bookshop to understudy the role of a butler in Noël Coward's Design for Living, which led to his long career in acting, producing, and directing.[6]: 1–2
Performance
On Broadway, Dhiegh's credits include The Teahouse of the August Moon and Flower Drum Song.[4] Off-Broadway, he received an Obie Award in 1961, for playing Schlink in In the Jungle of Cities.[4]
He also starred in the short-lived 1975 TV series Khan! as the title character.[3][10] In 1988, he was featured as Four Finger Wu in James Clavell's Noble House television mini-series.[11]
In 1965, Dhiegh recorded and released an album on Folkways Records, entitled Poems of St. John of the Cross: Volume II, a collection of poems of St. John.
Philosophy
Besides his acting endeavors, Dhiegh was active in Taoist philosophy, writing a number of books on the subject, including The Eleventh Wing (ISBN 0-385-28371-7).[3] Dhiegh credited his "life long dear friend Chao-Li Chi" with sparking his interest in the I Ching and Taoism, starting in 1935.[6]: 2–3 In 1971, he founded the Taoist Sanctuary (now the Taoist Institute) in Hollywood, California.[6]: 4 At the time, he was living in the San Fernando Valley.[10]
Dhiegh also had a doctorate in theology, and in his later years, was the rector for a Taoist sanctuary in Tempe, Arizona called 'Inner Truth Looking Place.' He held weekly services and sponsored many 'Tea Ceremonies' in the Phoenix metro area. Dhiegh picked up jewelry making as a hobby in the 1970s, later selling pieces to help support the sanctuary.[4] One of his last interviews was on One World in 1990, where he presented the concept of World Citizenry and its benefit to mankind.[12] Dhiegh's contributions to Taoism are discussed in some detail in the book Taoism for Dummies (John Wiley and Sons Canada, 2013).
Select filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Time Limit | Col. Kim | as Kaie Deei |
| 1962 | The Manchurian Candidate | Dr. Yen Lo | |
| 1963 | 13 Frightened Girls | Kang | |
| 1965 | How to Murder Your Wife | Bald Actor playing Thug | |
| 1966 | Seconds | Davalo | |
| 1968 | The Destructors | King Chou Lai | |
| 1968-1980 | Hawaii Five-O | Wo Fat[13] | 15 episodes |
| 1969 | Mission: Impossible | General Wo | Episode: "Doomsday" |
| 1970 | Mission: Impossible | Toshio Masaki | Episode: "Butterfly" |
| 1970 | The Hawaiians | Kai Chung | |
| 1971 | The Mephisto Waltz | Zanc Theun | |
| 1974 | Judge Dee and The Monastery Murders | Judge Dee | |
| 1978 | Goin' Coconuts | Wong |
Notes
- Dr. Lo proudly asserted that the subject's minds were not only "brain-washed", but they were also "dry-cleaned".