interview with Richard Lee-Sung (1930-2021), MASH's man of many parts. he was also on AfterMASH and Trapper John, MD. mentions specific episodes he filmed, racism in Hollywood, and being a Marine in the Korean War. from TV's M*A*S*H: The Ultimate Guide by Ed Solomonson and Mark O'Neill (2009).
"There are several stories, but the one I want to tell most is about Alan Alda. The cast was a wonderful cast. They were professionals and really great human beings, all of them. That's why they worked so well together. And when I joined them, they went hysterical with me over the 'Kim Luck' thing (from 'Officer of the Day'). The crew and everyone went hysterical over the scene and my one line, 'this is me.' It was my first experience where the crew was applauding and having a heck of a time. So, it was just a wonderful moment for me. See, Asian American actors don't get a chance to be human beings. We are caricatures and stereotypes of what Hollywood thinks we should be. For 37 years I've been playing those roles. It was a shock when we were doing 'Dear Mildred,' and Alan Alda came up to me. I think it was the second day of filming and he said to me 'you know, I couldn't sleep last night and decided you should forget the accent. Portray this man as lost in the war, and well educated. He's a businessman. Just play him as a human being.' I was so shocked. They usually want a certain image, and for Alan Alda to tell me that, was a shock. No one had ever done that in Hollywood in all the years I'd worked. I haven't worked that much because I have to wait for Asian roles. Kung Fu and M*A*S*H were where all the Asian American actors got to work. So, that was a story I really wanted to tell. I wish the whole world knew how wonderful Alan Alda is...how caring in trying to make things right.
I went to see a play Alan Alda was in called 'Art,' about a painting that has nothing on it and went for $40,000. It was funny from the first moment on. I went backstage with my daughter and he was kind enough to let us in and spend 15 or 20 minutes with us. It made me feel really good in front of my daughter. And he was just so gracious. I enjoyed that moment with him. The whole cast of M*A*S*H was that way. Another incident...I was at 20th Century trying to audition for a job and I saw Loretta Swit's trailer. I wondered what she was doing and thought I'd drop in to say hello. All of a sudden, out of the clear blue sky, here comes Loretta yelling 'Curly's here!!' That's what they call me. And, she introduced me to everybody. I felt like I was a movie star for the first time in my life. After so many years, she remembered me. She is such a warm, beautiful person. For an Asian American actor who rarely gets that kind of treatment. We were aliens in Hollywood. It's difficult until you realize that that's the way it is and it involves money. But, if you love the business you stay with it and hope, one day, you'll get that role where you don't have to be that caricature...that image.
I'm also a veteran of the Korean War. I fought the real war in the Marines. So, I fought the real war, and fought it in Hollywood. I'm also part Mexican. Nobody ever knew. Two years ago, I was at a reunion in San Antonio and I was on the news. One of the crew members recognized me from M*A*S*H and he put me on the news. I spoke Spanish and he got a big kick out of that and put me on the Spanish news. They put that on as a follow up to a rerun of 'Dear Mildred.' The Korean War is the forgotten war, you know. We still forget the loss of American life. I'm a hawk and a dove at the same time. I hate wars, yet when our guys are dying and you don't support them...that's support you're giving the enemy. That's the way I feel because that's what happened to us in Korea. I was just so shocked I got out of Inchon. It was 65 degrees below zero and we lost a lot of men out there. I was lucky, and now I'm getting disability. Someone above me said it just wasn't my time. I'm very happy I'm here and able to tell my story about what M*A*S*H did for me and Asian American actors.
I had an incident where I had some in-laws coming in from Australia. I asked if they wanted to visit the studio and they said that would be great. The whole cast was so nice to these people. They let them have one of the Martini glasses as a souvenir. Stiers, Christopher and Harry Morgan were all there, and made my relatives feel so good. They still remember, and have the glass in a special glass case. Gary Burghoff, of course, was wonderful. He was the first actor I worked with on that 'Kim Luck' episode. One time, I got a chance to talk to him when he was leaving the show. I realized what turmoil he was going through about leaving the cast. We started talking and...I joke alot, you know. I told him there's nothing like being happy in what you're doing in life. Sometimes, money's not important. It's very difficult to leave a hot show. I want to tell him how much that lunch with him meant to me, when he was going through that turmoil in trying to decide which way to go concerning leaving M*A*S*H. He'd been on it so long, with the original movie and all. It gets to you after a while. You want to go in different directions. There's more to Gary Burghoff than Radar. I always admired him for what he did. It was pretty gutsy.
In my first M*A*S*H segment, I didn't realize what a great thing it would be for me. It paid my rent for that year. I did this one scene...I think we shot it only two or three times. Gene Reynolds was so happy with the way the scene ran. My ego was out of control. I don't think I worked with Wayne Rogers. I came on after him, mostly. I was on City of Angels with him, that's right. They just needed a good-looking Oriental guy. They couldn't find any others. It's like the Marine Corps. Here I am trying to replace John Wayne, and the next thing you know I'm in Korea. Getting my job was just one of those cattle calls. Joyce Robinson was very nice. We did a nice interview. And, they kept calling me back. The M*A*S*H people were so good to me. They were quite a talented bunch of people. But Alan Alda was the leader. The way he worked, they worked. It made a wonderful ensemble.
One time, I was at a children's benefit. One of the writers snuck up behind me and thanked me for the way I read the lines in 'Dear Mildred.' He tapped me on the shoulder and said 'I just want to say thank you for reading my lines.' It's an ego trip because I don't think of myself as a movie star. As a sex symbol...yes, but not as a movie star. I have a wonderful mentor by the name of Kathleen Freeman. She got nominated for the musical The Full Monty and she was my mentor for many years. As both an actor and human being, she was one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. You could run into her with your jaw hanging down to your knees and she would turn everything around. Thanks to her, I'm happy with what I've done, and no longer feel sorry for myself. That's a waste of time.
Racism is going to be here as long as we live and…just as long as they don’t hate bald-headed people. (Laughs) I was working with Lou Gossett and we were talking about how Kareem (one of the Lakers) was worried about the bald spot he had. And Gossett was trying to convince him to shave his hair off because when you do that, you become 10 years younger. As you get older, all bald headed people look younger and sexier. That’s where I get the label that’s so frustrating. You know, they say bald headed people are sexy and have to point, constantly. Here’s a funny story. I’m in a 7/11 store near a theater where I got a lot of my training. I went in for a cup of coffee and there were six Mexican kids making their 99-cent hot dogs. One of the kids said to the others, in Spanish…not knowing that I was part Mexican and spoke Spanish, ‘look at that ugly, bald headed guy!’ So, I took two steps and turned around and said ‘yeah, but my mother loves me.’ And the other Mexicans were in hysterics and shock because they didn’t know I spoke Spanish. Then, in Chinatown, there were three girls selling oranges. I walked by and they said the same thing. Again, I turned around and said, ‘yeah, but my mother loves me.’ They started screaming and hollering and couldn’t believe it. People see the negative but they don’t see the person. I think that’s what make these M*A*S*H people so warm. They treated us all with respect. I know I could do a better job of acting now than 20 years old, but Hollywood doesn’t. It’s so difficult not to be able to work as often as you want to. I see so many people working for money or fame, but when you find someone who really loves their work, there’s no stopping them. Look at Alan Alda. Every time I run into him he’s a real, wonderful human being. And he gives the same respect to everyone; whether you’re an oriental actor from Texas who thinks he's John Wayne or whatever. I got to love the business so much, I wanted to be a art of it...no matter what they gave me.
I had another mentor, Mako, who also worked on M*A*S*H. He was the head of the East/West Theater group I belong to. And he advised us, 'if you don't take it, somebody else will.' And so, these Chinaman roles, I always try to make them as human as possible. One of the cast members has the bust I did in 'Dear Mildred.' You know what I wanted to save? That grungy old jacket...with all the...Hitler's pencil box, watches, etc. I made a big, 2 x 3' blow up of that photo of all of us with the wooden bust and gave it to Harry Morgan for Christmas. He was very wonderful to me. To me, Harry Morgan is a legend. (Here, this author reminded Curly that he's a legend, too.) Oh, c'mon...you sound like my mother. (Laughs). I had all these one-liners. Like when they auctioned off the garbage and asked how much we would pay for it and I said 'one buck.' I hold up a piece of wood and say 'used to be round.' I'm very grateful to M*A*S*H. They give small residuals but it pays for my haircuts. You know, I'm thinking of going into a new business. I'm going to make shampoo for bald headed people. Or hairdryers for noses and ears.
I just lost a dear friend who was 87 years old. I used to tell him dying is so easy but living is the only way to go. We're all going to get a shot at dying, so there's no sense in wasting any energy on it or being afraid of it. Enjoy the life we have and make the best of it. One of my buddies, Jack Granger from Rebel Without a Cause, was in Korea with me. We were aboard ship and he did a song and dance number for entertainment. Well, he fainted after his song and dance and fell into my arms. I said 'you're supposed to be ready to go to war!' People never die, especially when you remember them. And Kathleen Freeman will always be remembered. She was a special lady and worked right up until that last minute. She was born on the stage and went out the same way. M*A*S*H was the best thing that ever happened to me. I did a film which I was real proud of, too, and worked one month in Moscow. It was never shown, though. I'm going to Rome sometime this year, and will look up that Italian production company to find out what happened.
I'm very close to a friend of mine named Herb Jeffries. He was the first black cowboy, supposedly. Anyway, he's a dear friend and is 93 now. He's got a star on the Walk of Fame. So, it's all attitude. I don't think old, I don't act old, I don't want people to talk to me about being old...it's all attitude. We put so much emphasis on age and weight. We never like ourselves and only see the bad. Never think old. Don't worry about age. Keep doing what you love. My son is a principal of a school and I keep telling him to tell the kids that this is a time to make mistakes and to learn from them. As far as Asian Americans go, we don't get the opportunity to grow. We don't get enough chances to do roles that are really, you know, important. And when we do, it's really great...like The Killing Fields. There are some Asian Americans who want to work in the film industry, but they don't because they see no future in it. And that's what I'm upset about because I like to see the young people get a chance to do whatever they want...if given the opportunity. You won't see me in x-rated movies. And the parts are too small for me anyway (really laughs). You know, my son asked me to talk to some kids about acting, so he sent me to the school where he works. Anyway, I decided to start off with...I'd never met the teacher or anything, so I pulled out my pack of cigarettes and said 'you know, this is my favorite sport...this is what I do (chuckles).' And she nearly fainted. I continued, 'now it costs me five dollars a pack and I enjoy it so. But, I hope if you take up smoking, you'll go to college and get a good medical degree so that you can earn enough to take care of your medical problems because smoking is so good for you, and I'm smoking 10 packs a day, now.' And the teacher let out a big sigh of relief because she knew the point I was making.
I got the habit in Korea. They say it was 65 below zero where we were at, at the Manchurian border. I caught a very bad cold and somebody gave me a pack of cigarettes, and that helped a lot...you know, when you're traveling in the snow...ten miles a day. I didn't think I would get hooked on the habit because I got seasick on the way home and never wanted to smoke again. But they drew me back. It's 54 years later and I'm trying to stop. The way I live my life, I don't get much adulation. When I got my first fan letter...I think you were first. So, I hope the book becomes a great success. Once they know I'm in the book, most of your bald-headed people will want to buy it. I have the same trouble with Hollywood. I'm right here, and better looking every day. I understand what acting is all about. But no calls. It's a shame. Think of what the world is missing (laughs at himself). I'm upset for the young people.
I never got serious about acting because there was no future. It cost me $300 to join the Guild at the time and that was a lot of money to me. With three children, I wanted extra income. It seems like every time I'd work as an extra, they'd make me a...I'll tell you a funny story. I had done work as an extra in Around the World in 80 Days, 20th Century Fox had a beautiful location set of Hong Kong and had a hundred foot dragon. One day, I was in Chinatown and my buddy says, 'I want you to meet somebody.' He took me over to this Mexican fellow and it was Cantinflas (1911-1993). He was famous all over the world, except for here, and was sitting there. I was thinking how I grew up watching his movies. He's like the Charlie Chan of Mexico. And he was so gracious and wonderful. I met him years later, and said how we had worked in Around the World in 80 Days. He didn't really remember yet, so I said 'remember the dragon in that movie? Well I was the fourth leg.' He got the biggest kick out of that. He was like a legend to me.
I want my story told about Alan Alda...my superhero in Hollywood. I couldn't get out of that character I had already been working on, but was trying so hard to avoid the Chinaman thing, and worked so hard to get ready for the shot. This was about an hour, or so, before we were to shoot the scene. I wasn't that good enough to make the switch, and turn the character around, you know. I ended up doing some of it, but not as much as I could have to get away from the stereotype. I was still thinking of what I thought Hollywood wanted me to do. You try so hard to give them what you think they want. They'll tell you (Hollywood) 'you've got to squint your eyes so you look more Oriental.' But it was a great group of people on M*A*S*H, and I'm very grateful to all of them. I put myself under a lot of stress to do better, but they all made my stay there a lot of fun. There are some directors who think they know how to tell an Asian American actor how to talk and look more Oriental. You have to wait for the Oriental roles. You can never be doctors, lawyers or teachers. After years of this, it still goes on. We try to say we are here, we are American and can play other roles. In real life, you see the diversity. There used to be a show, Hawaii Five-O, and even on that show there were never many Asians. You can't walk five steps in Hawaii without walking into an Asian American. This is a problem I wish I could do something about. Maybe your book will reach some people; who knows. Let them read what Alan Alda said, 'They are human beings.' Well, you think you've got enough? Imagine me writing all that I just said (laughs). It would be five years before I mailed a letter. Mark O'Neill...hmmm. It's not very Chinese, but I'll deal with it (laughs). I'd love a copy of the book. If there's a cost, let me know...I'll just cut down on my haircuts. Oh, and I just want to say that I completely understand if you decide to put me on the cover of the book."
Obsessed with the time Alan Alda talked Bill Christopher into playing him in chess
There's so much going on here
Bill finding chess way too stressful
Bill having no idea how well he's doing until Mike tells him
Bill winning and hating every second of it
"No, I agreed to one game only! Goodbye!" this man would rather be reading his Homeric Greek, what a fucking nerd (so so affectionate)
Wanted to make an update on the Jamie Farr fan mail for those of you who are interested in sending as well!
1) Yes, Jamie still accepts fan mail. I sent him a two-page letter and two printed photographs.
2) No, it doesn’t seem that he writes letter back, at least for me he didn’t send a letter in return.
3) Yes, though, I did get one of my photographs of Jamie signed! Although I got my second one blank so it seems that he only signs one photo per letter you send out.
4) Yes I am absolutely going to cherish the signed photo forever, I already have it hanging on my wall lol
5) If you want information on where to send Jamie fan mail, DM me and I will give you the info!
