Miyoshi Umeki

Miyoshi Umeki (Japanese梅 木 美 代 志, Miyoshi Umeki, born April 3, 1929 in Otaru, Hokkaidō, † August 29 2007 in Licking, Missouri) was a Japanese actress and singer.

Before Miyoshi Umeki 1955 moved to the United States, she worked as a nightclub singer and had already celebrated as Nancy Umeki some success. In 1957 she was the first Asian woman an Oscar for best supporting actress in her Hollywood debut Sayonara. 1958 Umeki was nominated for her starring role in the Broadway premiere of the musical Flower Drum Song for a Tony Award. She turned after Sayonara only four other feature films, including the film version of Flower Drum Song, but was regularly seen on stage and on television until the mid 1970s.

In addition to her acting career took Umeki in the later 1950s on several albums and singles for the label Mercury Records. She was married to director Randall Hood. Died in 2007 Miyoshi Umeki from the effects of cancer.