Biography
Ching Wah Lee was a Chinese-American actor born on 28 June 1901 in San Francisco, California. He appeared in supporting roles in several Hollywood films, beginning with The Good Earth (1937), in which he played Ching. His other credits include Daughter of Shanghai (1937), China (1943), Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) as Guerilla Charlie, Little Mister Jim (1946), and Flower Drum Song (1961) as Professor.
Lee was also a scholar and authority on Chinese art and culture. He conducted guided tours of San Francisco's Chinatown for many years, explaining its history and customs, and maintained a private gallery and museum displaying his collection of art and jade, which he shared with school groups. He died on 2 January 1980 in San Francisco.
