Old friends from days gone by.

Pernell Roberts
May 18, 1928 - January 25, 2010

Pernell Roberts, noted actor, singer and civil rights supporter has passed away. Born in Georgia, Pernell sang in USO shows as a teenager and wasm for a time, a US Marine before casting his lot as a performer. The New York stage gave him the opportunity to play Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew and Hollywood, on the look out for new faces, called him west in 1957. And it was indeed the west as westerns were the most popular entertainments of the day. Director John Rich was most impressed with Roberts' audition for the series Gunsmoke and he got the part (episode: How to Kill a Woman) after quickly learning to ride a horse.

Pernell Roberts was cast as Adam Cartwright in the soon to be phenomally successful Bonanza, but after a few years became discontented with the program, playing the eldest and smartest of the three Cartwright brothers. Although the role gave him a chance to do comedy, romance and action, it wasn't enough for the restless star. Actors like to spread their wings and Pernell became discontented with the storylines. The producers attempted a change to keep their star happy in casting Kathie Browne as a character Adam would marry, but the itchy footed troubadour took off for hopefully greener pastures. While guest roles on other series provided character changes and albums and musical theatre roles gave outlet to his glorious baritone, movie success was not to be a part of Pernell's career.

My favourite of his movie roles is in 1959's Ride Lonesome which is available on dvd as part of the Budd Boetticher box set. His Sam Boone is a thoughtful, likable and garrulous "bad guy". You almost root for him in his battle with star Randolph Scott. No. You do root for Sam Boone. It's a well-done role in a fine film and it's a shame more of the kind didn't come Pernell Robert's way.

It was television that would give Pernell Roberts another starring role and success in the series Trapper John (1979-1986). I recall a TV Guide article at the time where his co-star, the late and lovely Madge Sinclair, remarked that Pernell was a "grumpy Taurus" and she understood him because she was one too. As a certified GT as well I feel a kinship with the stars.

Johnny Seven
February 23, 1926 - January 22, 2010

If Johnny Seven's face isn't a familiar one to you then you didn't watch any television between 1950 and 1990! John Antony Fetto was born in New York City, the only brother among six sisters. A boy soprano in his younger days and a soldier as a young man, he was bit by the acting bug when he appeared in USO shows. He spent his life as an actor, a writer, a director (Navajo Run, 1964) and a husband to Estelle Piselli whom he married in 1949, and a father of two. His son John Jr. would become his manager. I think that speaks of a fine relationship.

Johnny Seven made his movie debut as one of the longshoreman in On the Waterfront and appeared in The Apartment as Karl Matuschka, Fran's brother-in-law. Television gave him a variety of roles as he appeared in hundreds of programs from Peter Gunn to Murder, She Wrote. After a couple of guest appearances on Ironside, he had a recurring role on that series as Lt. Carl Reese.

Television. I used to watch a lot of television. My shows were special to me and the cast members became like family. Bonanza was a Sunday night tradition for generations. I'm sure there are some among us who would rather spend holidays with the Cartwrights then with some relatives. Ironside was one of my shows. Cleveland Amory once wrote that while every episode of Ironside might not be the best episode of Ironside, it doesn't matter. It's the Chief and Ed and Mark and Eve/Fran and Lt. Reese that we want to see. These fellows, Pernell Roberts and Johnny Seven, were welcome in homes for years and will continue to be old friends from days gone by.

For Your Consideration: Sen Yung

Sen Yung
October 18, 1915 - November 9, 1980

Again in Caftan Woman's world we look at an actor and performance sadly overlooked by the Academy in the Classic Hollywood of Yore.

San Francisco born Sen Yung and his sister spent most of their early years in a children's shelter following the death of their mother from the influenza outbreak of 1919. His father left the children to return to China to reverse the family's fortunes and they were not reunited until sometime in the mid-1920s. Times remained hard and the youngster went to work as a houseboy at age 11. Determined and resourceful, Sen Yung worked his way through the University of California (Berkeley) majoring in Animal Husbandry and receiving a Degree in Economics.

While working as a salesman for a chemical company a stop at 20th Century Fox led to a visit to casting where the hunt was on for actors for the revamped Charlie Chan series following the death of Warner Oland and loss of Keye Luke. With only extra work in his background (Mr. Moto Takes a Chance and The Good Earth), Sen Yung was most happily cast with the new Chan, Sidney Toler. He proved adept at the comic enthusiasm which was Jimmy Chan's trademark and had a nice chemistry with star Toler. It is a pleasure watching him in the role today.

Sen Yung, Bette Davis, James Stephenson
Worlds collide

The Academy should have been taking note of the 24-year-old actor's work in William Wyler's adaption of W. Somerset Maugham's The Letter in 1940. As Ong Chi Seng, the law clerk with an agenda, Sen Yung steals scenes and gives the audience something to think about. While the British go about pretending the world is theirs, the unctuous young man reminds them that there is another world around them, one they cannot control. There is not a trace of the ebullient would-be detective in this fine characterization. It is a highlight in a film full of wonderful atmosphere and performances.

During WW2 Sen Yung was in the Air Force Motion Picture Unit and performed in Winged Victory. He received Officer's Training and became a Captain in Intelligence. It was around this time that he was often billed as Victor Sen Yung. His co-star and friend Layne Tom, Jr. (Charlie Chan in Honolulu) refers to him as "Vic" on a delightful interview included in the Fox Charlie Chan DVD set.

Fewer roles became available for this versatile, appealing performer that had the prestige of The Letter, Across the Pacific or Moontide. It saddens me to mark his appearance as uncredited waiters in films such as The Sniper in 1952 and The Blue Gardenia 1954. However, in 1950 he has two strong roles in Michael Curtiz's The Breaking Point as a smuggler of souls, and as a nightclub entertainer in Woman on the Run co-written and directed by Norman Foster (Charlie Chan at Treasure Island, Charlie Chan in Panama and Charlie Chan in Reno).

In 1959 a television role would assure Sen Yung's place in popular culture as assuredly as the Chan features when he began the recurring (over 100 episodes) role of Hop Sing, the cook and "mother" to the Cartwrights on Bonanza. Fans recall with pleasure the episodes where Hop Sing is prominently featured such as San Francisco, The Fear Merchants or A Lonely Man.

The man of many interests was also an accomplished Cantonese chef and wrote a best selling cookbook in 1974 dedicated to his father, Sen Gam Yung. Sen Yung left behind a son and two grandchildren when he died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in 1980. The eulogy at his funeral service was given by his Bonanza co-star Pernell Roberts. He is remembered and discovered fondly by fans to this day, and the Chinese Alumni Association of the University of California have established a memorial scholarship in his name.