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Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong

Jan 3, 1905 — Feb 2, 1961 (56 years) Los Angeles, California, USA
54 Movies 4 Series
Anna May Wong was born in Los Angeles, California, USA and works as an actress. Their credits include Shanghai Express as Hui Fei. Their work further includes The Thief of Bagdad. Their filmography spans 54 films and 4 TV productions across 107 years, working mainly across genres like romance, drama.
56R.I.P.
54Movies
4Series
Anna May Wong was born in Los Angeles, California, USA and works as an actress. Their credits include Shanghai Express as Hui Fei. Their work further includes The Thief of Bagdad. Their filmography spans 54 films and 4 TV productions across 107 years, working mainly across genres like romance, drama.
56 R.I.P.
R.I.P.
54
Movies
4
Series
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Full Filmography
Dragon by the Tail
Dragon by the Tail
A-Hsing
1961
Film
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
A-Hsing
1960–1961
TV
Danger Man
Danger Man
Miss Lee
1960–1961
TV
Portrait in Black
Portrait in Black
Tawny
1960
Film
Just Joe
Just Joe
Peach Blossom
1960
Film
The Savage Innocents
The Savage Innocents
Hiku
1960
Film
Adventures in Paradise
Adventures in Paradise
Lu Yang
1959
TV
Climax!
Climax!
Clerk
1956
TV
Impact
Impact
Su Lin
1949
Film
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anna May Wong still alive?
Anna May Wong passed away on February 2, 1961 at age 56.
What are the most famous roles of Anna May Wong?
Anna May Wong is best known for roles in Shanghai Express, The Thief of Bagdad, Impact.
How many movies has Anna May Wong been in?
Over a 42-year career (since 1919), Anna May Wong has appeared in 68 movies and 7 TV shows.
What was Anna May Wong's first movie?
The career of Anna May Wong began with The Red Lantern (1919).
What is Anna May Wong's most recent movie or series?
Anna May Wong's most recent release is Dragon by the Tail, which premiered on January 30, 1961.
What TV shows has Anna May Wong appeared in?
On television, Anna May Wong has appeared in Danger Man, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Climax!, Adventures in Paradise.
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Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong
1905-01-03 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress whose long career spanned both silent and sound films, television, stage, and radio. Apart from being recognized as the the first Chinese-American movie star, as well as the first Asian-American to become an international star, she was also seen as an acclaimed fashion icon due to her being the one of the early stars to embrace the flapper look.

Born near the Chinatown neighborhood of Los Angeles to second-generation Chinese-American parents, Wong became infatuated with the movies at an early age and quit education to focus on beginning an acting career. After landing parts as uncredited extras in silent films, she had her first leading role in The Toll of the Sea (1922), one of the first movies made in color. Her role in Douglas Fairbanks' The Thief of Bagdad (1924) helped her achieve international stardom. Tired of being offered stereotypical supporting roles, she left Hollywood for Europe in the late 1920s, where she starred in several plays alongside notable names like Laurence Olivier. She made her final silent film in Britain titled Piccadilly (1929), which earned her wide praise. Her first talkie, The Flame of Love (1930), was recorded in three languages: English, French and German. She spent the first half of the 1930s traveling between the United States and Europe for film and stage work. Wong was featured in films of the early sound era, such as Daughter of the Dragon (1931) and Daughter of Shanghai (1937), and with Marlene Dietrich in Josef von Sternberg's Shanghai Express (1932). These films brought her more and more fame, which she used to express her staunch political views. Although she advocated for Chinese-American causes and criticized the stereotypical roles she played, Chinese press and critics continued to view her as a disgrace to the country. After experiencing the most severe disappointment of her career, when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer refused to consider her for the leading Chinese role in the film The Good Earth (1937), and instead chose a white German actress in yellowface, Wong spent the a year touring China, visiting her family's ancestral village, and studying Chinese culture. Returning to Hollywood, she starred in several B movies that portrayed Chinese-Americans in a positive light in the late-1930s.

As World War II rolled around, she focused less on her film career and decided to devote her time and money in helping the Chinese against Japanese invasions. Returning to the public eye in the 1950s with several television appearances, she started her own detective mystery television show titled The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong (1951), the first U.S. television show starring an Asian-American. She was scheduled to return to film in Flower Drum Song (1961) but she died of a heart attack.

For decades after her death, Wong was remembered mostly for the stereotypical roles she was given although critics have begun to reevaluate her life and career. In 2022, Wong became the first Asian-American to be depicted on American coinage when the quarters with her image on them went into circulation. In 2023, Mattel released a Barbie doll modeled on Wong in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

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