Forgotten History: Keye Luke, Number One Son

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NOTES
1. Keye Luke was actually born in Guangzhou while his parents were visiting China. His father owned an art store in San Francisco and they moved to Seattle when he was three. He was related to Wing Luke, assistant attorney-general of Washington State.

2. Luke studied art at the University of Washington and at the prestigious Chouinard Institute at CalArts.

4. Keye Luke played Lee Chan in:
- Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)
- Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)
- Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936)
- Charlie Chan at the Racetracks (1936)
- Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)
- Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937)
- Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)
- Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo (1937)
All of these films were opposite Swedish actor Warner Oland in yellowface, whom Luke regarded as a mentor. He also played Lee Chan in these later movies with Roland Withers:
- The Feathered Serpent (1948)
- The Sky Dragon (1949)

5. The Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

6. Luke was one of the most prolific Asian-American actors of the 1930s to 1980s. He never stopped working in his 50-year career.

7. Keye Luke reprised his role in Gremlins 2, which was his final film.

SOUNDTRACK
-- 1936 HITS ARCHIVE "All My Life" by Fats Waller

[TyroneDoberson-vf]

Keye Luke Is An Hollywood Icon Who Was Great At His Craft Making Us Enjoy His work ! R.I.P. Kato You're Truly Missed !

[abandoninplace]

What? i did not know he was a painter and designer as well. Fantastic!

[tincanboat]

always loved Charlie Chan movies and am still watching them on YouTube . Key Luke was always # one son.

[suebob]

Thank you so much for this look at actor and artist Keye Luke.
Another movie he was in was Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders. This 1974 made for TV movie stars Khigh Dhiegh as the fictional Judge Dee of 7th century China. Luke plays the leader of a monastery in 7th century China that is visited by Judge Dee and his entourage on a rainy night. The judge discovers strange mysteries happening at this monastery that he intends to solve.

[lindamarie]

Keys Luke was always a 😊favorite of mine! and what a wonderful artist! Being half Asian myself, even as a child I couldn’t understand why ‘white’ actors were used for Asian roles and the same when ‘white’ actors were used for Native American roles. Sen Yung was another favorite of mine! Thank you for this! I’m subscribing, I really enjoyed this video!

[marybethdeitrich]

I know every syllable of these movies. I love them so much.

[kathyhaymaker]

Charlie Chan, mr. Wong, mr. Moto are my favorites!!! Watch them every night!!!

[Jess-islb]

This is awesome. My Dad introduced Charlie chan to me and I cherish and watch it to this day.

[rmoore]

I’ve always liked him in whatever I saw him in.

[wanagi]

I have always had a crush on Keye Luke. My God he was stunning.

[remmymafia]

I'm glad I came upon this. I've been watching Charlie Chan movies now, for three years, and of course have seen Key in all eight that he has appeared in the. In one of them for sure, Key is sketching in a scene- interesting to know his pedigree in Hollywood, with that talent.

[pauljames]

I’ve always found that Keye Luke was super sexy, too👀

[kimdixon]

Love charlie Chan and keye Luke I've seen all of his movies

[salvatoresignorelli]

love CHARLIE CHAN AND kEYE lUKE GREAT VIDEO tY

[jugheadsrule]

Keye Luke would've been great as Obi Wan Kenobi. Disappointed they decided on Guinness instead.

[manhnguyen]

Keye Luke wasn’t born in Seattle; He was born in China and brought over to the United States when he was three years old.

[daniellebrown]

OMG!! I DIDN'T KNOW HE STARTED IN GREMLIMS!!!!😊😊😊

[kendallnavstar]

*I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS AS TO WHY HE DISAPPEARED FROM THE CHARLIE CHAN FILMS AND WAS REPLACED BY THE NUMBER 2 SON. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT? WAS THERE SOME KIND OF FALLING OUT WITH THE COMPANY?*

[dennisprah]

Lots of non Romans played Romans, lots of people played Jesus, yet none were. Get off the racist crap. Enjoy what Asian people and those who portrayed them brought to the American stew. Loved Charlie Chan, and Asian Women.

[whatsname]

This lady is right on the $. Absurd! White guys playing: American Indians, Chinese, Puerto Ricans. I can't watch Westside Story with Natalie Wood playing the lead role when the actual PR in the cast were RIGHT THERE!!!! Good video!