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{{short description|Nisei Japanese American stage, film and TV actor.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox actor
{{Infobox actor
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|birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|11|1}}<ref name="BirthRef"/>
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|11|1}}<ref name="BirthRef"/>
|birth_place = [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], California, US<ref name="BirthRef"/>
|birth_place = [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], California, US<ref name="BirthRef"/>
⚫
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|12|9|1941|11|1}}<ref name="LAT Obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rodney-kageyama-obituary-20181213-story.html|title=Rodney Kageyama, actor and beloved Little Tokyo icon, dies at 77|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Alejandra|last=Reyes-Velarde|date=December 13, 2018|access-date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|12|9|1941|11|1}}
| death_place =
| death_place =
| education =
| education =
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| resting_place =
| resting_place =
|occupation = Actor
|occupation = Actor
|years_active = 1965–2018
⚫
|years_active = 1965–2018<ref "LAT Obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rodney-kageyama-obituary-20181213-story.html|title=Rodney Kageyama, actor and beloved Little Tokyo icon, dies at 77|first=Alejandra|last=Reyes-Velarde|date=|website=latimes.com|accessdate=December 14, 2018}}</ref>
|spouse =
|spouse = Ken White<ref name="LAT Obit"/>
|children =
|children =
|awards =
|awards =
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}}
}}


'''Rodney Masao Kageyama''' (November 1, 1941 – December 9, 2018) was an American stage, film and TV actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rodney-kageyama-dead-gung-ho-actor-asian-american-activist-was-77-1169549|title=Rodney Kageyama, 'Gung Ho' Actor and Asian-American Activist, Dies at 77|author= Mike Barnes|date=December 14, 2018|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=December 14, 2018}}</ref> He was a [[Nisei|Nisei Japanese American]] (second-generation) and besides acting in Asian American theater groups, he was also a director and designer. With his roles in the “Gung Ho” film and television series and the “Karate Kid” franchise, he was a trailblazer for Asian Americans in Hollywood.<ref name="LAT Obit"/>
'''Rodney Kageyama''' (born '''Rodney Masao Kageyama''' on November 1, 1941) is an American stage, film and TV actor. He is a [[Nisei|Nisei Japanese American]] (second-generation).

In 2007, Kageyama was diagnosed with [[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma]]. He underwent [[chemotherapy]] and as of spring 2008 was declared cancer-free.


==Career==
==Career==
===Theatre===
===Theatre===
Kageyama began his career in San Francisco in 1965 as one of the original members of the [[Asian American Theater Company]]. While in San Francisco he attended the [[American Conservatory Theatre]]. In 1979 Kageyama moved to Los Angeles where he joined the [[Asian American theatre]] group, [[East West Players]] (EWP), working not only as an actor, but also as a director and designer.<ref name="Pawns bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.pawnsoftheking.com/cast/rodneykageyama.html|title=Kageyama bio on "Pawns of the King" website|author=|date=|website=pawnsoftheking.com|accessdate=December 14, 2018}}</ref> In 1985 he received a [[Drama-Logue Award]] for Costume Design for EWP's ''[[Rashomon (play)|Rashomon]]''.<ref>[http://www.eastwestplayers.org/awards.htm EWP awards history] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119051138/http://www.eastwestplayers.org/awards.htm |date=November 19, 2007 }} on [[East West Players|EWP website]]</ref> In 1993, Kageyama directed ''The Grapevine'', written by [[Grateful Crane Ensemble]] founder [[Soji Kashiwagi]], produced at the [[Los Angeles Theatre Center]]. In spring 2001 Kageyama played Erronius in an all Asian American production of the musical, ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'' at EWP in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434632/otherworks|title=Rodney Kageyama|author=|date=|website=IMDb|access-date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>
Born in nearby San Mateo, Kageyama began his career in San Francisco in 1965 as one of the original members of the [[Asian American Theater Company]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CfWaDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Rodney+Kageyama%22+%22graduated%22&pg=PT204|title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018|last=III|first=Harris M. Lentz|date=2019-05-30|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-3655-9|language=en}}</ref> While in San Francisco he attended the [[American Conservatory Theater]].<ref name=":0" /> In 1979, Kageyama moved to Los Angeles where he joined the [[Asian American theatre]] group, [[East West Players]] (EWP), working as an actor, director, and designer.<ref name="Pawns bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.pawnsoftheking.com/cast/rodneykageyama.html|title=Kageyama bio on "Pawns of the King" website|author=|date=|website=pawnsoftheking.com|accessdate=December 14, 2018}}</ref> In 1985 he received a [[Drama-Logue Award]] for Costume Design for EWP's ''[[Rashomon (play)|Rashomon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastwestplayers.org/awards.htm |title=Production Awards:1986 Drama-Logue Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119051138/http://www.eastwestplayers.org/awards.htm |archive-date=2007-11-19 |publisher=[[East West Players]]}}</ref>
In 1993, Kageyama directed ''The Grapevine'', written by [[Grateful Crane Ensemble]] founder [[Soji Kashiwagi]], produced at the [[Los Angeles Theatre Center]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}
In spring 2001, Kageyama played Erronius in an all Asian American production of the musical, ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'' at EWP in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434632/otherworks|title=Rodney Kageyama|website=IMDb|access-date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>


===Film and television===
===Film and television===
He has acted on many films, notably ''[[The Karate Kid Part II]]'', ''[[The Next Karate Kid]]'' and ''[[Gung Ho (film)|Gung Ho]]''. He was also featured in the ''[[Golden Dreams]]'' film exhibit which opened the [[Disney California Adventure Park]] theme park. He has appeared in many television shows including ''[[Quantum Leap (TV series)|Quantum Leap]]'' and ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''.<ref name="Pawns bio"/>
He acted on many films, notably ''[[The Karate Kid Part II]]'', ''[[The Next Karate Kid]]'', ''[[Gung Ho (film)|Gung Ho]]'' (and its [[Gung Ho (TV series)|subsequent television spin-off]]), and ''[[Showdown in Little Tokyo]]''. He was also featured in the ''[[Golden Dreams]]'' film exhibit which opened the [[Disney California Adventure Park]] theme park. He appeared in many television shows including ''[[Quantum Leap (1989 TV series)|Quantum Leap]]'' and ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''.<ref name="Pawns bio"/>


Kageyama befriended [[Chris Tashima]], founder of [[Cedar Grove OnStage]], on the set of a [[Coca-Cola]] commercial shoot in 1984.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://blog.angryasianman.com/2008/03/help-rodney-kageyama.html|title=help rodney kageyama|access-date=2019-12-20}}</ref> Kageyama has subsequently costume designed and served as a crew member on different short films directed by Tashima, including the [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film|Academy Award-winning]] ''[[Visas and Virtue]]'' (1997).<ref name=":1" />
==Community work==

⚫
Kageyama is heavily involved in community activity, often volunteering for various organizations. He has served as an [[emcee]] and directed shows for many charitable events.<ref name="Cherry Blossom Fest">[http://www.cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org/photogallery.htm History on Cherry Blossom Festival website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704052651/http://cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org/photogallery.htm |date=July 4, 2008 }}</ref> He is a [[docent]] at the [[Japanese American National Museum]], where he does story telling for visiting children. He is also an animal advocate and helps place dogs in homes.<ref>[http://www.janmstore.com/daikonashi.html Brief bio following "Daikon Ashi" by Kageyama] at [[Japanese American National Museum|JANM]] online</ref>
==Personal life==
⚫
Kageyama was heavily involved in community activity, often volunteering for various organizations. He served as an [[emcee]] and directed shows for many charitable events.<ref name="Cherry Blossom Fest">[http://www.cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org/photogallery.htm History on Cherry Blossom Festival website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704052651/http://cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org/photogallery.htm |date=July 4, 2008 }}</ref> He was a [[docent]] at the [[Japanese American National Museum]], where he did story telling for visiting children. He was also an animal advocate and helped place dogs in homes.<ref>[http://www.janmstore.com/daikonashi.html Brief bio following "Daikon Ashi" by Kageyama] at [[Japanese American National Museum|JANM]] online</ref>

In 2007, Kageyama was diagnosed with [[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma]]. He underwent [[chemotherapy]] and as of spring 2008 was declared cancer-free.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} He had numerous other health issues including dealing with complications from [[HIV]] for decades before his death. He had both hips replaced and walked with a cane. In his last years, he was on dialysis due to a kidney illness.<ref name="LAT Obit"/>

He married his long time partner, Ken White, in 2013 when California legalized same-sex unions. They remained together until his death.<ref name="LAT Obit"/>


==Honors and awards==
==Honors and awards==
* 2006 "Community Treasures" Award, Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California<ref name="Cherry Blossom Fest"/>
* 2006 "Community Treasures" Award, Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California<ref name="Cherry Blossom Fest"/>
* 2005 "Rae Creevey" Award (for volunteer service), [[East West Players]] 39th Anniversary Awards<ref>[http://www.aatrevue.com/Old/EWP0405d.html EWP 39th Awards] on AA Theatre Revue</ref>
* 2005 "Rae Creevey" Award (for volunteer service), [[East West Players]] 39th Anniversary Awards<ref>[http://www.aatrevue.com/Old/EWP0405d.html EWP 39th Awards] on AA Theatre Revue</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1982|| ''[[Best Friends (1982 film)|Best Friends]]'' || Meter Reader ||
|-
|1985|| ''[[Teen Wolf]]'' || Janitor ||
|-
|1986|| ''[[Gung Ho (film)|Gung Ho]]'' || Ito ||
|-
|1988|| ''[[Vibes (film)|Vibes]]'' || Dr. Harmon ||
|-
|1988|| ''[[Lucky Stiff (film)|Lucky Stiff]]'' || Tailor ||
|-
|1989|| ''[[Let It Ride (film)|Let It Ride]]'' || Patron in Chinese Restaurant ||
|-
|1990|| ''[[Pretty Woman]]'' || Japanese Businessman ||
|-
|1991|| ''[[Showdown in Little Tokyo]]'' || Eddie ||
|-
|1994|| ''[[The Next Karate Kid]]'' || Monk ||
|-
|1999|| ''[[Godzilla 2000]]'' || || Voice
|-
|2000|| ''Stanley's Gig'' || Jeff Fujisaki ||
|-
|2014|| ''The Three Dogateers'' || Mr. Hiroshi ||
|}


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kageyama, Rodney}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kageyama, Rodney}}
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[[Category:1941 births]]
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[[Category:2018 deaths]]
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[[Category:American gay actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American theatre directors of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:American theatre directors of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:Cancer survivors]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
⚫
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:People from San Mateo, California]]
[[Category:People from San Mateo, California]]
[[Category:Male actors from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Male actors from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
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[[Category:American people of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:American male actors of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:American male actors of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]

Latest revision as of 08:52, 28 April 2024

Rodney Kageyama
Born
Rodney Masao Kageyama[1]

(1941-11-01)November 1, 1941[1]
San Mateo, California, US[1]
DiedDecember 9, 2018(2018-12-09) (aged 77)[2]
OccupationActor
Years active1965–2018
SpouseKen White[2]

Rodney Masao Kageyama (November 1, 1941 – December 9, 2018) was an American stage, film and TV actor.[3] He was a Nisei Japanese American (second-generation) and besides acting in Asian American theater groups, he was also a director and designer. With his roles in the “Gung Ho” film and television series and the “Karate Kid” franchise, he was a trailblazer for Asian Americans in Hollywood.[2]

Career

[edit]

Theatre

[edit]

Born in nearby San Mateo, Kageyama began his career in San Francisco in 1965 as one of the original members of the Asian American Theater Company.[4] While in San Francisco he attended the American Conservatory Theater.[4] In 1979, Kageyama moved to Los Angeles where he joined the Asian American theatre group, East West Players (EWP), working as an actor, director, and designer.[5] In 1985 he received a Drama-Logue Award for Costume Design for EWP's Rashomon.[6]

In 1993, Kageyama directed The Grapevine, written by Grateful Crane Ensemble founder Soji Kashiwagi, produced at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.[citation needed]

In spring 2001, Kageyama played Erronius in an all Asian American production of the musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at EWP in Los Angeles.[7]

Film and television

[edit]

He acted on many films, notably The Karate Kid Part II, The Next Karate Kid, Gung Ho (and its subsequent television spin-off), and Showdown in Little Tokyo. He was also featured in the Golden Dreams film exhibit which opened the Disney California Adventure Park theme park. He appeared in many television shows including Quantum Leap and Home Improvement.[5]

Kageyama befriended Chris Tashima, founder of Cedar Grove OnStage, on the set of a Coca-Cola commercial shoot in 1984.[8] Kageyama has subsequently costume designed and served as a crew member on different short films directed by Tashima, including the Academy Award-winning Visas and Virtue (1997).[8]

Personal life

[edit]

Kageyama was heavily involved in community activity, often volunteering for various organizations. He served as an emcee and directed shows for many charitable events.[9] He was a docent at the Japanese American National Museum, where he did story telling for visiting children. He was also an animal advocate and helped place dogs in homes.[10]

In 2007, Kageyama was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He underwent chemotherapy and as of spring 2008 was declared cancer-free.[citation needed] He had numerous other health issues including dealing with complications from HIV for decades before his death. He had both hips replaced and walked with a cane. In his last years, he was on dialysis due to a kidney illness.[2]

He married his long time partner, Ken White, in 2013 when California legalized same-sex unions. They remained together until his death.[2]

Honors and awards

[edit]
  • 2006 "Community Treasures" Award, Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California[9]
  • 2005 "Rae Creevey" Award (for volunteer service), East West Players 39th Anniversary Awards[11]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Best Friends Meter Reader
1985 Teen Wolf Janitor
1986 Gung Ho Ito
1988 Vibes Dr. Harmon
1988 Lucky Stiff Tailor
1989 Let It Ride Patron in Chinese Restaurant
1990 Pretty Woman Japanese Businessman
1991 Showdown in Little Tokyo Eddie
1994 The Next Karate Kid Monk
1999 Godzilla 2000 Voice
2000 Stanley's Gig Jeff Fujisaki
2014 The Three Dogateers Mr. Hiroshi

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Rodney Kageyama (birth reference)". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e Reyes-Velarde, Alejandra (December 13, 2018). "Rodney Kageyama, actor and beloved Little Tokyo icon, dies at 77". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  3. ^ Mike Barnes (December 14, 2018). "Rodney Kageyama, 'Gung Ho' Actor and Asian-American Activist, Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  4. ^ a b III, Harris M. Lentz (May 30, 2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-3655-9.
  5. ^ a b "Kageyama bio on "Pawns of the King" website". pawnsoftheking.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  6. ^ "Production Awards:1986 Drama-Logue Awards". East West Players. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007.
  7. ^ "Rodney Kageyama". IMDb. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "help rodney kageyama". Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  9. ^ a b History on Cherry Blossom Festival website Archived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Brief bio following "Daikon Ashi" by Kageyama at JANM online
  11. ^ EWP 39th Awards on AA Theatre Revue
[edit]
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