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246:. 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." In his
316:. Police found an empty bottle of sleeping pills by his body and several notes addressed to his landlady, his attorney and police. In the note addressed to police, he gave no reason why he committed suicide only stating, "I have taken my own life. No one is to blame." Tong is buried in
173:, 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".
331:, Tong's co-star Mickey Rooney claimed that Tong was a heavy gambler and committed suicide over money problems. According to Rooney, Tong became despondent and upset after learning that
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apartment by his close friend, Ben Wong, on
October 27, 1964. Tong had died from an intentional
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279:. Tong's death effectively ended any chance for the series' survival and ABC canceled
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128:(April 21, 1901 – October 27, 1964) was an American film and television
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132:. One of Tong's more notable roles was that of Peter Tong on the sitcom
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185:, and in 1934, he made his film debut in a bit part in the comedy film
1391:"INTO THE NEXT STAGE: Rediscovering Sammee Tong in 'Bachelor Father'"
220:. In 1955, he reprised his role as George in the feature-length film
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1478:"Sammee Tong, Veteran Character Actor, Found Dead in Apartment".
138:, which aired on all three national networks from 1957 to 1962.
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Tong's final screen appearance was as "Cook" in the 1965 film
1305:"Chinese Actor Finds Difficulty Playing In Chinese on TeeVee"
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Tong attempted to break into acting on the stage during the
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s cancellation in 1962, Tong was cast as Sammy Ling in the
1541:. McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub. p. 73.
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Tong made his television debut in 1953 in an episode of
1364:"Veteran Chinese Entertainer Found Dead; Note Revealed"
1339:"Star John Forsythe Is Just Sammee Tong's Straight Man"
271:. Due to low ratings, ABC was considering canceling
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In 1957, he landed a co-starring role in the sitcom
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224:. He also had a role in the sequel series
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1017:Episode: "All the Trees In the Field"
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1656:Drug-related suicides in California
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1671:20th-century American male singers
1636:American actors of Chinese descent
1141:Episode: "A New Girl In His Life"
1070:Episode: "Bill Bottle's Birthday"
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1616:20th-century American male actors
1337:Witbeck, Charles (July 9, 1959).
1231:Episode: "How Jack Found Dennis"
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955:The Adventures of Spin and Marty
217:The Adventures of Spin and Marty
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1631:20th-century American comedians
1482:. October 28, 1964. p. A1.
865:It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
689:Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
1537:Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001).
1518:. October 27, 1964. p. 20
1370:. October 28, 1964. p. 8A
1276:. October 27, 1964. p. 5B
1228:Maitre d' of Lotus Blosom Inn
1159:Episode: "Gold-Tooth Charlie"
1087:Episode: "Diplomatic Outpost"
37:Tong in a publicity photo for
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1666:20th-century American singers
1454:Pete Duel: A Biography, 2d ed
1676:Comedians from San Francisco
1512:"Actor Tong Commits Suicide"
1177:Episode: "A Rose for Lotta"
730:Charley Key - Laundry Owner
499:Cheela - Marloff's Houseboy
193:San Francisco's World's Fair
1661:Barbiturates-related deaths
1389:Aoki, Guy (July 10, 2014).
327:In his 1991 autobiography,
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1123:Episode: "The Proprietor"
981:Episode: "Ah Sid, Cowboy"
553:Chinese Alien in Airplane
16:American actor (1901–1964)
1641:American male film actors
1457:. McFarland. p. 41.
1426:. Villard Books. p.
1035:Episode: "Red Tentacles"
882:For Those Who Think Young
779:Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
673:Spin and Marty: The Movie
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517:Chinese Orchestra Leader
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222:Spin and Marty: The Movie
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643:Witness to Suzie's Fall
625:Chinese Radio Announcer
390:Charlie Chan in Shanghai
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1494:"Samee Tong Found Dead"
1418:Rooney, Mickey (1991).
1195:Episode: "Dead Ringer"
839:Credited as Sammy Tong
761:Man of a Thousand Faces
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1223:The Jack Benny Program
1105:Episode: "Lost River"
748:Restaurant Proprietor
566:Only Angels Have Wings
1368:Eugene Register-Guard
463:Bing Crosby Imitator
407:Love Before Breakfast
211:The Mickey Mouse Club
142:Early life and career
1451:Green, Paul (2015).
1080:Cavalcade of America
784:Sam, Chinese Waiter
656:The Left Hand of God
548:Daughter of Shanghai
494:Think Fast, Mr. Moto
322:Glendale, California
314:barbiturate overdose
1500:. October 28, 1964.
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870:Chinese Laundryman
707:Flight to Hong Kong
423:The Accusing Finger
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163:Los Angeles Orpheum
152:Stanford University
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743:The Midnight Story
697:Voice, Uncredited
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283:in December 1964.
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848:Battle Flame
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829:
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481:Chinese Man
474:
456:
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427:Chinese Man
422:
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332:
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294:Tony Randall
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76:(1964-10-27)
38:
18:
1611:1964 deaths
1601:1901 births
1582:Sammee Tong
1246:Sammy Ling
1210:Peter Tong
1138:Peter Tong
1052:2 episodes
1014:Nurseryman
945:2 episodes
914:Television
855:Uncredited
821:Uncredited
803:Uncredited
787:Uncredited
769:Uncredited
751:Uncredited
733:Uncredited
715:Uncredited
694:Dr. Yamane
664:Uncredited
646:Uncredited
628:Uncredited
610:Uncredited
592:Uncredited
574:Uncredited
556:Uncredited
538:Uncredited
520:Uncredited
502:Uncredited
484:Uncredited
466:Uncredited
448:Uncredited
430:Uncredited
414:Uncredited
398:Uncredited
380:Uncredited
343:Filmography
292:, starring
267:, starring
171:Los Angeles
126:Sammee Tong
82:Los Angeles
43:(1957–1962)
25:Sammee Tong
1595:Categories
1256:References
1236:1964–1965
1200:1957–1962
933:1953–1954
836:Papa Lily
796:Hell Bound
535:Messenger
159:Depression
108:Occupation
103:Sammy Tong
55:1901-04-21
1400:August 8,
1315:August 8,
1174:Hop Ling
1156:Quon Wei
818:Diplomat
238:starring
214:entitled
1027:Sky King
661:Servant
458:Stowaway
411:Steward
377:Sin Kee
146:Born in
1169:Bonanza
978:Ah Sid
677:George
445:Driver
395:Waiter
261:sitcom
1545:
1461:
1434:
1241:Mickey
928:Notes
922:Title
899:Fluffy
887:Clyde
362:Notes
356:Title
333:Mickey
289:Fluffy
281:Mickey
273:Mickey
264:Mickey
253:After
177:Career
1218:1964
1182:1960
1164:1959
1146:1959
1128:1957
1110:1956
1102:Wong
1092:1956
1075:1956
1057:1956
1040:1956
1022:1956
1004:1956
986:1956
968:1956
950:1955
925:Role
919:Year
904:Cook
894:1965
877:1964
860:1963
844:1959
826:1958
808:1957
792:1957
774:1957
756:1957
738:1957
720:1957
702:1956
684:1956
669:1955
651:1955
633:1950
615:1945
597:1945
584:China
579:1943
561:1939
543:1937
525:1937
507:1937
489:1937
471:1937
453:1936
435:1936
419:1936
403:1936
385:1935
367:1934
359:Role
353:Year
348:Film
337:mafia
304:Death
111:Actor
1586:IMDb
1543:ISBN
1524:2012
1459:ISBN
1432:ISBN
1402:2017
1376:2012
1350:2012
1317:2017
1282:2012
1120:Lee
1032:Ipp
996:Sam
296:and
242:and
197:KSAN
71:Died
49:Born
1584:at
1428:266
320:in
259:ABC
1597::
1514:.
1496:.
1430:.
1410:^
1393:.
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1329:^
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1290:^
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339:.
324:.
228:.
169:,
154:.
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1284:.
236:,
57:)
53:(
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