Miyoshi Umeki

Early Life

Miyoshi Umeki was born on May 8, 1929, in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, as the youngest of nine children in a family where her father owned an iron factory. After World War II, she began her career as a nightclub singer in Japan, adopting the stage name Nancy Umeki. Influenced by traditional kabuki theater and American pop music, she showcased her talent on various platforms, including a memorable impression of singer Billy Eckstine on The Merv Griffin Show.

Career

Umeki's career took a significant turn when she moved to the United States in 1955. She gained fame for her Oscar-winning role as Katsumi in the film "Sayonara" (1957), becoming the first East Asia-born woman to win an Academy Award for acting. Her Broadway performance as Mei Li in "Flower Drum Song" further solidified her status, earning her a Tony Award nomination. Throughout her career, she recorded for RCA Victor Japan and later for Mercury Records, producing several singles and albums that featured American jazz standards sung in both Japanese and English. Umeki was also a regular on the television series "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," where she played Mrs. Livingston.

Personal Life and Legacy

Umeki's personal life included two marriages; her first to television director Frederick Winfield "Wynn" Opie in 1958 ended in divorce in 1967, and they had one son, Michael. She later married Randall Firevod Hood in 1968, who adopted her son. After her husband's death in 1976, Umeki moved to Licking, Missouri, to be closer to her family. Known as Miyoshi Hood in her later years, she passed away on August 28, 2007, from cancer. Her legacy as a pioneering Asian actress and singer continues to inspire many in the entertainment industry.