Date of Birth: June 26, 1955
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Biography
Gedde Watanabe is an American actor and comedian best known for his role as Long Duk Dong in the 1984 John Hughes film “Sixteen Candles.” Born and raised in Ogden, Utah, Watanabe showed an early interest in performing arts, participating in school plays and local theater. He moved to San Francisco to study at the American Conservatory Theater before making his way to New York City to pursue a career in acting. Watanabe’s portrayal of Long Duk Dong became a cultural touchstone, albeit a controversial one, due to its stereotypical depiction of an Asian exchange student. Despite this, the role catapulted him into the spotlight and led to numerous other acting opportunities. He went on to appear in films such as “Gung Ho” (1986), “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” (1990), and “Mulan” (1998), where he voiced the character Ling. In addition to his film work, Watanabe has had a successful career on television, with recurring roles in series like “ER” and guest spots on shows such as “Seinfeld,” “The Simpsons,” and “Glee.” His versatility as an actor has allowed him to navigate both comedic and dramatic roles with ease. Watanabe continues to work in the entertainment industry, contributing his talents to both screen and stage productions.
5 Interesting Facts about Gedde Watanabe
1. Gedde Watanabe’s real first name is Gary; “Gedde” is a nickname he adopted professionally.
2. He is of Japanese descent and is fluent in both English and Japanese.
3. Watanabe provided the voice for Ling in Disney’s animated film “Mulan” and its sequel.
4. He has appeared in over 100 commercials throughout his career.
5. Watanabe is an accomplished stage actor, having performed in productions on Broadway and Off-Broadway.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gedde Watanabe
1. “I never thought of myself as a comedian. I just liked acting.”
2. “Playing Long Duk Dong was a double-edged sword. It gave me career opportunities, but it also put me in a box.”
3. “The most rewarding part of acting is when you can make people laugh and cry.”
4. “I love the energy of live theater. There’s nothing quite like it.”
5. “Hollywood has come a long way, but there’s still work to be done in terms of representation.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth Gedde Watanabe has achieved is approximately $2 million.
Children
There is no publicly available information about Gedde Watanabe having children.
Relevant Links
1. [IMDb – Gedde Watanabe](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913528/
2. [Wikipedia – Gedde Watanabe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gedde_Watanabe
3. [Rotten Tomatoes – Gedde Watanabe](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/gedde_watanabe
4. [The New York Times – Gedde Watanabe](https://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/gedde-watanabe
5. [Hollywood Reporter – Gedde Watanabe](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/topic/gedde-watanabe
