Nathan Jung
Nathan Jung | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 29, 1946 Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
| Died | April 24, 2021 (aged 74) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | Actor, stuntman |
Nathan Jung (November 29, 1946 – April 24, 2021) was an American actor and stuntman. Due to his height, he was usually cast in "heavy" or "enforcer" roles.
Career
[edit]Television
[edit]Jung played the character of Genghis Khan on Star Trek: The Original Series in the episode, "The Savage Curtain" (1969),[1] an axe-wielding villain named "The Dark Rider" who fought David Carradine in the TV series Kung Fu on the episode "Arrogant Dragon" (1974),[2] and appeared opposite Bruce Lee as a Tong Enforcer in Lee's only pure acting (and non-martial arts) role on the TV show Here Come the Brides, in the episode "Marriage, Chinese Style" (1969). Jung also played Saburyo, Helen Funai's cousin on an episode of Sanford and Son entitled "Home Sweet Home" (1974).
Jung appeared on a number of other TV shows including General Hospital (as Won Chu), Starsky and Hutch (as "Itchy" in the episode "Nightlight" (1976)), M*A*S*H (as the Korean Man), The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (as Kahuna), Manimal (as Tang), Magnum P.I. (as Yaikra), The A-Team (as Chi), Falcon Crest (as Chao-Li's cousin), The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (as Cho-Lin), Hunter (as the henchman "Mongol" who goes toe-to-toe against Fred Dryer), Riptide (as Kona, Al Leong's colleague), Joe Forrester, and The New Mike Hammer.[2] He appeared in two episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman ("Chi of Steel" (1995) and "Illusions of Grandeur" (1994) - as "Jzuk-Mao"), in the pilot episode of Martial Law, "Shanghai Express" (1998) (as the villain Wen), as well as on Highway to Heaven (as Yoji), Burke's Law, Dear John and Tour of Duty.[3]
Film
[edit]Jung acted in the films Surf Ninjas (as Leslie Nielsen's henchman, Manchu), in John Landis's first film, Kentucky Fried Movie (as the henchman Bulkus in the Enter the Dragon spoof segment entitled A Fistful of Yen), as The Wing Kong Hatchet Man in Big Trouble in Little China, as the Bonsai Club Manager in Showdown in Little Tokyo (speaking a line of dialogue in Japanese to stars Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee, making him one of the few actors to appear in movies or TV shows alongside both Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee), and also appeared in films such as Sam Raimi's Darkman (as the Chinese Warrior), The Shadow (as the Tibetan Kidnapper), American Yakuza (as The Big Yakuza), Beverly Hills Ninja (as the Fisherman), Corvette Summer (as the bouncer who roughs up Mark Hamill's character), and Longshot (as Odd Job).[4]
Jung also acted in Asian American independent films such as Justin Lin's Finishing The Game (as Bob, the Nazi villain who faces off against Roger Fan's Breeze Loo) in the "Fists of Fuhrer" segment that was directed by Evan Jackson Leong and Juwan Chung's Baby (as the Restaurant Guy in a scene opposite David Huynh, who played the title character).
Jung also appears as himself, the narrator, in Timothy Tau's short documentary, Nathan Jung v. Bruce Lee, where he recounts the first time he met Bruce Lee (played by Jason Yee) on the set of the TV show Here Come the Brides in 1969 and with Allen Rowe portraying a younger version of him in narrative flashbacks.[5][6][7]
Personal life
[edit]Jung was born in Bakersfield, California;[8] he had two older brothers.[9] He died in Los Angeles on April 24, 2021, at the age of 74,[8][10][11] of a heart attack after treatment for lymphoma and a fall.[12] His death was covered by outlets including Variety,[10] Deadline Hollywood,[11] SyFy Wire,[8] the New York Daily News,[13] Heavy.com,[14] Daily Star Trek News,[15] Comicbook.com,[16] Outsider,[17] AsAm News,[18] iHorror,[19] Giant Freakin Robot,[20] The Independent[21] and The Daily Express in the UK,[22] News.com.au[23] and Yahoo! Lifestyle in Australia,[24] and The New Zealand Herald.[25]
Selected filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Nathan Jung v. Bruce Lee | Himself / The Narrator |
| 2013 | Jackhammer | Silky Samurai |
| 2008 | Baby | Restaurant Guy |
| 2007 | Finishing The Game | Bob |
| 1997 | Beverly Hills Ninja | Fisherman |
| 1995 | Galaxis | Real Deal Doorman |
| 1994 | Ghoulies IV | Big Inmate |
| 1994 | The Shadow | Tibetan Kidnapper |
| 1993 | American Yakuza | Big Yakuza |
| 1993 | Surf Ninjas | Manchu |
| 1993 | Army of One aka Joshua Tree | Chinese Gunman |
| 1991 | Showdown in Little Tokyo | Bonsai Club Manager |
| 1990 | Darkman | Chinese Warrior |
| 1989 | Black Rain | Sato's Enforcer |
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China | Wing Kong Hatchet Man |
| 1981 | Longshot | "Oddjob" |
| 1978 | Corvette Summer | The Bouncer |
| 1978 | Blind Rage | Henchman |
| 1977 | The Kentucky Fried Movie | Bulkus |
TV
[edit]| Year | Title | Episode | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Martial Law | "Shanghai Express" (1998) (Pilot) | Wen |
| 1995 | Burke's Law | "Who Killed Mr. Game Show?" (1995) | Sumo Contestant |
| 1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | "Chi of Steel" (1995) | Jzuk-Mao |
| 1994 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | "Illusions of Grandeur" (1994) | Jzuk-Mao |
| 1989 | Highway to Heaven | "It's a Dog's Life" (1989) | Yoji |
| 1989 | Tour of Duty | "Lonesome Cowboy Blues" (1989) | The Bouncer |
| 1987 | The New Mike Hammer | "A Blinding Fear" (1987) | Security Guard |
| 1984 | The New Mike Hammer | "The Deadly Prey" (1984) | Man One |
| 1986 | The A-Team | "Point of No Return" (1986) | Chi |
| 1986 | Riptide | "The Frankie Kahana Show" (1986) | Kona |
| 1985 | Hunter | "Night of the Dragons" (1985) | Mongol, Lead Henchman |
| 1985 | Falcon Crest | "...And The Fall" (1985), "The Decline" (1985), "Devil's Harvest" (1985) | Chao-Li's Cousin #2 |
| 1985 | Magnum P.I. | "The Love-for-Sale Boat" (1985) | Yaikra |
| 1983 | Manimal | "Breath of the Dragon" (1983) | Tang |
| 1982 | Bring 'Em Back Alive | "Wilmer Bass and the Serengeti Kid" (1982) | Magar |
| 1981 | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | "The Roller Disco Karate Kaper" (1981) | Kahuna |
| 1981 | M*A*S*H | "No Laughing Matter" (1981) | Korean Man |
| 1978 | CHiPs | "Disaster Squad" (1978) | Wrong-Way Driver |
| 1978 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | "Death Surf" (1978) | Cho-Lin |
| 1976 | Starsky and Hutch | "Nightlight" (1976) | "Itchy" |
| 1975 | Joe Forrester | "The Witness" (1975) | Henchman |
| 1974 | General Hospital | Various Episodes in 1974 | Won Chu |
| 1974 | Sanford and Son | "Home Sweet Home" (1974) | Saburyo |
| 1974 | Kung Fu | "Arrogant Dragon" (1974) | The Dark Rider (opposite David Carradine) |
| 1969 | Here Come the Brides | "Marriage, Chinese Style" (1969) | Tong Enforcer (opposite Bruce Lee) |
| 1969 | Star Trek: The Original Series | S3:E22, "The Savage Curtain" (1969) | Genghis Khan (opposite William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy) |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Star Trek". TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- 1 2 "Nathan Jung". www.aveleyman.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ "Nathan Jung TV". www.listal.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ Nathan Jung, Filmography, Fandango.
- ↑ "Asians on Film Festival of Shorts 2018 Winter Quarter Winners". Asians on Film. May 2, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ Nathan Jung v. Bruce Lee, Taiwanese American Film Festival 2018.
- ↑ "Nathan Jung v. Bruce Lee", Vancouver Asian Film Festival 2018, retrieved June 23, 2023
- 1 2 3 "Nathan Jung, actor known for 'Star Trek' and 'Big Trouble in Little China,' dies at 74". SYFY Official Site. May 2, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ↑ "Nathan Jung Obituary". Fukui Mortuary. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- 1 2 Bosselman, Haley. "Nathan Jung, Actor Who Appeared on 'Star Trek' and 'The A-Team,' Dies at 74". Variety.
- 1 2 Haring, Bruce (May 1, 2021). "Nathan Jung Dies: Actor From 'Star Trek', 'The A-Team' & Many Films Was 74". Deadline. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Fukuiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ "'Star Trek,' 'The A-Team' actor Nathan Jung dead at 74". New York Daily News. May 1, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ Zabiegalski, Robin (May 2, 2021). "Nathan Jung Dead at 74". Heavy.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ "Nathan Jung, Star Trek's Genghis Khan, has passed away at 74". Daily Star Trek News. May 2, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ "Star Trek, Big Trouble In Little China Actor Nathan Jung Dies at 74". Star Trek. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ Miller, Madison (May 1, 2021). "Nathan Jung, Actor Who Appeared on 'The A-Team' and 'Star Trek,' Dies at 75". Outsider. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ Randall (May 1, 2021). "Actor Nathan Jung of Star Trek fame dies at 74". AsAmNews. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ III, Trey Hilburn (May 2, 2021). "Nathan Jung Star of 'Darkman' and 'Big Trouble in Little China' Dead at 74". iHorror. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ Gonzales, Rick (May 3, 2021). "A Classic Star Trek Actor Has Died". GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ "Original Star Trek actor Nathan Jung dies, aged 74". The Independent. May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ Ingate, Kathryn (May 2, 2021). "Nathan Jung dead: Star Trek, M*A*S*H* and The A-Team actor dies at 74". Express.co.uk. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ "Star Trek actor Nathan Jung dies aged 74". News.com.au. May 2, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Nathan Jung, Star Trek actor, dies aged 74". Yahoo Life. May 2, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ↑ "Star Trek actor Nathan Jung dies aged 74". The New Zealand Herald. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.