Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Miyoshi Umeki, first Asian American to win an Oscar

Miyoshi Umeki, born May 8, 1929 in Hokkaido, Japan, is the first Asian American woman to win an Academy Award for acting.  She started her career as a nightclub singer before immigrating to the US after WWII.  

She appeared for one season on Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts, which helped land her the role as Katsumi in the film Sayonara in 1957.  Her performance garnered her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first Asian American woman to win an Oscar. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.  

In 1961, she appeared as Mei Li in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.  She was nominated for a Tony Award for performing on stage.

She continued acting, appearing mainly on television, including 66 episodes of The Courtship of Eddie's Father, for which she received her second Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

She passed away in August 2007 from cancer.

Bill Bixby born 1934

Bill Bixby, born January 22, 1934 in San Francisco, was a versatile actor and director, but probably best known for his portrayal of Dr. David Bruce Banner in the television series The Incredible Hulk with Lou Ferrigno, which ran for five seasons from 1977-1982 and spawned several made-for-TV movies.  Much beloved of Marvel fans!

He first appeared the Courtship of Eddie's Father and then went on to star in The Magician.  I remember watching some of those episodes.    After the Incredible Hulk, he went on to direct the TV show Blossom with Mayim Bialik.

He passed away in November 1993 from complications due to prostate cancer.