RECENT CREDITS
Not Forgotten (FILM)  Sep. 11, 2009
Two for the Money (FILM)  Oct. 7, 2005
Alfie (FILM)  Nov. 5, 2004
Mulan II (FILM)  Jan. 1, 2003
My Wife and Kids (TV)  Oct. 16, 2002

BIOGRAPHY
The character that Gedde Watanabe is most remembered for is no doubt Long Duk Dong, the spastic foreign exchange student in Sixteen Candles (1984) whose drunken fall from a tree and laughable bastardization of the....
The character that Gedde Watanabe is most remembered for is no doubt Long Duk Dong, the spastic foreign exchange student in Sixteen Candles (1984) whose drunken fall from a tree and laughable bastardization of the English language had ninth graders of the day rolling in theater aisles. Though a few major roles followed soon after, Watanabe ultimately fell victim to the comic typecasting machine, rendering his talents muted in favor of the stereotypical "humorous foreign-guy" roles in which he would repeatedly stumble through the cursed paces of his former footprints.
It seems ironic that the actor who is remembered for these roles is a native not of Japan or some far away shore, but of Ogden, UT. Though his roles have expanded in their nature somewhat in recent years, Watanabe, a fine comic actor with a certain warm sincerity, has appeared frequently in major releases, though usually a little further down the credit list. Studying acting at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA, Watanabe also possesses a notable talent for crooning, appearing early on as an original cast member of Sondheim's Pacific Overtures in the 1970s.
After his breakout role in Candles, Watanabe continued to riff on his likeable but mechanical Japanese-guy persona with humorous roles in UHF (1989) and, perhaps most notably, Gung-Ho (1986) and the short-lived television series of the same name that followed. Bit parts in television and film followed fairly frequently, often appearing in such television series as ER and doing voice-over work for such animated series as The Simpsons and Batman: Beyond. The late '90s showed promise for Watanabe with a couple of small yet stereotype-busting roles in Guinevere and EdTV (both 1999).

~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide


Rovi Data Solutions, Inc.
- Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Data Solutions © 2009 Rovi Data Solutions, Inc.




Advertisement

Recently Worked With...

Simon Baker at the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards. Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA. 02-08-09
Not Forgotten
Released: Sep. 11, 2009

Two for the Money
Released: Oct. 7, 2005

Alfie
Released: Nov. 5, 2004

Damon Wayans
My Wife and Kids
Aired: Oct. 16, 2002

Devon Sawa
Slackers
Released: Feb. 1, 2002


Fan Sites

Gedde Watanabe Fansites

No fan sites available. Create the first!
Are you the #1 Gedde Watanabe Fan? Sign Up To Create A Website Here.



Top 5 Celebrities

Naomi Watts
September 28, 1968
Shoreham, England

Channing Tatum at the Los Angeles Premiere of 'Sugar'. Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA. 03-18-09
April 26, 1980
Cullman, AL

Rachel McAdams at the premiere of 'The Time Traveler's Wife' - New York, NY - 08/12/09
October 07, 1976
London, Ontario, Canada

Angelina Jolie at the Orange British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2009 - Arrivals.  London, England - 02/08/09
June 04, 1975
Los Angeles, CA

Zooey Deschanel
January 17, 1980
Los Angeles, CA



Whats on Hollywood.com

Actors 302,663

Photos 442,778

Videos 12,401

Fan Pages 128,061

Reviews 2,426

Trailers 4,963

TV 129,006

Movies 269,373




Isn't It Time You Went Hollywood ®
©1999-2012 Hollywood.com, LLC