Sammee Tong
Actor
63 years (Apr 21, 1901 – Oct 27, 1964)San Francisco, California, USA
Casting directors have long relied on Sammee Tong, an American actor who fills the parts that keep a story moving. In film, 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' is the credit that carries furthest, as Laundryman. The pace of work is the defining feature of the career.
Sammee Tong
Actor
Casting directors have long relied on Sammee Tong, an American actor who fills the parts that keep a story moving. In film, 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' is the credit that carries furthest, as Laundryman. The pace of work is the defining feature of the career.
TV Shows: 7 titles
Latest Trailers
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For Those Who Think Young
Full Filmography
Fluffy
Cook
1965
Mickey
Sammy Ling · 17 episodes
1964–
For Those Who Think Young
Clyde
1964
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Laundryman
1963
Bonanza
Hop Ling
1959Season 1
Suicide Battalion
Papa Lily
1958
Hell Bound
Murdered Seaman (uncredited)
1957
Bachelor Father
Peter Tong · 157 episodes
1957–
The Midnight Story
Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited)
1957
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sammee Tong still alive?
Sammee Tong passed away on October 27, 1964 at age 63.
What are the most famous roles of Sammee Tong?
Sammee Tong is best known for roles in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, Only Angels Have Wings.
How many movies has Sammee Tong been in?
Over a 28-year career (since 1936), Sammee Tong has appeared in 15 movies and 7 TV shows.
What was Sammee Tong's first movie?
The career of Sammee Tong began with Love Before Breakfast (1936).
What is Sammee Tong's most recent movie or series?
Sammee Tong's most recent release is Fluffy, which premiered on June 27, 1965.
What TV shows has Sammee Tong appeared in?
On television, Sammee Tong has appeared in Bonanza, Hawaiian Eye, Matinee Theater, General Electric Theater.
Sammee Tong
1901-04-21 · San Francisco, California, USA
Sammee Tong (April 21, 1901 – October 27, 1964) was an American film and television character actor. He was best known for his starring role as John Forsythe's live-in houseboy/valet Peter Tong on the sitcom Bachelor Father, which aired on all three national networks from 1957 to 1962.
Tong signed with Columbia Pictures, and made his film debut in a bit part in the comedy film The Captain Hates the Sea (1934). In 1939 he returned to his home town as director of entertainment at the Chinese Village of San Francisco's World's Fair, and began the first Chinese radio hour on KSAN. Throughout the 1940s, he had small, usually uncredited, roles in films. He returned to Hollywood in the early 1950s and took roles on television.
Tong made his television debut in a 1953 episode of You Are There. He had a recurring role as George the cook the first two seasons of the Mickey Mouse Club serial The Adventures of Spin and Marty (1955 - 1956). In 1957, he landed a co-starring role in the sitcom Bachelor Father, starring John Forsythe and Noreen Corcoran. 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." After Bachelor Father's cancellation in 1962, Tong was cast as Sammy Ling in the ABC sitcom Mickey (1964 - 1965), starring Mickey Rooney. Despite low ratings, Tong's character had a solid fanbase thanks to his role in Bachelor Father. Tong's death effectively ended any chance for the series' survival, and ABC canceled Mickey in its first season.
His final screen appearance was as "Cook" in the film Fluffy (1965), starring Tony Randall and Shirley Jones. The film was released after Tong's death in October 1964 from an intentional barbiturate overdose.