This page uses content from the Gedde Watanabe biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Gedde Watanabe (born June 26 1955, Ogden, Utah) is the stage name of Gary Watanabe, a Japanese American actor.

He appeared on Broadway in 1976 in Pacific Overtures and has appeared in many films.

His acting parts have been mostly stereotypical Asian men with heavy accents. This stereotyping has led to criticism. However, Watanabe speaks perfect English. After filming Sixteen Candles, director John Hughes complimented his acting but advised him that his English needed some work, to which Watanabe replied with a polite "thank you" in perfect, unaccented English.

He appeared on Sesame Street for some years.

He had a starring role in both the film and ABC-TV versions of Gung Ho. The television series was scheduled against the smash hit show Dallas, and was quickly cancelled.

He has also provided the voice for various Japanese characters on TV's The Simpsons. From 1996 to 2003 he also made occasional appearances as a nurse on the popular television drama ER.

He co-starred as Kuni in the 1989 movie UHF starring Weird Al Yankovic. Perhaps the character's most memorable moment in the film is when he and a group of his martial artist friends jump out of a supply closet to attack a group of thugs. The closet is labeled "Supplies," and as Kuni and his cohorts emerge from the closet they yell "Supplies!" in an Engrish mispronunciation of "Surprise!"

Notable Filmography

• Sixteen Candles as Long Duk Dong
• Gung Ho
• UHF
• That Thing You Do
• Mulan
• Volunteers

External links

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