Nancy Kwan, a Hong Kong-born American actor, made a significant impact in Hollywood as one of the first Asian actors to gain recognition. Her breakthrough came with her debut film, ‘The World of Suzie Wong,’ where she portrayed the titular character and earned a ‘Golden Globe Award.’ With a background in ballet and education from the ‘Royal Ballet School’ in London, Kwan caught the attention of Hollywood producer Ray Stark, who offered her a 7-year contract and provided acting lessons. Her success in her first film led to numerous roles in American, European, and Eurasian films. After a decade in Hong Kong, where she established her production company, Kwan returned to Hollywood in 1979 and continued her work in films, TV, and theater productions. Additionally, she is a spokesperson for the ‘Asian-American Voters Coalition’ and is married to producer-director Norbert Meisel.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Nancy Kwan Ka-shen
- Age: 84 Years, 84 Year Old Females
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Norbert Meisel, David Giler (m. 1970–1972), Peter Pock (m. 1962–1968)
- Father: Kwan Wing Hong
- Mother: Marquita Scott
- Born Country: Hong Kong
- Height: 5’3″ (160 cm), 5’3″ Females
- Ancestry: Hong Kong American
- Occupations: Actresses, American Women
Childhood & Early Life
Nancy Kwan was born Ka Shen Kwan on May 19, 1939, in Hong Kong. Her parents were Marquita Scott, an English–Scottish model, and Kwan Wing Hong, a Cambridge-educated Chinese architect. She has an older brother and five younger half-siblings. Her parents divorced when she was 2 years old. During World War II, her father fled Hong Kong with his two children in wicker baskets carried by servants. They stayed in Western China for 5 years before returning after the war. Growing up in an affluent environment, Kwan studied at the Maryknoll Convent School and developed an interest in sports, particularly T’ai Chi and horseback riding. At the age of 12, she was enrolled at the Kingsmoor School in England, where she learned various dance forms at a ballet school in Manchester. After graduating, she joined the Royal Ballet School in London and studied and performed ballet for 4 years, earning a ballet teaching certificate.
Career
While on holiday in Hong Kong, Kwan was discovered by Hollywood producer Ray Stark, who was looking for an Asian/Chinese actor for the film adaptation of the Broadway play “The World of Suzie Wong.” Despite having no prior acting experience, Kwan was called for a screen test due to her Eurasian features and the spark Stark saw in her. Although the test did not go well, she was still considered for the role. Kwan was eventually offered a 7-year contract by Stark’s Seven Arts Productions and was sent to the US to attend a Hollywood acting school. Initially, another actor, France Nuyen, who had successfully portrayed the same role on stage, was being considered for the movie. Kwan had a small role in the stage production and was an understudy for the main role. However, Paramount Studios chose Nuyen for the film role. Disappointed, Kwan continued with stage shows. But when Nuyen couldn’t be part of the film due to personal issues, Kwan received her first major role in “The World of Suzie Wong,” which premiered in 1960 and was a huge success. She won the Golden Globe award for Most Promising Newcomer-Female in 1961. Kwan went on to appear in several American, European, and Eurasian films, including “Flower Drum Song” (1961), “The Main Attraction” (1962), “Tamahine” (1963), “Fate Is the Hunter” (1964), “Honeymoon Hotel” (1964), “Drop Dead Darling” (1964), “The Wild Affair” (1965), and “Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN” (1966). She also worked with Bruce Lee in “The Wrecking Crew” (1969) and appeared in the TV series “Hawaii Five-O.” In 1970, Kwan left Hollywood to be with her critically ill father and stayed in Hong Kong for a decade. During this time, she formed her own company, Nancy Kwan Films, and appeared in various films and TV shows. She returned to Hollywood in 1979 and continued to act in indie films and TV shows. Kwan also worked as a lead in stage productions and provided voice for several audiobooks. She produced her own film, “Loose Woman with No Face” (1993), and appeared in infomercials for Oriental Pearl Cream.
Personal Life
Kwan has been married three times. She first married ski instructor Peter Pock in 1962, with whom she had a son named Bernie. They divorced in 1968. In 1970, she married scriptwriter David Giler, but the marriage ended in 1972. Kwan then married Hollywood producer-director Norbert Meisel in 1976. Sadly, her son Bernie passed away from AIDS in 1996 at the age of 33. Kwan is also involved in charity work for homeless children and is a spokesperson for the Asian-American Voters Coalition. In the 1980s, she invested in a “dim sum” restaurant named Joss.