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Nathan Jung

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Nathan Jung
Born(1946-11-29)November 29, 1946
DiedApril 24, 2021(2021-04-24) (aged 74)
Occupation(s)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

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Television

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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 has been 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" that goes toe-to-toe against Fred Dryer), Riptide (as Kona, Al Leong's colleague), Joe Forrester, and The New Mike Hammer.[3]

Jung has also appeared in the TV shows Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (in two episodes - "Chi of Steel" (1995) and "Illusions of Grandeur" (1994) - as "Jzuk-Mao"), Martial Law (as the villain Wen in the Martial Law pilot episode, "Shanghai Express" (1998)), as well as Highway to Heaven (as Yoji), Burke's Law, Dear John and Tour of Duty.[4]

Film

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Jung has acted in the films Surf Ninjas (as Leslie Nielsen's henchman, Manchu), as the henchman Bulkus in John Landis's first film, Kentucky Fried Movie (as 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 that roughs up Mark Hamill's character), Longshot (as Odd Job) and more.[5]

Jung has also acted in Asian American independent films such as Justin Lin's Finishing The Game (as Bob, the Nazi villain that faces off against Roger Fan's Breeze Loo) in the "Fists of Fuhrer" segment that was directed by Evan Jackson Leong (Director of the film Linsanity: The Movie) 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; the film also won a Best Original Script and Best Comedy award at the 2018 Asians on Film Festival and has screened at the 2019 Seattle Asian American Film Festival, the 2018 Taiwanese American Film Festival and the 2018 Vancouver Asian Film Festival.[6][7][8]

Upon Jung's death on April 24, 2021, Nathan Jung v. Bruce Lee was shared and his death was covered by outlets including Variety,[9] Deadline Hollywood,[10] SyFy Wire,[11] The Independent (UK),[12] The Daily Express (UK),[13] News.com.au,[14] The New Zealand Herald,[15] NY Daily News,[16] Heavy.com,[17] Yahoo! Lifestyle,[18] Daily Star Trek News,[19] Comicbook.com,[20] Outsider,[21] AsAm News,[22] iHorror,[23] Giant Freakin Robot[24] and more.

Personal life

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Jung died in Los Angeles on April 24, 2021, at the age of 74.[25][26]

Selected filmography

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Film

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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

Assorted TV Roles

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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

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  1. ^ "Star Trek". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  2. ^ "Nathan Jung". www.aveleyman.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  3. ^ Id.
  4. ^ "Nathan Jung TV". www.listal.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  5. ^ Nathan Jung, Filmography, Fandago, http://www.fandango.com/nathanjung/filmography/p36524
  6. ^ "Asians on Film Festival of Shorts 2018 Winter Quarter Winners". Asians on Film. 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  7. ^ Taiwanese American Film Festival 2018, Nathan Jung v. Bruce Lee, https://www.taff.la/nathanjungvbrucelee
  8. ^ Nathan Jung v. Bruce Lee, retrieved 2023-06-23
  9. ^ Bosselman, Haley (2021-05-01). "Nathan Jung, Actor Who Appeared in 'Star Trek' and 'The A-Team,' Dies at 74". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  10. ^ Haring, Bruce (2021-05-01). "Nathan Jung Dies: Actor From 'Star Trek', 'The A-Team' & Many Films Was 74". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  11. ^ "Nathan Jung, actor known for 'Star Trek' and 'Big Trouble in Little China,' dies at 74". SYFY Official Site. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  12. ^ "Original Star Trek actor Nathan Jung dies, aged 74". The Independent. 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  13. ^ Ingate, Kathryn (2021-05-02). "Nathan Jung dead: Star Trek, M*A*S*H* and The A-Team actor dies at 74". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  14. ^ News.com.au, Star Trek actor Nathan Jung dies aged 74, https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-deaths/star-trek-actor-nathan-jung-dies-aged-74/news-story/49c6a57b858c65827b3524607a0361d8
  15. ^ "Star Trek actor Nathan Jung dies aged 74". NZ Herald. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  16. ^ "'Star Trek,' 'The A-Team' actor Nathan Jung dead at 74". New York Daily News. 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  17. ^ Zabiegalski, Robin (2021-05-02). "Nathan Jung Dead at 74". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  18. ^ "Nathan Jung, Star Trek actor, dies aged 74". Yahoo Life. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  19. ^ "Nathan Jung, Star Trek's Genghis Khan, has passed away at 74". Daily Star Trek News. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  20. ^ "Star Trek, Big Trouble In Little China Actor Nathan Jung Dies at 74". Star Trek. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  21. ^ Miller, Madison (2021-05-01). "Nathan Jung, Actor Who Appeared on 'The A-Team' and 'Star Trek,' Dies at 75". Outsider. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  22. ^ Randall (2021-05-01). "Actor Nathan Jung of Star Trek fame dies at 74". AsAmNews. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  23. ^ III, Trey Hilburn (2021-05-02). "Nathan Jung Star of 'Darkman' and 'Big Trouble in Little China' Dead at 74". iHorror. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  24. ^ Gonzales, Rick (2021-05-03). "A Classic Star Trek Actor Has Died". GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  25. ^ "Nathan Jung, Actor Who Appeared on 'Star Trek' and 'The A-Team,' Dies at 74". Variety.
  26. ^ Haring, Bruce (1 May 2021). "Nathan Jung Dies: Actor From 'Star Trek', 'The A-Team' & Many Films Was 74". Deadline. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
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