Sammee Tong (April 21, 1901 — October 27, 1964) was an America film and television character actor. One of Tong's more notable roles was that of Peter Tong on the sitcom Bachelor Father, which aired on all three national networks from 1957 to 1962.In October 1964, Tong died of a barbiturate overdose at the age of 63. At the time of his death, he was appearing in a supporting role on the ABC sitcom, Mickey, starring Mickey Rooney.
In his 1991 autobiography, "Life Is Too Short", Mickey Rooney wrote that Tong was devastated by the cancellation of the TV show Mickey (1964) in which he was featured. According to Rooney, Tong was a compulsive gambler and owed money to the Mafia. Facing the fact that he now couldn't pay off his debts, Tong committed suicide, leaving a note stating, "I have taken my own life. No one is to blame".
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Buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
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Changed the spelling of his name to "Sammee" because he said it "looked better in print."[.
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Performed in Chinese nightclubs in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco where he sang and did comedy routines.
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Raised and educated in California and Honolulu.
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A close friend of Mickey Rooney, Tong was Rooney's co-star on the TV series Mickey (1964) at the time of his death. A heavy gambler, and deeply in debt because of it, Tong had no way of repaying his debts once "Mickey" was canceled midway through the 1964-1965 TV season, and committed suicide by drug overdose rather than face the consequences.
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Interred at Forest Lawn (Glendale), Glendale, California, USA, in the Court of Freedom.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Left Hand of God
1955
Servant (uncredited)
You Are There
1953-1954
TV Series
Woman on the Run
1950
Witness to Suzie's Fall (uncredited)
Out of This World
1945
Chinese Radio Announcer (uncredited)
God Is My Co-Pilot
1945
Chinese Civilian (uncredited)
China
1943
Aide to Japanese General (uncredited)
Only Angels Have Wings
1939
Sam the Cook (uncredited)
Daughter of Shanghai
1937
Chinese Alien in Airplane (uncredited)
West of Shanghai
1937
Messenger (uncredited)
Youth on Parole
1937
Chinese Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Think Fast, Mr. Moto
1937
Cheela - Marloff's Houseboy (uncredited)
The Good Earth
1937
Chinese Man (uncredited)
Stowaway
1936
Bing Crosby Imitator (uncredited)
Happy Go Lucky
1936
Driver (uncredited)
The Accusing Finger
1936
Chinese Man (uncredited)
Love Before Breakfast
1936
Steward (uncredited)
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
1935
Waiter (uncredited)
The Captain Hates the Sea
1934
Sin Kee (uncredited)
Fluffy
1965
Cook
Mickey
1964-1965
TV Series
Sammy Ling
For Those Who Think Young
1964
Clyde
The Jack Benny Program
1964
TV Series
Maitre d' of Lotus Blosom Inn
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
1963
Chinese Laundryman
Bachelor Father
1957-1962
TV Series
Peter Tong
Hawaiian Eye
1960
TV Series
Mr. Nishimaka
Bonanza
1959
TV Series
Hop Ling
Battle Flame
1959
Chinese Prisoner (uncredited)
The Thin Man
1959
TV Series
Cook
The Californians
1959
TV Series
Quon Wei
Suicide Battalion
1958
Papa Lily (as Sammy Tong)
Stopover Tokyo
1957
Diplomat (uncredited)
Hell Bound
1957
Murdered Seaman (uncredited)
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
1957
Sam, Chinese Waiter (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces
1957
Chinese Extra (uncredited)
General Electric Theater
1957
TV Series
Peter Tong
The Midnight Story
1957
Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited)
The Iron Sheriff
1957
Charley Key - Laundry Owner (uncredited)
Hey, Jeannie!
1956
TV Series
Lee
Further Adventures of Spin and Marty
1956
TV Series
Sam
Flight to Hong Kong
1956
Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
Matinee Theatre
1956
TV Series
Nurseryman
My Friend Flicka
1956
TV Series
Wong
Telephone Time
1956
TV Series
John
Cavalcade of America
1956
TV Series
Death Valley Days
1956
TV Series
Thomas Bottle
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
1956
Dr. Yamane (voice, uncredited)
The Man Called X
1956
TV Series
Sky King
1956
TV Series
Ipp
Judge Roy Bean
1956
TV Series
Ah Sid
Spin and Marty: The Movie
1955
George
The Adventures of Spin and Marty
1955
TV Series
George, the cook
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Jack Benny Program
1964
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Bachelor Father
TV Series 1 episode, 1960 performer - 1 episode, 1958
Stowaway
1936
performer: "Please" 1932 - uncredited
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Here's Hollywood
1961
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
Bachelor Father (1957-1962) as Peter Tong
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) as Chinese Laundryman
$950,000
