Miyoshi Umeki: ‘Sayonara’ Celebrity Was East Far eastern Oscar-Profitable Artist
Miyoshi Umeki, the first Eastern Far-eastern singer so you can victory an Academy Prize, passed away on the Aug. 28 into the Licking, Missouri. She are 78.
Umeki claimed a best Support Actress Oscar to own their incredibly nuanced show due to the fact an innocent Japanese maiden in love with Western serviceman Yellow Buttons regarding the 1957 melodrama Sayonara
Created on may 8, 1929, in Otaru, to your northern Japanese area from Hokkaido, Umeki first started their particular tell you company community singing with Western G.We. rings in the clubs within the Japan. As per the IMDb, she plus had a job about 1953 flick Younger Jazz Child.
Immediately following to make several information to possess RCA The japanese – just like the Nancy Umeki – a knack scout certain their own to go so you're able to New york city during the 1955. In per year, she had an agreement that have Mercury Records and you may are looking regularly toward tv diversity tell you Arthur Godfrey with his Household members. You to definitely, therefore, lead to their part inside the Sayonara.
Into the Joshua Logan's swollen type of James Michener's book, Umeki played the newest unsuspecting Katsumi, whoever forbidden relationship that have Red-colored Buttons' American serviceman results in catastrophe. Starring age one of the greatest attacks of your own later 1950s, while some critics keeps complained so it feels too stilted.
Academy people seem to felt otherwise, due to the fact Sayonara received a total of 10 Oscar nominations – plus finest movie, ideal movie director, and best actor (Brando) – successful five ones. Both Umeki and you can Keys came out victorious regarding support classes.
