Skip to content
Join free
Sammee Tong
Actor

Sammee Tong

21 Apr 1901Born
27 Oct 1964Died
63Age at death
26Credits

Biography

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.

Read the full biography

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.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 1965FluffyFilm: Cook
  2. 1964MickeySeries: Sammy Ling (17 episodes)
  3. 1964For Those Who Think YoungFilm: Clyde
  4. 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldFilm: Laundryman
  5. 1959Hawaiian EyeSeries (1 episode)
  6. 1959BonanzaSeries: Hop Ling (1 episode)
  7. 1958Suicide BattalionFilm: Papa Lily
  8. 1957Hell BoundFilm: Murdered Seaman (uncredited)
  9. 1957Bachelor FatherSeries: Peter Tong (157 episodes)
  10. 1957The Midnight StoryFilm: Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited)
  11. 1956Further Adventures of Spin and MartySeries: Sam the Cook (5 episodes)
  12. 1956Hey, Jeannie!Series: Lee (1 episode)
  13. 1956Godzilla, King of the Monsters!Film: Dr. Yamane / Dr. Tabata / misc. characters (voices) (uncredited)
  14. 1956Telephone TimeSeries (1 episode)
  15. 1956The Man Called XSeries (2 episodes)
  16. 1955The Adventures of Spin and MartySeries: Sam the Cook (10 episodes)
  17. 1955Matinee TheaterSeries (1 episode)
  18. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries: Peter Tong (1 episode)
  19. 1950Woman on the RunFilm: Witness to Suzie's Fall (uncredited)
  20. 1945God Is My Co-PilotFilm: Chinese Civilian (uncredited)
  21. 1943ChinaFilm: Aide to Japanese General
  22. 1939Only Angels Have WingsFilm: Sam (uncredited)
  23. 1937Daughter of ShanghaiFilm: Chinese Alien in Airplane (uncredited)
  24. 1937Youth on ParoleFilm: Chinese Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
  25. 1936The Accusing FingerFilm: Chinese-American Convict
  26. 1936Love Before BreakfastFilm: Steward (uncredited)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.