Burt Kwouk: Movies & Box Office

Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk, also known as Burt Kwouk, was a British actor born on July 18, 1930, in Warrington, Lancashire, England. He is most well-known for his role as Cato in the Pink Panther films series. In addition to his roles in films, Kwouk made appearances in many television programmes, including a portrayal of Imperial Japanese Army Major Yamauchi in the British drama series Tenko and as Entwistle in Last of the Summer Wine. Kwouk was born to Chinese parents who were in Europe for a business trip. His upbringing took place in Shanghai. His family was affluent, with his father being a textile tycoon descended from a Tang dynasty general. He started his acting career in 1957 and remained active until 2012.

Throughout his career, Kwouk made his film debut in Windom's Way (1957) and one of his earliest film roles was in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) where he played the role of a leader of a prison revolt. He rose to fame by playing Cato Fong, Inspector Clouseau's manservant, in the Pink Panther series. He appeared in three James Bond films as well. Kwouk had a love for acting which brought him to several TV series and films requiring an Oriental character. He became a familiar face across the United Kingdom and even appeared as himself in the Harry Hill Show. From 2002 to 2010, he was a regular character in the long-running series Last of the Summer Wine. Kwouk was also a voice actor for radio dramas, video games, and television commercials. His contribution to the field of drama earned him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours.