Nancy Kwan
Known for
American actress of Chinese descent, a pioneer of Asian representation in Western cinema. She became established as the lead of the classic musical 'The World of Suzie Wong' (1960) and 'Flower Drum Song' (1961), roles that made her one of the first great Asian-American stars of Hollywood. She played Bruce Lee's mother in 'Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story' (1993). American actress recognized for her elegance and her status as a pioneer, a historic benchmark of the visibility of Asian performers in Hollywood cinema.
Nancy Kwan
33 Movies
7 Series
American actress of Chinese descent, a pioneer of Asian representation in Western cinema. She became established as the lead of the classic musical 'The World of Suzie Wong' (1960) and 'Flower Drum Song' (1961), roles that made her one of the first great Asian-American stars of Hollywood. She played Bruce Lee's mother in 'Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story' (1993). American actress recognized for her elegance and her status as a pioneer, a historic benchmark of the visibility of Asian performers in Hollywood cinema.
Movies
Plays Gussie Yang
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
1993
Plays Wen Yu-Rang
The Wrecking Crew
1968
Plays Dr. Tsu
Wonder Women
1973
Plays Suzie Wong
The World of Suzie Wong
1960
Plays Wednesday
Lt. Robin Crusoe U.S.N.
1966
Plays Sally Fraser
Fate Is the Hunter
1964
Plays Linda Low
Flower Drum Song
1961
Plays Robin
The McMasters
1970
Plays Baby
Arrivederci, Baby!
1966
Plays Madame Chang
Cold Dog Soup
1990
Plays Lee Su
Project: Kill
1976
Plays Tina
The Corrupt Ones
1967
Plays Gloria (voice)
Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming
2017
Plays Margaret
Paint It Black
2016
Plays Ling Li
For Life or Death
1996
Plays Tamahine
Tamahine
1963
Plays Sue
Angkor: Cambodia Express
1981
Plays Christine Holloway
Walking the Edge
1985
Plays Marjorie Lee
The Wild Affair
1965
Plays Leni
The Pacific Connection
1974
Plays Nurse Tomiko Momyama
Nobody's Perfect
1968
Plays Lynn Hope
Honeymoon Hotel
1964
Plays Sue Ten Chan
That Lady from Peking
1975
Plays Yuki Chan
Supercock
1975
Plays Leslie
Night Creature
1978
Plays Tessa
The Main Attraction
1962
Plays Dr. Lao
Keys to Freedom
1988
Plays Revel Drue
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
1969
Plays Lily
Blade in Hong Kong
1985
Plays Diane Martin
Night Children
1989
Plays Mei Ching
The Magic Stone
1966
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Be Water
Full Filmography
Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming
Gloria (voice)
2017
Film
Paint It Black
Margaret
2016
Film
Ray of Sunshine
Lilly
2006
Film
Murder on the Yellow Brick Road
Natalie Chung
2005
Film
ER
Mrs. Chen · 1 episode
2000
TV
Mr. P's Dancing Sushi Bar
Mitsuko McFee
1999
Film
For Life or Death
Ling Li
1996
Film
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Gussie Yang
1993
Film
Cold Dog Soup
Madame Chang
1990
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Nancy Kwan and where are they from?
Nancy Kwan is 87 years old, born on May 19, 1939 in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China].
What are the most famous roles of Nancy Kwan?
Nancy Kwan is best known for roles in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, The Wrecking Crew, Be Water.
How many movies has Nancy Kwan been in?
Over a 66-year career (since 1960), Nancy Kwan has appeared in 33 movies and 7 TV shows.
What was Nancy Kwan's first movie?
The career of Nancy Kwan began with The World of Suzie Wong (1960).
What is Nancy Kwan's most recent movie or series?
Nancy Kwan's most recent release is Bruce Lee: A Life in Ten Pictures, which premiered on June 6, 2023.
What TV shows has Nancy Kwan appeared in?
On television, Nancy Kwan has appeared in The A-Team, ER, The Daily Show, Kung Fu.
Nancy Kwan
1939-05-19 · Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]
Nancy Kwan Ka-shen (Cantonese: 關家蒨; born May 19, 1939) is a Hong Kong-born American actress, author, and philanthropist. She meteorically rose to fame by starring in the Hollywood films The World of Suzie Wong (1960) and Flower Drum Song (1961), which were among the first to cast Asian actors in major roles. Her dazzling 'oriental' style and signature bob cut became iconic and cemented her status as an exotic sex symbol. Later in life, Kwan became involved in philanthropy for AIDS awareness. In 1997, she published a book about her son who died from the disease and donated its profits to support the promotion of AIDS awareness.