Nobu McCarthy
Encyclopedia
Nobu McCarthy was a Japanese
Canadian actress, stage director, and fashion model.
, Ontario
, the daughter of Yuki (née
Kano) and Masaji Atsumi, a Japanese fashion designer and diplomatic attache stationed in Canada at the time. She was raised in Japan, where she studied ballet
. A modeling career eventually led to a beauty pageant where she won the title of "Miss Tokyo". She married Army Sgt David McCarthy in 1955 and moved to the United States of America.
, she was discovered by talent agent
Fred Ishimoto, which led to her film debut in The Geisha Boy
(1958
) starring Jerry Lewis
. She starred with Lloyd Bridges
in a 1959 Sea Hunt
television episode as an Hawaiian woman fighting to protect pearl-beds from poachers. For the next decade, McCarthy continued acting, appearing in smaller roles in a number of movies as well as guest spots on television, including an appearance on The Bing Crosby Show
on ABC
in the 1964-1965 season. She also had two children, but divorced McCarthy in 1970.
In 1971, McCarthy joined East West Players
, an Asian American theatre
group in Los Angeles. In 1976, she starred in the television movie
, Farewell to Manzanar
, based on the novel of the same title. That year she also married attorney William J. Cuthbert, though she kept McCarthy as her stage name
. In 1986
, she had a supporting role opposite her good friend Pat Morita
, in the popular film The Karate Kid, Part II
. Her starring role in the indie feature
The Wash, opposite Mako
, earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination in 1989. That same year she replaced Mako as artistic director
of East West Players, a position she held until 1993. During this time, McCarthy also taught theatre at California State University, Los Angeles
and UCLA. In 1996, East West Players presented McCarthy with a lifetime achievement award.
McCarthy also did the voice-overs at the beginning and end of Picture Bride
. Her death in 2002 (from an aortic aneurysm
) came unexpectedly, at age 67. She was on location in Brazil
, filming Gaijin 2 - Ama-me Como Sou, starring Tamlyn Tomita
, who had met McCarthy while filming her first movie, The Karate Kid, Part II.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
Canadian actress, stage director, and fashion model.
Early life
McCarthy was born Nobu Atsumi in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the daughter of Yuki (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Kano) and Masaji Atsumi, a Japanese fashion designer and diplomatic attache stationed in Canada at the time. She was raised in Japan, where she studied ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
. A modeling career eventually led to a beauty pageant where she won the title of "Miss Tokyo". She married Army Sgt David McCarthy in 1955 and moved to the United States of America.
Career
While shopping in the Little Tokyo district in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, she was discovered by talent agent
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
Fred Ishimoto, which led to her film debut in The Geisha Boy
The Geisha Boy
The Geisha Boy is a 1958 American comedy film starring Jerry Lewis. Filmed from June 16 to August 7, 1958, it was released on December 23, 1958 by Paramount Pictures. This film marked the film debut of Suzanne Pleshette.-Plot:...
(1958
1958 in film
The year 1958 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 16- "In the Money" by William Beaudine is released on this date. It would be the last installment of The Bowery Boys series which began back in 1946....
) starring Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
. She starred with Lloyd Bridges
Lloyd Bridges
Lloyd Vernet Bridges, Jr. was an American actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. Bridges is best known for his role of Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt, the most-popular syndicated American TV series in 1958...
in a 1959 Sea Hunt
Sea Hunt
Sea Hunt was an American adventure television series that was aired in syndication by Ziv Television Programs from 1958 to 1961 and was popular in syndication for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced...
television episode as an Hawaiian woman fighting to protect pearl-beds from poachers. For the next decade, McCarthy continued acting, appearing in smaller roles in a number of movies as well as guest spots on television, including an appearance on The Bing Crosby Show
The Bing Crosby Show
The Bing Crosby Show is a 28-episode situation comedy television program starring crooner, film star, iconic phenomenon, and businessman Bing Crosby and actress Beverly Garland as a middle-aged couple, Bing and Ellie Collins, rearing two teenaged daughters during the early 1960s...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in the 1964-1965 season. She also had two children, but divorced McCarthy in 1970.
In 1971, McCarthy joined East West Players
East West Players
East West Players is an Asian American theatre organization in Los Angeles, founded in 1965. As one of the nation's first Asian American theatre organizations, East West Players today continues to produce works and educational programs that give voice to the Asian Pacific American...
, an Asian American theatre
Asian American theatre
Asian American theater is theater written, directed or acted by Asian Americans.- Background :Asian American theater emerged in the 1960s and the 1970s with the foundation of four theatre companies: East West Players in Los Angeles, Asian American Theatre Workshop in San Francisco, Theatrical...
group in Los Angeles. In 1976, she starred in the television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
, Farewell to Manzanar
Farewell to Manzanar
Farewell to Manzanar is a memoir published in 1973 by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston. It was adapted in the form of a television movie in 1976 starring Yuki Shimoda, Nobu McCarthy, Pat Morita, and Mako....
, based on the novel of the same title. That year she also married attorney William J. Cuthbert, though she kept McCarthy as her stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
. In 1986
1986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
, she had a supporting role opposite her good friend Pat Morita
Pat Morita
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was an American actor of Japanese descent who was well-known for playing the roles of Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in the The Karate Kid movie series, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1984.-Early life:Pat...
, in the popular film The Karate Kid, Part II
The Karate Kid, Part II
The Karate Kid, Part II is a 1986 American martial arts film and is a sequel to 1984's The Karate Kid. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi, respectively. The original music score was composed by Bill Conti...
. Her starring role in the indie feature
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
The Wash, opposite Mako
Mako (actor)
, born , was an Oscar- and Tony-nominated Japanese actor. Many of his acting roles credited him simply as Mako, omitting his surname. -Early life:...
, earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination in 1989. That same year she replaced Mako as artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of East West Players, a position she held until 1993. During this time, McCarthy also taught theatre at California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
and UCLA. In 1996, East West Players presented McCarthy with a lifetime achievement award.
McCarthy also did the voice-overs at the beginning and end of Picture Bride
Picture Bride (film)
Picture Bride is a 1995 feature-length independent film directed by Kayo Hatta from a screenplay she co-wrote with Mari Hatta, and co-produced by Diane Mei Lin Mark and Lisa Onodera. It follows Riyo, who arrives in Hawaii as a "picture bride" for a man she has never met before. The story is based...
. Her death in 2002 (from an aortic aneurysm
Aortic aneurysm
An aortic aneurysm is a general term for any swelling of the aorta to greater than 1.5 times normal, usually representing an underlying weakness in the wall of the aorta at that location...
) came unexpectedly, at age 67. She was on location in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, filming Gaijin 2 - Ama-me Como Sou, starring Tamlyn Tomita
Tamlyn Tomita
Tamlyn Naomi Tomita is an actress, who has appeared in many Hollywood films and television series.-Early life:Tomita was born in Okinawa, the daughter of Shiro and Asako Tomita. Her father then later became a Los Angeles Police Officer, rising to the rank of sergeant. He succumbed to cancer in...
, who had met McCarthy while filming her first movie, The Karate Kid, Part II.