I ended up getting cast in The King and I at age six and I was hooked. 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. He was also an original cast member of the Stephen Sondheim musical Pacific . 16 Candles ' appeal is anything but. Good to have a show about older gay men & how life changes with age! There is no evidence that Gedde Watanabe has children. He has eight or nine kids, I would imagine. In my mid 50s I was asked to be a grandfather despite never having raise children. They're kinda famous. A lot of people complained when the grandmother kicked me:Why does the Asian kid need to get kicked? While it's suggested that Dong and Sam are the same age (Ringwald was in fact 15 at the time of shooting), actor Gedde Watanabe was actually 28 during the Sixteen Candles. I figured the character had seen one before and knew what to do with it, but there was something funny in him riding it with his dream girl. he was born to a Japanese American family. He was interested in acting from a very young age and took part in several high school productions. The way we got that take is John found a feather and started tickling my feet. His birth flower is the white rose which signifies peace, purity and positivity. It's nice to think that after 31 years, Long Duk Dong was able to break out of his mold. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 65 years old? You grew up in Ogden, Utah, as one of the few Japanese families in town. Watanabe is probably married to his girlfriend. 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. Nick is a Senior Staff Writer for Ned Hardy. Most dates on his world tour have been canceled. But John just had a big chuckle as if to say, Boy, was I duped.. All in the hopes of turning their disappointing lives around as they cope with faltering careers and empty bank accounts. Netflix Anthology Series Social Distance Reviews: Stream It Or Skip It! Continue with Recommended Cookies. He has black eyes that compliment his black hair. Work period (start) 1976. Bless his heart, because we dont have him anymore. Gary started his career as Actor in 1976 when Gary was just 21 Years old. As gay men, we should all understand this. He just encouraged us to play. His mother, who had been previously interned during the World War IIinternment of Japanese Americans, worked as a seamstress at the Utah Tailoring Company. Gedde Watanabe was born on June 26, 1955, in Ogden, Utah. His other credits include Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Armageddon, and Mulan II. Born in Utah, Watanabe grew up in Chinatown, San Francisco, California. Zelda Rubenstein, who played the wedding organist, and I became friends years later. Apparently there was a scene where Debbie and I were in bed and smoking that got deleted. ER was less interesting as an actor as the character was closer to who I actually am as a person. he asks Molly Ringwald's Samantha, eyebrows wiggling suggestively. ", "Gedde Watanabe Discusses 30 Years of Sixteen Candles and Long Duk Dong", "Pacific Overtures Broadway Musical Original | IBDB", "THEATER: RUDNICK'S POOR LITTLE LAMBS' OF YALE", "THEATER REVIEW: A Good Look at the Hard Lessons of 'Good Person', "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Reviewing East West Players' 'La Cage aux Folles', "Review: Forever Entertaining FANTISTICKS Receives a Sterling Production at Pasadena Playhouse", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gedde_Watanabe&oldid=1140256683, Episode: "Somewhere Between Cambridge Bay and Yellowknife", Cartoon Squid / Japanese Father / Japanese Man / Factory Forman (voice role), Nar-do / Nar-Do, Cyber Clause (voice role), Hamster Mitch / Tourist Alien (voice role), Episode: "90s Adventure Bear / Parking Lot Carnival", Episode: "Land of the Rising Pup / ARF-CHOO", Boy, Girl, Priest, Sailor and Townsperson, Proscenium Servant, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 06:28. Vernica Echeguis Dating Affairs, Boyfriend, Relationship, Net Worth, Earnings, Salary, Age, Facts, Wiki-Bio, Judy Geeson Net Worth, Earnings, Movies, TV Shows, Career, Married, Divorce, Husband, Children, Age, Facts, Wiki-Bio. And I see Carole Cook who played the smoking grandmother. Gedde Watanabe is a Japanese-American actor popular as a voice actor for the character of Ling in animated film Mulan (1998) and its sequel Mulan II (2004). Gedde Watanabe Dating Life: Gedde could be single as of now. Tom Ford. Cast: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott, Bailee Madison, Joshua Rush, Kyle Harrison Breitkopf, Jennifer Crystal Foley, Rhoda Griffis, Gedde Watanabe, Tony Hawk, Steve Levy, Cade Jones, Maverick Moreno, Madison Lintz, Corey James Wright, Justin R. Kennedy, Fyodor Cherniavsky, Brad James, Christine Lakin, Ron Clinton . Sure, lets try this. Steve Cubine and Burns share directing duties. And he's kinda well known for it. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 67 years old group. In 1998, he voiced Ling in the Disney animated film Mulan and reprised this role for the 2004 direct-to-video sequel Mulan II and the 2005 video game Kingdom Hearts II. Some of his favorite subjects include sci-fi, history, and obscure facts about 90's television. Gedde Watanabe has a net worth of around $2 million as of 2019 which he summons as a television and film actor. Thank you and yes is a good beginning. Ive heard of the band. In 1998, he was cast in two television shows, namely, Sesame Street, as Hiroshi and ER, where he portrayed gay nurse Yoshi Takata. Gedde Watanabe Movie Actor #115079 Most Popular Boost Birthday June 26, 1955 Birthplace Ogden , UT Age 67 years old Birth Sign Cancer About He portrayed the character of Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film, Sixteen Candles. The 66-year-old is most known for his roles in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, That Thing You Do, Forgetting. Gedde is also well known as, He portrayed the character of Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film, Sixteen Candles. There were very few of us. Two or three Asian kids in elementary school, maybe four or five when I got to high school. Watanabe was born and raised in Ogden, Utah in a Japanese-American family. Following his singing gig in New York, he moved to Los Angeles and decided to make acting his career. [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. Nationality. And because it was my first movie, I thought all the movies were going to be like that. Youve worked pretty steadily since Sixteen Candles. Gede Watanabe has a huge following on his Facebook account. Japanese-American actor and comedian, Gedde Watanabe is best known for voicing the character of Ling in the 1998 successful animated film Mulan and its 2004 sequel, Mulan II as well as playing Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. (2022 Update), Whatever Happened To Joyce Hyser? So I didnt so much go for the jokes, but played to his excitement and enthusiasm. "What's happening, hot stuff?" Gedde Watanabe was born on June 26, 1955 in Ogden, Utah, USA. 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. There are few Asian American movie characters as cringe-worthy yet cemented in our cultural consciousness as Long Duk Dong, portrayed by Gedde Watanabe in the 1984 John Hughes film "Sixteen Candles. Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)as Mr. Katsuji, Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)as Hotel Manager, Your email address will not be published. [Laughs.] After graduation, he left Ogden to become a street singer in San Francisco. An enjoyably indulgent but paper-thin adaptation shrinks Taylor Jenkins Reids best-selling novel into a claustrophobic love triangle. He did several movies after that, including Armageddon (1998), On the Couch (2004), Fortune Hunters (2007) and 47 Ronin (2013). He voiced various Japanese characters on the animated television comedy The Simpsons. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. There have been no announcements or articles that can confirm any current relationships. 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. Gedde Watanabe's age is 67. Source: Picswe On screen, Watanabe is often seen as a romantic and flirty guy. He is an actor and director, known for Sixteen Candles (1984), UHF (1989) and Parental Guidance (2012). It would also raise Gedde Watanabes profile, but not without controversy. is 5 7 . Watanabe studied acting at Theater Theater in Hollywood, California, with Chris Aable, who introduced him to fellow actors Jon Cedar and Steve Burton during the nineties. Theyre kinda famous. American actor and comedian. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. He later became a part of the original Broadway cast of Pacific Overtures, after which his acting career started blooming. Gary "Gedde" Watanabe (born June 26, 1955) is an American actor. He was in Sixteen Candles with Molly Ringwald. The Ogden born kicked off his acting career in 1976 from Broadway cast of Pacific Overtuners. In 1980, he landed a role in his first movie The Long Island Four. Then I came out (thinking I would never marry or have kids). After graduating from high school in Utah, he would move to San Fransisco to pursue a career in acting. Maybe if I do an accented role. Notable Alumni: American Conservatory Theater. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Cristobal Soria: TV Host, Wiki, Height, Wife, Net Worth ! Gary "Gedde" Watanabe (born June 26, 1955) is an American actor and comedian. Some of his kids are in the arts, one in a rock band probably, some are teachers, a few doctors. She worked at the Utah Tailoring Company sewing dresses, but also made costumes for the college in Ogden. And the clock is ticking. That would actually be really funny! [1] He is perhaps best known for voicing the character of Ling in the 1998 successful animated film Mulan and its 2004 sequel, Mulan II as well as playing Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. He had a starring role in Gung Hos film and its television spinoff. However, he has not made any official announcement on marital life to date. Chang Chen Yi - Golden Ring Awards 1999 (6-18) Duration: 9m 30s. (2022 Update), Whatever Happened To Leah Ayres? His favorite singing spot in the city was Chinatown and his songs were often met with displeasure. Now 59, Watanabe has acted in dozens of roles since Sixteen Candles, including the openly gay Nurse Yosh Takata in ER. Trivia (7) Studied at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California, USA. Gedde could be single as of now. Ask someone to quote a line from the 80s teen classic Sixteen Candles and theres a good chance it was uttered by Gedde Watanabe. He played Long Duk Dong in the 1984 movie Sixteen Candles. It's hard to say whether there should be a statute of limitations on what's regarded as offensive and inappropriate. 17-Down, Three Letters: Party for One artist Carly ___ Jepsen. I would see that movie.I have a friend writing something about the Donger. Upload media. Maybe because its been so many years since the movie and even several years since Ive seen it, I expected, like, two people to show up. When I get cast, I never feel like I fit the part. In the years since the portrayal Long Duk Dong and Sixteen Candles was released 30 years ago this month Gedde Watanabe has . Some of his voice acting credits include Batman Beyond, The Simpsons, Kim Possible, and the Disney film Mulan (1998). There is no evidence that Gedde Watanabe has children. Everything You Never Thought to Ask About In-flight Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discoverys licensing chief on how movies and TV get on planes, editing decisions, and the curious case of. He also wanted to be in a rock and roll band and was once a street singer in San Francisco. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. Well, how much wealth has he gathered from his acting career? He lived in an artist commune called Project Artaud, earning his living as a street singer accompanying himself on guitar. 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