Jack Soo was a talented and popular actor and singer who starred in many Broadway musicals, films, and TV shows. He was best known for his role as Detective Nick Yemana on the sitcom Barney Miller, where he delivered witty one-liners and made terrible coffee. But how did Jack Soo die, and what was his life story? Here is a brief biography of Jack Soo and his cause of death.
Early Life and Career
Jack Soo was born Goro Suzuki on October 28, 1917, on a ship traveling from the United States to Japan. His parents were Japanese immigrants who lived in Oakland, California, and they wanted their eldest son to be born in their homeland1 He grew up in Oakland and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in English
During World War II, he and his family were interned in camps for Japanese Americans in Utah and California. He entertained his fellow internees with his singing and comedy skills, and became known as a “camp favorite” After the war, he changed his name to Jack Soo to avoid discrimination and pursued a career as a nightclub performer. He worked in various venues across the Midwest and became friends with future Barney Miller producer Danny Arnold
In 1958, he landed his big break when he was cast in the Broadway musical Flower Drum Song as the master of ceremonies Frankie Wing. He was discovered by Gene Kelly, who directed the show, while working at a Chinese nightclub in San Francisco He later switched to the role of Sammy Fong, a Chinese-American gambler, and reprised it in the 1961 film adaptation
Film and TV Roles
Jack Soo appeared in several films and TV shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s, often playing comedic or ethnic characters. Some of his notable roles include:
- Rocky Sin, a con artist in the TV series Valentine’s Day (1964)
- A Vietnamese colonel in the war film The Green Berets (1968)
- A Chinese laundryman in the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
- A Japanese talent agent in an episode of The Jack Benny Program (1962)
- Guest appearances on shows such as Hawaii Five-O, The Odd Couple, and MAS*H
However, his most famous role was Detective Nick Yemana on Barney Miller, which he played from 1975 to 1979. He was one of the main characters of the show, which followed the lives of a group of New York City police officers working at a precinct in Greenwich Village. He was known for his dry humor, deadpan delivery, and bad coffee-making skills. He also had a close friendship with Hal Linden, who played the title character of Barney Miller.
Cause of Death
Jack Soo died on January 11, 1979, at the age of 61, from esophageal cancer. He had been diagnosed with the disease in late 1978 and underwent surgery to remove part of his esophagus. However, he did not recover from the operation and passed away at a hospital in Los Angeles. His last words to Hal Linden before going into surgery were “It must have been the coffee”, referring to his character’s infamous brew on Barney Miller.
His death was announced on the show by Abe Vigoda, who played Detective Phil Fish. The cast also paid tribute to him in a special episode that aired in May 1979, where they broke character and shared their memories of him. They also showed clips of his best moments on the show. His character was never replaced on Barney Miller, and his absence was explained by saying that he was on vacation or sick leave.
Jack Soo was survived by his wife Jan Zdelar, whom he married in 1945, and their three children. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. He is remembered as a talented and beloved actor who brought joy and laughter to millions of viewers with his unique style of comedy.
