Tetsu Komai

Tetsu Komai

Born: April 23, 1894
Died: August 10, 1970
in Kumamoto, Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  Tetsu Komai (駒井哲 Komai Tetsu) (April 23, 1894 – August 10, 1970), also known as Tetsuo Komai, was a Japanese-American actor, known for his minor roles in Hollywood films. Born in Kumamoto, Kyushu, Komai had small parts in over 50 films from the 1920s until the mid-1960s. In his early films, Tetsu, who was usually called on to play Chinese characters, was often described with derogatory terms such as "Chinaman,". He played the villain in many of his films.

He immigrated to the United States in December 1907, arriving at the Port of Seattle; he lived in Seattle for several years after this initial immigration. During the Second World War, the actor, his wife, and their children were interned with groups of other Japanese-Americans and Japanese resident aliens at the Gila River War Relocation Center in Arizona from August 27, 1942 to November 3, 1945.

He died in Gardena, California of congestive heart failure, aged 76. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bette Davis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Movies for Tetsu Komai...

The Night Walker
Title: The Night Walker
Character: Gardener
Released: December 30, 1964
Type: Movie
A woman is haunted by recurring nightmares, which seem to be instigated by her late husband who supposedly was killed in a fire.
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Title: Johnny Midnight
Released: January 3, 1960
Type: TV
Johnny Midnight is an American crime drama that aired for one season in syndicated from January to December 1960. The series stars Edmond O'Brien as the title character.
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Title: M Squad
Character: Fred Keyoto
Released: September 20, 1957
Type: TV
Lt. Frank Ballinger is a no-nonsense plain clothes cop in the elite M Squad Division. The Squad's task is to root out organised crime and corruption in America's Second City, Chicago.
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Title: Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Character: Old Bearded Man
Released: October 2, 1955
Type: TV
A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.
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Title: Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Character: Lum Fong Ho
Released: October 2, 1955
Type: TV
A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.
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Title: Adventures Of The Falcon
Released: June 24, 1954
Type: TV
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Japanese War Bride
Title: Japanese War Bride
Character: Japanese servant
Released: January 29, 1952
Type: Movie
A Korean war vet and his bride face subtle and sometimes extreme racism when they return to his home in rural California.
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Tokyo Joe
Title: Tokyo Joe
Released: October 26, 1949
Type: Movie
An American returns to Tokyo to try to pick up threads of his pre-World War II life there but finds himself squeezed between criminals and the authorities.
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Sundown
Title: Sundown
Character: Kuypens' Shenzi Aide (uncredited)
Released: October 31, 1941
Type: Movie
Englishmen fighting Nazis in Africa discover an exotic mystery woman living among the natives and enlist her aid in overcoming the Germans.
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Adventures of Captain Marvel
Title: Adventures of Captain Marvel
Character: Chan Lai
Released: March 28, 1941
Type: Movie
On a scientific expedition to Siam young Billy Batson is given the ability to change himself into the super-powered Captain Marvel by the wizard Shazam, who tells him his powers will last only as long as the Golden Scorpion idol is threatened. Finding the idol, the scientists realize it could be the most powerful weapon in the world and remove the lenses that energize it, distributing them among themselves so that no one would be able to use the idol by himself. Back in the US, Billy Batson, as Captain Marvel, wages a battle against an evil, hooded figure, the Scorpion, who hopes to accumulate all five lenses, thereby gaining control of the super-powerful weapon
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The Letter
Title: The Letter
Character: Head Boy
Released: November 21, 1940
Type: Movie
After a woman shoots a man to death, a damning letter she wrote raises suspicions.
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The Real Glory
Title: The Real Glory
Character: Alipang
Released: September 29, 1939
Type: Movie
Fort Mysang, southern Philippine Islands, under US rule, 1906. A small group of army officers and native troops resist the fierce and treacherous attacks of the ruthless Alisang and his fanatical followers.
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Torchy Blane in Chinatown
Title: Torchy Blane in Chinatown
Character: Lem Kee (uncredited)
Released: February 2, 1939
Type: Movie
Torchy Blane joins her police-detective fiance to solve a series of murders involving a set of Chinese grave tablets taken and sold to a collector and death-threats written in Chinese characters.
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The Singing Marine
Title: The Singing Marine
Character: Chang
Released: July 3, 1937
Type: Movie
Bob Brent, a young Marine from Arkansas, impresses his comrades with his singing ability, and they pitch in to send him to New York to compete in an amateur contest. Success in the contest, however, sets him up for trouble in romance, in his career, and with the Corps.
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That Man's Here Again
Title: That Man's Here Again
Character: Wong
Released: April 16, 1937
Type: Movie
An elevator operator in a swanky apartment building falls in love with a homeless girl who sneaks in one night looking for a place to keep warm. In order to keep her near him, he wangles a job for her as a maid at the building.
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China Passage
Title: China Passage
Character: Wong (uncredited)
Released: March 12, 1937
Type: Movie
Americans Tommy Baldwin and Joe Dugan are hired to transport a fabulous diamond from Shanghai to San Francisco. They will be paid handsomely on success or killed on failure. The diamond is stolen as they take possession of it.
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History Is Made at Night
Title: History Is Made at Night
Released: March 5, 1937
Type: Movie
An American woman falls in love with a romantic Parisian head waiter who tries to save her from her possessive wealthy ex-husband who wants to keep her under his control.
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Isle of Fury
Title: Isle of Fury
Character: Kim Lee
Released: October 10, 1936
Type: Movie
An island fugitive and his bride make room for a shipwrecked detective.
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The Princess Comes Across
Title: The Princess Comes Across
Character: Kawati
Released: May 22, 1936
Type: Movie
A Swedish princess boards an ocean liner in Europe en route to an acting career in America and finds herself getting inconveniently attached to a bandleader returning home. To complicate matters, a blackmailer on board apparently knows she is not who she claims to be - and he has his sights set on other passengers with secrets of their own. In the meantime an escaped killer has stowed away under someone else's identity, and is killing again to cover his tracks; five international police detectives on board are heading the investigation to find him. When evidence points to the princess and bandleader, they must find the killer themselves - before he finds them.
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Roaming Lady
Title: Roaming Lady
Character: General Fang
Released: May 2, 1936
Type: Movie
Joyce Reid, a wealthy young debutante, stows away on a cargo ship to China, carrying as passengers her dashing aviator sweetheart, Dan Bailey and and her munitions-producing father, E. J. Reid and an assortment of the usual south-seas characters along with some Asians with varying agendas. The cargo included a shipment of bombs and machine guns. She soon finds herself being held hostage and they will free her only if Dan agrees to pilot a bombing plane for some Chinese bandits.
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Klondike Annie
Title: Klondike Annie
Released: February 21, 1936
Type: Movie
A San Francisco singer flees Chinatown on murder charges and poses as a missionary in Alaska.
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Hong Kong Nights
Title: Hong Kong Nights
Character: Wong
Released: December 23, 1935
Type: Movie
Customs agents track a ring of arms smugglers into Hong Kong.
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China Seas
Title: China Seas
Character: Malay Pirate (uncredited)
Released: August 9, 1935
Type: Movie
Captain Alan Gaskell sails the perilous waters between Hong Kong and Singapore with a secret cargo: a fortune in British gold. That's not the only risky cargo he carries; both his fiery mistress and his refined fiancee are aboard!
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Oil for the Lamps of China
Title: Oil for the Lamps of China
Character: Ho
Released: June 8, 1935
Type: Movie
An American oil company representative almost sacrifices his marriage for his career.
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Now and Forever
Title: Now and Forever
Character: Hotel Manager Mr. Ling
Released: August 31, 1934
Type: Movie
Freewheeling wanderer Jerry Day and his beautiful wife Toni are at odds over their lifestyle. Jerry can't accept responsibility, but Toni yearns for a family and a settled life. Then the Days 'rediscover' Jerry's young daughter Pennie, who has been living with his rich deceased wife's family. Pennie appears to be just what Jerry needs to mend his swindling ways and lead a straight life. Then a corruptible influence enters his life.
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Four Frightened People
Title: Four Frightened People
Character: Native Chief
Released: January 26, 1934
Type: Movie
Malaya tropical island romantic love triangle adventure thriller, about a cruise ship where Bubonic plague breaks out. Four people are able to leave the ship in a tiny boat and make it to a desert island, where many adventures ensue and, of course, the two men fight over the beautiful young schoolteacher who is with them.
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Island of Lost Souls
Title: Island of Lost Souls
Character: M`ling
Released: December 24, 1932
Type: Movie
An obsessed scientist conducts profane experiments in evolution, eventually establishing himself as the self-styled demigod to a race of mutated, half-human abominations.
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The Secrets of Wu Sin
Title: The Secrets of Wu Sin
Character: Wu Sin
Released: December 15, 1932
Type: Movie
A murder mystery about the smuggling of illegal Chinese aliens into America through Chinatown.
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War Correspondent
Title: War Correspondent
Character: Fang
Released: July 25, 1932
Type: Movie
In this war drama, a brave reporter tries to remain detached while covering the war in Shanghai. While there, he falls for an ex-streetwalker, but must compete with a mercenary pilot for her love. By the end, the correspondent loses his objectivity after he helps the pilot save the woman from the enemy. The rescue costs the pilot his life.
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Roar of the Dragon
Title: Roar of the Dragon
Character: Messenger on Horseback
Released: July 8, 1932
Type: Movie
A boatload of Westerners is trapped in Manchuria as bandits led by Russian renegade Voronsky ravage the area. Seeking refuge in a fortified inn, the group is led by the boat's Captain Carson, who becomes involved with a woman who "belongs" to Voronsky. Carson must contend with the bandits outside and the conflicting personalities of those trapped inside the inn, as well as dealing with spies among the inn's personnel.
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Radio Patrol
Title: Radio Patrol
Character: Valet (uncredited)
Released: June 2, 1932
Type: Movie
A policeman in need of money is persuaded to take a $1000 bribe to stay away the night a packing house is to be robbed.
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Border Devils
Title: Border Devils
Character: The General
Released: April 3, 1932
Type: Movie
Jim Gray is looking for the gang leader known as the General. When Neil Denham is murdered, Jim assumes his identity. He and his pal Squint Saunders then try to join the gang. But they get captured and Jim is told he can join up only if he kills his friend.
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Prestige
Title: Prestige
Character: Sergeant
Released: December 30, 1931
Type: Movie
A woman joins her fiance at a Malaysian prison camp only to discover he's become an alcoholic.
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Daughter of the Dragon
Title: Daughter of the Dragon
Character: Lao (uncredited)
Released: September 5, 1931
Type: Movie
At her Chinese father's bidding, a woman goes to murder an enemy and meets a Scotland Yard detective.
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East of Borneo
Title: East of Borneo
Character: Hrang the Raftsman
Released: August 1, 1931
Type: Movie
Mrs. Linda Randolph treks through darkened jungles to the land of Maradu to find her missing husband Allan, who'd left her years before when he believed she was in love with another. She finds Allan the drunken court physician to a devious prince-- Whose designs on the pair don't include a happy ending.
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The Criminal Code
Title: The Criminal Code
Character: Convict
Released: January 3, 1931
Type: Movie
After young Robert Graham commits a murder while drunk and defending his girlfriend, he is prosecuted by ambitious Mark Brady and sentenced to 10 years. Six years later, Brady becomes the prison warden and offers the beleaguered Robert a job as his chauffeur. Robert cleans up his act, but, on the eve of his pardon, his cellmate drags him back into the world of violence, and he faces a difficult choice that could return him to prison.
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East is West
Title: East is West
Character: Hop Toy
Released: November 30, 1930
Type: Movie
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East Is West
Title: East Is West
Character: Hop Toy
Released: October 23, 1930
Type: Movie
Ming Toy is on the auction block in China. She is saved by Billy and taken to San Francisco by Lo Sang Kee. To save her from deportation she is sold to Charlie Yong, the Chop Suey King. Billy kidnaps her with plans of marriage.
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The Sea Wolf
Title: The Sea Wolf
Character: Igo - Waiter in Honky Tonk (uncredited)
Released: September 21, 1930
Type: Movie
George, Ruth and Humphrey go for a boat ride with Wolf Larsen.
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The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
Title: The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
Released: May 2, 1930
Type: Movie
The sinister Dr. Fu Manchu returns to destroy the people he holds responsible for the death of his family.
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Welcome Danger
Title: Welcome Danger
Character: Florist Henchman (uncredited)
Released: October 12, 1929
Type: Movie
A gentle botany student has to toughen up to replace his father as chief of police.
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Bulldog Drummond
Title: Bulldog Drummond
Character: Chong
Released: May 2, 1929
Type: Movie
Bulldog Drummond is a British WWI veteran who longs for some excitement after he returns to the humdrum existence of civilian life. He gets what he's looking for when a girl requests his help in freeing her uncle from a nursing home. She believes the home is just a front and that her uncle is really being held captive while the culprits try to extort his fortune from him.
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Chinatown Nights
Title: Chinatown Nights
Character: Woo Chung
Released: March 29, 1929
Type: Movie
Joan Fry, a society woman, falls in love with Chuck Riley, the white-leader of a powerful gang in Chinatown, and he quickly drags her down into the depths with him. But seeing her so much in love with him causes him to realize he isl in love with her, and he determines to lift her up again. "Boston" Charley, the rival gang-leader, has other plans.
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The Woman from Moscow
Title: The Woman from Moscow
Character: Groom
Released: November 3, 1928
Type: Movie
A silent film directed by Ludwig Berger.
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Moran of the Marines
Title: Moran of the Marines
Character: Sun Yat
Released: October 13, 1928
Type: Movie
Adventures of a marine in China.
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Streets of Shanghai
Title: Streets of Shanghai
Character: Chang Ho
Released: December 15, 1927
Type: Movie
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Shanghai Bound
Title: Shanghai Bound
Character: Scarface
Released: October 15, 1927
Type: Movie
Landing at a Chinese port, tough sea captain Bucklin and his passengers are threatened by a marauding war lord, who intends to kill the captain and hold the others hostage as part of his campaign of destruction against all white men.
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Mr. Wu
Title: Mr. Wu
Character: Executioner (uncredited)
Released: March 26, 1927
Type: Movie
When Mandarin Wu's unmarried daughter becomes pregnant by a young Englishman, he seeks vengeance.
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Tell It to the Marines
Title: Tell It to the Marines
Character: Hangchow Leader
Released: December 23, 1926
Type: Movie
U.S. Marine Sergeant O'Hara has his hands full training raw recruits, one of whom, 'Skeets' Burns, is a particular thorn in his side. If Burns's lackadaisical approach to the military were not bad enough, he also makes advances on nurse Nora Dale, whom Sergeant O'Hara secretly loves. Nora is oblivious to O'Hara's feelings and is attracted to the handsome 'Skeet.' But an indiscretion turns her against him, and it takes an expedition to China and a battle with a warlord's bandit brigade to sort things out among the nurse and her two Marines.
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Old Ironsides
Title: Old Ironsides
Character: Pirate (uncredited)
Released: December 6, 1926
Type: Movie
An embellished account of the 1803 expedition by famed frigate U.S.S. Constitution--a.k.a. "Old Ironsides"--against the Barbary pirates then terrorizing American shipping, focusing on the crew and passengers of a fictional merchant ship, The Esther, who fall afoul of the same pirates and thus become involved with the Constitution's mission.