Chao Li Chi

Capable Chinese-American actor Chao Li Chi was born in Shanxi Province, China to a prominent local family. When he was 12 years old, he and his family fled China and emigrated to New York City as refugees from the Second Sino-Japanese War. Academically-gifted and well-versed in the ancient arts of Taoism and Wutang martial arts, Chi became an accomplished dancer who incorporated his physical disciplines into modern dance techniques, touring with avant-garde filmmaker and choreographer Maya Deren. He studied acting through Pearl S. Buck's 'East-and-West Association', and made his debut in Deren's short film Meditation on Violence (1949). Settling in Los Angeles, Chi found regular work as a character actor in film and television. He played the loyal majordomo Chao-Li in all 9 seasons of the primetime soap opera Falcon Crest (1981), and appeared in such movies as Big Trouble in Little China (1986), The Joy Luck Club (1993), The Nutty Professor (1996), Blood Work (2002), and The Prestige (2006). All the while, he continued to practice and teach philosophy and martial arts, co-founding the Taoist Institute in North Hollywood and lead a Saturday morning t'ai chi class every week, for 30 years straight. He died on October 16, 2010 in Granada Hills, California, USA.