Herbert
(Burt) Kwouk was born of Chinese descent in Manchester, England on July
18 1930. Burt Kwouk was
brought-up in Shanghai and remained there until the age of about 17
years. To many people, Burt is Cato,
Inspector Clouseau's
'man-servant' in the Pink Panther series of films.
One
of Burt's earliest television appearances is as Chang in the ABC Weekend Television
series McCreary Moves in, also
known
as Saturday Serial: McCreary Moves
in. The following year in
1958, Burt appeared in the film The
Inn of the Sixth Happiness.
The
1960s saw Burt Kwouk starring in
three James
Bond films. In
1964 he plays an Eastern counterpart of
Bond in Goldfinger. In Casino Royale, the 1967 spoof Bond film, he plays a general. In
the 1967 Bond film You Only Live Twice Burt is a Japanese operative for Blofeld.
In
1968 Burt stars opposite Sir Laurence
Olivier and Anthony Quinn in The Shoes of the Fisherman. Also in
the
1960s burt stars in many of the series of the decade, these include: Dangerman, The Saint, The Avengers, The Sentimental Agent, The Champions and many more.
Burt Kwouk's prolific career continues
into the 1970s with Warship
(1977), The Water Margin (as
narrator) and It Ain't Half Hot
Mum. The 1980s sees Burt in series and serials such as Shoestring, Minder, Tenko and Dr Who.
The 1990s and into the 21st century sees
Burt still working as hard as ever! The House of Elliot (1991), Lovejoy
(1993), The Harry Hill Show
(1997-2000), Last of the Summer Wine
(2002-2010)
and Spirit Warriors from
2009.
In
addition to hist vast body of work in
television, Burt has had a successful parallel career in some of the
major films of the second half of the 20th century and into the
21st. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE)
in the New
Year Honours 2011, for his services to drama. See Burt with his
medal here.
