Umeki, Miyoshi (1929–)

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Umeki, Miyoshi (1929–)

Japanese-born actress. Born April 3, 1929, in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan; married Randall Hood, director (div.).

Began working as a radio and nightclub singer when she was still a teenager in Japan; came to US (1950s), where she 1st appeared on tv; had break-through role in Sayonara (1957), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the 1st Asian actor so honored; appeared on Broadway in Flower Drum Song; returned to tv in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," and made a number of other films, including Cry for Happy (1961), Flower Drum Song (1961), The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962) and A Girl Named Tamiko (1963); retired and moved to Hawaii.

See also Women in World History.