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Alvin Ing

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Alvin Ing
Born(1932-05-26)May 26, 1932
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
DiedJuly 31, 2021(2021-07-31) (aged 89)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Singer, actor

Alvin Y. F. Ing[1] (May 26, 1932 – July 31, 2021) was an American singer and actor. His career included movies, television, musical theatre, and cabaret acts.

Early life, family and education

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Ing was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.[1] He studied music at the University of Hawaii[2] and at Columbia University in New York City.[2] Ing served in the United States Army.[3]

Career

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Ing was well associated with the musical Flower Drum Song by Rodgers and Hammerstein. He played the role of Wang Ta in numerous tours and stock productions, performing in the piece more than any other actor. Ing appeared in the musical Chu Chem in 1966, but the production closed before it reached Broadway. Prior to his Broadway career, Ing appeared in two Off-Broadway shows. Ing made his Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures in 1976. Ing returned to Broadway in 2004 for a revival of the same show, playing one of his original parts, the Shogun's Mother. Due to his connection to Flower Drum Song, Ing was also a part of the 2002 Broadway revision, with additions by David Henry Hwang. Ing performed on tours of Two Gentlemen of Verona, City of Angels, and the play adaptation of The World of Suzie Wong, as well as with regional companies such as East West Players, where he again played the Shogun's Mother in Pacific Overtures.[4] His performance in the original production of Pacific Overtures was also recorded and broadcast on Japanese television. In 1996, Ing appeared at the Singapore Repertory Theatre in the world premiere of the Dick Lee musical Sing to the Dawn, based upon the Minfong Ho book. Fellow cast members included Lee, June Angela, and Sala Iwamatsu.[5] In October 2011, Ing took part in workshops and backers auditions for the musical adaptation of Honeymoon in Vegas,[6] a piece which eventually reached Broadway in 2015.

Besides his musical theatre career, Ing performed on television and in film. Ing had recurring roles on the soap operas The Doctors and Falcon Crest, but also did numerous guest roles in shows such as Benson, How the West Was Won, Charlie's Angels, Quincy, M.E., All-American Girl, Dallas, Dynasty, Fantasy Island, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series). Movie credits include The Final Countdown, Stir Crazy, Troop Beverly Hills, Smilla's Sense of Snow, and in his largest movie role, Mr. Lee, a primary antagonist opposite Mark Wahlberg in The Gambler.

Ing's singing career included cabarets, benefit concerts, and a CD, Swing with Ing, which he recorded with Betty Loo Taylor.[7] Collaborating with Flower Drum Song revival cast member and Okinawan-born Yuka Takara, Ing performed numerous singing engagements as part of a yearly Broadway Night in Okinawa.[8] Ing also participated in The X Factor.[9] In December 2018, Ing and dozens of other Asian American performers celebrated the 60th anniversary of Flower Drum Song by performing the opening number at the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit, where over $6 million was raised.[10]

Ing was active with the Theater for Asian American Performing Artists during the 1970s. The organization performed skits and revues, as well as protesting stereotypes as a way to advocate for Asian American performing opportunities.[11] Ing was also an interview subject for a documentary about Flower Drum Song castmate Jack Soo and the struggles of Asian American performers due to yellowface and stereotyping.

Ing's final performance was an open mic rendition of "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" as a way to protest an increase in violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

Death

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Ing died from complications of COVID-19 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, on July 31, 2021.[12][2] His representation, Shushu Entertainment, disclosed that the fully-vaccinated Ing was first diagnosed with pneumonia in mid-July and then confirmed to have COVID-19 a few days later. After two weeks of battling the illness, he died from cardiac arrest. He was 89 years old.[13][14][15]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1971 Made for Each Other
1980 The Final Countdown Lt. Kajima
1980 Stir Crazy Korean Doctor
1985 Moving Violations Construction Foreman
1989 Troop Beverly Hills Ho
1997 Smilla's Sense of Snow Licht
2000 Brother Doctor
2020 Love, Older... Hiroshi & Kiyoko Hiroshi short film
2014 The Gambler Mister Lee
2020 Just Say When Old Man short film
2021 Year of the Detectives Mr. Huang Final film role

References

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  1. ^ a b "Alvin Y. F. Ing, Star of Pacific Overtures and Its Revival, Dies at 89". Playbill Obituaries. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  2. ^ a b c "Broadway Pioneer Alvin Ing Passes Away Aged 89". Nerd Stash. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  3. ^ a b "These two Hawaii natives were very different. COVID claimed them both". 7 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Pacific Overtures - 32nd Season". eastwestplayers.org. 1998-03-12. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  5. ^ "Sing to the Dawn". srt.com.sg. Singapore Repertory Theatre.
  6. ^ Sneider, Jeff (17 November 2011). "Gambling on Broadway". Variety.com. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "Island Mele: Jazz album fine but strays from genre". HonoluluPulse.com. 2010-11-12. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  8. ^ "Yuka Takara brings Broadway Night to Okinawa". japanupdate.com. December 2012.
  9. ^ "Yes, I Made It! Alvin Ing - THE X FACTOR USA 2013". YouTube. 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  10. ^ "Red Bucket Follies Raises Record-Breaking $6,113,301 for BC/EFA". TheaterMania.com.
  11. ^ Lee, Esther Kim (12 October 2006). A History of Asian American Theatre. Cambridge University Press. p. 39. ISBN 9780521850513. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  12. ^ "Obituary: Alvin Ing Dies at 89". Broadway World. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  13. ^ "Broadway star Alvin Ing dies aged 89 due to Covid-19 complications". 4 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Pioneering Asian-American Broadway Star Alvin Ing Died of Breakthrough Covid-19, Reps Say – Update". 3 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Alvin Ing, Actor in 'Flower Drum Song' and 'Pacific Overtures' on Broadway, Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. 4 August 2021.
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