Soon-Tek Oh Passes On

Korean actor Soon--Tek Oh, who appeared in several films and TV shows, and provided the voice of Fa Zhou in Mulan (1998), died on April 4 2018 at the age of 85.

Soon-Tek Oh was born on June 29 1932 in Mokpo, Japanese Korea (now South Korea). He graduated with a degree in political science from Yonsei University in Seoul. After immigrating to the United States he won a scholarship to the Neighbourhood Playhouse in the United States and also attended the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1965 he founded East West Players in Los Angeles, one of the first Asian American theatre groups in the United States.

Soon-Tek Oh made his television debut in an episode of I Spy in 1965. In the Sixties he guest starred on such shows as Mister Roberts, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, The Invaders, The Wild Wild West, It Takes a Thief, Death Valley Days, and Dan August. He made his film debut in Murderer's Row in 1966. He appeared in a bit part in The President's Analyst in 1967.

In the Seventies Mr. Oh guest starred on such shows as Night Gallery, Ironside, Search, The Magician, Kung Fu, M*A*S*H, Logan's Run, Baa Baa Black Sheep, How the West Was Won, and Hawaii Five-O. He had a brief, recurring role on Charlie's Angels. He appeared in such movies as One More Train to Rob (1971), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), Good Guys Wear Black (1974), and The Final Countdown (1980).

In the Eighties Soon-Tek Oh guest starred on such shows as Charlie's Angels, Trapper John M.D., M*A*S*H, Quincy M.E., M*A*SH, The Greatest American Hero, Hart to Hart, Airwolf, Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, Magnum P.I., The A-Team, MacGyver, Simon & Simon, Tour of Duty, and Hunter. He appeared in the mini-series East of Eden and Marco Polo. He appeared in such films as Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985), Steele Justice (1987), Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987), and Collision Course (1989).

In the Nineties Soon-Tek Oh guest starred on such shows as Zorro; Highlander; Murder, She Wrote; Babylon 5; Kung Fu: The Legend Continues; Malcolm & Eddie; and Stargate SG-1. He was a guest voice on such animated shows as The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest and King of the Hill. He appeared in such films as A Home of Our Own (1993), Red Sun Rising (1994), S.F.W. (1994), and Beverly Hills Ninja (1997). He provided the voice of Fa Zhou in the animated film Mulan (1998). In the Naughts Mr. Oh guest starred on the TV shows The District and Touched by an Angel. He appeared in the films True Blue (2001), Last Mountain (2005), and Gang-jeok (2006).

Soon-Tek Oh was an extremely talented actor. In the course of his career he played everything from Japanese soldiers during World War II to police detectives to surgeons. He may be most familiar today in the role of Mulan's father, Fa Zhou. Mr. Oh was always convincing in any role he played.