Sammee Tong was an American film and television character actor who broke racial barriers in Hollywood. He was best known for his role as Peter Tong, the witty and loyal houseboy of a bachelor lawyer, in the sitcom Bachelor Father, which aired on all three national networks from 1957 to 1962. He also appeared in movies such as It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, The Captain Hates the Sea, and Fluffy. However, behind his comedic persona, Tong struggled with personal issues that led him to take his own life in 1964. What were the factors that drove him to such a tragic end?
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Early Life and Career
Sammee Tong was born on April 21, 1901, in San Francisco, California, to Chinese immigrants. He lived in Palo Alto before moving with his family to Honolulu, where he graduated from Stanford University. He attempted to break into acting on the stage during the Depression, forming an act called the Three Celestials that played in neighborhood theaters and was booked into the Los Angeles Orpheum. However, he found he could not secure acting roles because of his ethnicity. He worked in Chinese nightclubs in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, where he sang and performed comedy routines. During his nightclub years, he changed the spelling of his name to “Sammee” because he said it “looked better in print”.
Breakthrough and Success
Tong signed with Columbia Pictures and made his film debut in 1934 in a bit part in the comedy film The Captain Hates the Sea. In 1939, he returned to his hometown as director of entertainment at the Chinese Village of San Francisco’s World’s Fair, and began the first Chinese radio hour on KSAN. Throughout the 1940s, he had small, usually uncredited, roles in films. He returned to Hollywood in the early 1950s and took roles on television.
Tong made his television debut in 1953 in an episode of You Are There. The following year, he appeared in a recurring role as “George, the cook” in a series of television shorts which aired during The Mickey Mouse Club entitled The Adventures of Spin and Marty. In 1955, he reprised his role as George in the feature-length film Spin and Marty: The Movie. He also had a role in the sequel series The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty.
In 1957, he landed a co-starring role in the sitcom Bachelor Father, starring John Forsythe and Noreen Corcoran. In the series, Tong portrayed “Peter Tong,” Bentley Gregg’s (Forsythe) live-in houseboy and valet. Although he was playing a servant, Tong enjoyed the role stating, “Houseboys in movies and the theater always bow low, mutter a few sing song words and disappear, but not on this show. I get dialogue and laughs.” [dead link] In his Bachelor Father role, Tong was not subservient and at one point walked out because he was not paid enough. He spoke with an accent even though the actor was born in the United States. Tong received positive reviews and fan letters for his performance, and became one of the first Asian-American actors to have a regular role on a mainstream television show.
After Bachelor Father’s cancellation in 1962, Tong was cast as Sammy Ling in the ABC sitcom Mickey, starring Mickey Rooney. The show was about a hotel owner and his staff in Newport Beach, California. Tong played Rooney’s friend and partner, who often got into trouble with him. The show was short-lived, lasting only 17 episodes.
Personal Problems and Suicide
Despite his professional achievements, Tong faced personal challenges that affected his mental health. According to Rooney, Tong was a compulsive gambler and owed money to the Mafia. Facing the fact that he now couldn’t pay off his debts, Tong committed suicide, leaving a note stating, “I have taken my own life. No one is to blame”. He was found dead in his Palms, Los Angeles apartment by his close friend, Ben Wong, on October 27, 1964. He was 63 years old. Tong, who lived alone and never married or had children, was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Tong’s final screen appearance was as “Cook” in the 1965 film Fluffy, starring Tony Randall and Shirley Jones. The film was released after Tong’s death.
Legacy and Influence
Sammee Tong was a pioneer in the field of Asian-American representation in Hollywood. He paved the way for other actors of Asian descent to pursue careers in film and television. He also challenged the stereotypes and prejudices that were prevalent in the industry at the time. He showed that Asian-American actors could play diverse and complex roles, and not just be confined to the roles of servants, villains, or comic relief. He was a talented and versatile performer, who could handle both drama and comedy with ease. He was admired and respected by his peers and fans, who appreciated his humor and charisma. He left behind a legacy of laughter and inspiration, and a tragic reminder of the human cost of fame and fortune.
