Luke Chan

Canadian actor From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Luke Chan (April 16, 1896-September 30, 1983) was a Canadian character actor and designer who worked in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s. He was also a prominent figure in the development of Los Angeles's Chinatown neighborhood.[1][2]

Born
Luke Tin Chan

(1896-04-16)April 16, 1896
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
DiedSeptember 30, 1983(1983-09-30) (aged 87)
Los Angeles, California, USA
AlmamaterColumbia University
OccupationActor
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Luke Chan
Born
Luke Tin Chan

(1896-04-16)April 16, 1896
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
DiedSeptember 30, 1983(1983-09-30) (aged 87)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Alma materColumbia University
OccupationActor
SpouseMary Vanvliet (m. 1936)
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Biography

Chan was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, to parents of Chinese origin. His father, Chan Yu Tan, was a minister and his mother was a doctor.[3]

Chan graduated from Columbia University, and later married Mary Alice Van Vleet in 1936; she died several years later. He was known for his intellectual manner, and he struck up an enduring friendship with actress Elissa Landi.[4] Like a lot of Chinese actors during this period, he often played Japanese roles.[5]

Chan opened the Chinese Junk Cafe in Los Angeles's Chinatown in the late 1930s.[6] He and fellow actor Johnson Sing spent time designing a large replica of a Chinese pirate ship that adorned the restaurant at 733 N. Main St. (The building later burned down in a fire.)[7][8] Chan also served as president of the neighborhood's China City Merchants' Association and as Chinatown's unofficial mayor, and helped design the look of the area.[9][10]

Selected filmography

References

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