Noel Toy
Noel Toy | |
|---|---|
 Noel Toy circa 1942 | |
| Born | Ngun Yee December 27, 1918 |
| Died | December 24, 2003 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Noel Toy Young |
| Occupation(s) | exotic dancer, actress |
| Spouse |
Carleton Young
(m. 1945; died 1994) |
Noel Toy (born Ngun Yee, the "Chinese Sally Rand") (December 27, 1918 – December 24, 2003) was an American burlesque performer famous for her fan dance and bubble dance, initially at the Forbidden City nightclub in San Francisco, California. Later, she acted in films and on television.
Early years and career
Toy was born in San Francisco, California. She was the first of eight children born to parents who immigrated from Canton, China. Toy's parents opened a laundry in Inverness, California, where they were the only Chinese residents.[1]
She performed her routines at the Stork Club and other venues in New York City, before returning to San Francisco, where she was most famous at the Forbidden City nightclub.[2] In her later years, Toy had many small parts in films and television, including a role in Big Trouble in Little China and frequent portrayals of Korean villagers in M*A*S*H.[2]
Personal life
Toy met and married a soldier and actor named Carleton Young in 1945, who became enamored with the dancer after seeing her perform at Latin Quarter nightclub in New York. They remained married until her husband's death in 1994. They had no children.[3]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Anne of the Indies | Slave Girl | Uncredited |
| 1955 | Soldier of Fortune | Luan | Uncredited |
| 1955 | How to Be Very, Very Popular | Cherry Blossom Wang | |
| 1955 | The Left Hand of God | Woman in Sarong | Uncredited |
| 1981 | S.O.B. | ||
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China | Mrs. O'Toole | |
| 1992 | Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up | David's Grandmother | |
| 1999 | Midnight Temptations 2 | Bea |
References
- ^ "Famed Chinese-American exotic dancer of the 1940s dies". Associated Press. 23 January 2004.
- ^ a b Chuck Squatriglia (January 23, 2004). "Noel Toy: famed exotic dancer of '40s". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
- ^ Miller, Stephen (27 January 2004). "Noel Toy, 84, Fan Dancer Billed as 'Chinese Sally Rand'". The New York Sun. p. 16.
External links
- Noel Toy at Find a Grave
- Noel Toy at IMDb