--- name: "Philip Ahn" canonical: "https://film.one/person/philip-ahn" roles: ["Actor"] born: "29 March 1905" died: "28 February 1978" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-20T02:56:09.962722+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Philip Ahn Actor. Born 29 March 1905 in Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, USA. Died 28 February 1978. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 29 March 1905, Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, USA - **Died:** 28 February 1978 - **Also known as:** Phillip Ahn, Phil Ahn, Philip Ann, Pil Lip Ahn, Pillip Ahn - **Titles on Fi1m:** 2: 1 acting, 1 other - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 64 (1), 1950s 60 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Ahn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1321739, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0014217/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/95014 ## Biography Philip Ahn (also credited as Phillip Ahn) was a Korean American actor. Born Pil Lip Ahn on 29 March 1905 in Highland Park, Los Angeles, he died on 28 February 1978. He appeared in more than 180 film and television roles between 1935 and 1978, often portraying Asian characters of varying nationalities. Ahn's first credited film roles came in 1936. He played Third Uncle in *Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing* (1955) and appeared in *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956). He gained later recognition as Master Kan in the television series *Kung Fu* (1972–1975). Ahn was the first Korean American film actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded posthumously in 1984. He was the son of Korean independence activist Ahn Chang-ho. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, walkoffame.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) ### Performed in (1) — the average rests on these - *Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing* (1955), Fi1m 60, as Third Uncle — [page](https://film.one/film/love-is-a-many-splendored-thing.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *The Good Earth* (1937), Fi1m 64, as Captain (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-good-earth.md) ## Complete filmography (161) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Kung Fu: The Movie* (1986), as Master Kan - *The Killer Who Wouldn't Die* (1976), as Soong - *Wonder Woman* (1975), series, as Colonel Minh - *Switch* (1975), series, as Charlie Kuang - *Police Woman* (1974), series, Actor - *Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita* (1974), as General Yamashita - *Jonathan Livingston Seagull* (1973), as Chang (voice) - *The Magician* (1973), series, as Chao Liu - *The World's Greatest Athlete* (1973), as Old Chinaman - *Kung Fu* (1972), series, as Master Kan - *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, as Mr. Wu - *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as The Father, Korean Grandfather — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md) - *Anna and the King* (1972), series, as Astrologist - *Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragon* (1972), as Master Kan - *Sanford and Son* (1972), series, Actor - *The Sex Serum of Dr. Blake* (1970), as Mao Tse Tung (uncredited) - *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Chow Lee - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Attorney General, Quon Li, Lin Mai-Lu - *Cocoon* (1968), as Attorney General - *It Takes a Thief* (1968), series, as Owner - *Mannix* (1967), series, Actor - *The Karate Killers* (1967), as Sazami Kyushu - *Ironside* (1967), series, Actor - *Thoroughly Modern Millie* (1967), as Tea - *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as Dr. Liu — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md) - *The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.* (1966), series, as Wu - *The Time Tunnel* (1966), series, as Dr. Nakamura - *Paradise, Hawaiian Style* (1966), as Moki Kaimana - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Police Chief Henry Nakamura - *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, Actor - *Laredo* (1965), series, Actor - *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Chen Yu - *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* (1964), series, as Dr. Sazami Kyushu, High Lama of Ghupat - *Shock Corridor* (1963), as Dr. Fong - *Diamond Head* (1962), as Mr. Immacona - *A Girl Named Tamiko* (1962), as Akiba - *Stoney Burke* (1962), series, Actor - *Ensign O'Toole* (1962), series, as Low Kong - *Confessions of an Opium Eater* (1962), as Ching Foon - *Kraft Mystery Theatre* (1961), series, Actor - *One-Eyed Jacks* (1961), as Uncle - *Dragon by the Tail* (1961), as Lee Chin - *The Great Impostor* (1960), as Capt. Hun Kim - *The Islanders* (1960), series, as Governor Galli - *My Three Sons* (1960), series, as George Wong - *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Lee Chin - *Pete and Gladys* (1960), series, Actor - *Checkmate* (1960), series, as Mr. Lu - *Johnny Midnight* (1960), series, Actor - *Never So Few* (1959), as Nautaung, leader of the Kachin - *Hawaiian Eye* (1959), series, as Mr. Kwong, Florist - *Adventures in Paradise* (1959), series, as Ling, Reverend Yen, Mr. Chee - *The Rebel* (1959), series, as Quong Lee - *The Third Man* (1959), series, Actor - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Mr. Lee Chang, Dr. Kam Lee - *Yesterday's Enemy* (1959), as Yamazuki - *Tightrope* (1959), series, Actor - *One Step Beyond* (1959), series, as Song - *Lawman* (1958), series, as Wong - *Hong Kong Confidential* (1958), as Tan Chung - *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Tom Wing - *Jefferson Drum* (1958), series, as Charles Wong - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as James Wong - *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, as W. Chung - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Ho-Lung - *The Way to the Gold* (1957), as Mr. Ding - cafe owner - *Battle Hymn* (1957), as Old Man - *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), as Hong Kong Citizen (uncredited) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/around-the-world-in-80-days.md) - *Hey, Jeannie!* (1956), series, as Wong - *Telephone Time* (1956), series, Actor - *Crossroads* (1955), series, as Sun Yal, Lung Chan, Ah Hiu - *Jungle Jim* (1955), series, Actor - *Navy Log* (1955), series, Actor - *The Left Hand of God* (1955), as Jan Teng - *Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing* (1955), as Third Uncle — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/love-is-a-many-splendored-thing.md) - *Jump Into Hell* (1955), as Chinese POW Lieutenant - *The Shanghai Story* (1954), as Major Ling Wu - *Hell's Half Acre* (1954), as Roger Kong - *His Majesty O'Keefe* (1954), as Sien Tang, Dentist - *China Venture* (1953), as Adm. Amara - *Target Hong Kong* (1953), as Sin How - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Rahm Sing - *Fair Wind to Java* (1953), as Gusti - *Battle Zone* (1952), as South Korean Guerrilla Leader - *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Chang, Capt. Shu Gat - *Red Snow* (1952), as Taglu, a spy - *Macao* (1952), as Itzumi - *Japanese War Bride* (1952), as Eitaro Shimizu - *Dragnet* (1951), series, Actor - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor - *Secrets of Monte Carlo* (1951), as Wong - *China Corsair* (1951), as Wong San - *The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok* (1951), series, Actor - *I Was an American Spy* (1951), as Capt. Arito - *Halls of Montezuma* (1951), as Maj. Kenji Matsuoda (aka "Nomura") - *The Big Hangover* (1950), as Dr. Lee - *The Sickle or the Cross* (1949), as Chinese Official - *Impact* (1949), as Ah Sing - *Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture* (1949), as Wong Chung Shee - *State Department: File 649* (1949), as Col. Aram - *Rogues' Regiment* (1948), as Tran Duy Gian - *The Creeper* (1948), as Ah Wong - Restaurant Owner - *The Cobra Strikes* (1948), as Kasim--Houseboy - *The Miracle of the Bells* (1948), as Ming Gow - *Women in the Night* (1948), as Professor Kunioshi - *The Chinese Ring* (1947), as Captain Kong - *Intrigue* (1947), as Louie Chin - *Saigon* (1947), as Boss Merchant (uncredited) - *Singapore* (1947), as Jimmy - Bartender (uncredited) - *They Were Expendable* (1945), as Army Orderly (uncredited) - *Back to Bataan* (1945), as Col. Coroki - *China's Little Devils* (1945), as Farmer - *China Sky* (1945), as Dr. Kim - *Blood on the Sun* (1945), as Secret Police Capt. Yomamoto (uncredited) - *Betrayal from the East* (1945), as Kato - *God Is My Co-Pilot* (1945), as Hong Kong Radio Announcer (uncredited) - *Forever Yours* (1945), as Chinese Man (uncredited) - *The Keys of the Kingdom* (1944), as Mr. Pao, Envoy for Mr. Chia - *Dragon Seed* (1944), as Leader of City People (uncredited) - *The Story of Dr. Wassell* (1944), as Ping - *The Purple Heart* (1944), as Saburo Goto (uncredited) - *Around the World* (1943), as Foo - *The Man from Down Under* (1943), as English-Speaking Japanese Aviator (uncredited) - *Behind the Rising Sun* (1943), as Japanese Officer Murdering Takahashi - *China* (1943), as Lin Cho - *Don Winslow of the Coast Guard* (1943), as Hirota - *December 7th* (1943), as Shinto Priest (uncredited) - *The Amazing Mrs. Holliday* (1943), Actor - *The Adventures of Smilin' Jack* (1943), as Wu Tan - *China Girl* (1942), as Kai Young - *Across the Pacific* (1942), as Man in Theatre (uncredited) - *Submarine Raider* (1942), as First Officer Kawakami - *Let's Get Tough* (1942), as Joe Matsui - *The Tuttles of Tahiti* (1942), as Emily's Servant (uncredited) - *Ship Ahoy* (1942), as Koro Sumo - *A Yank on the Burma Road* (1942), as Franklin Ling - *They Met in Bombay* (1941), as Japanese officer (uncredited) - *Drums of Fu Manchu* (1940), as Dr. Chang - *The Shadow* (1940), as Wu Yung - *Barricade* (1939), as Col. Wai Kang - *Disputed Passage* (1939), as Dr. Fung - *Island of Lost Men* (1939), Actor - *Panama Patrol* (1939), as Sun - *King of Chinatown* (1939), as Robert 'Bob' Li - *North of Shanghai* (1939), as Chinese Doctor - *Charlie Chan in Honolulu* (1938), as Wing Foo - *Red Barry* (1938), as Hong Kong Cholly - *Hawaii Calls* (1938), as Julius - *Thank You, Mr. Moto* (1937), as Prince Chung - *Daughter of Shanghai* (1937), as Kim Lee - *Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts* (1937), as Sing Fung, Laundry Man - *Something to Sing About* (1937), as Ito - *Roaring Timber* (1937), as Crooner - *The Good Earth* (1937), as Captain (uncredited) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-good-earth.md) - *China Passage* (1937), as Fang Tu - *Stowaway* (1936), as Sun Lo - *The General Died at Dawn* (1936), as Oxford - *Klondike Annie* (1936), Actor - *A Scream in the Night* (1935), as Wu Ting (as Philip Ann) - *Shanghai* (1935), as Servant - *Desirable* (1934), as Chinese Waiter ## Gallery - ![Reproduction of a publicity photo of Philip Ahn and Anna May Wong for the 1937 film Daughter of Shanghai.](https://film.one/media/person/1229963/gallery-e2b4c17f65ca.jpg) Reproduction of a publicity photo of Philip Ahn and Anna May Wong for the 1937 film Daughter of Shanghai. — Photographer unknown. "© 1937 Paramount Productions, Inc.", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Daughter_of_Shanghai_%281937%29_-_Anna_May_Wong_and_Philip_Ahn.jpg/1280px-Daughter_of_Shanghai_%281937%29_-_Anna_May_Wong_and_Philip_Ahn.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Macao (film) 1952. Josef von Sternberg, director. L-R, Brad Dexter, Philip Ahn, Gloria Grahame. RKO Radio Pictures.](https://film.one/media/person/1229963/gallery-73b7fe4a1986.jpg) Macao (film) 1952. Josef von Sternberg, director. L-R, Brad Dexter, Philip Ahn, Gloria Grahame. RKO Radio Pictures. — RKO Radio Pictures, Josef von Sternberg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Macao_%28film%29_1952._Josef_von_Sternberg%2C_director._L-R%2C_Brad_Dexter%2C_Philip_Ahn%2C_Gloria_Graham.jpg/1280px-Macao_%28film%29_1952._Josef_von_Sternberg%2C_director._L-R%2C_Brad_Dexter%2C_Philip_Ahn%2C_Gloria_Graham.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1984: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/philip-ahn