Miyoshi Umeki Shattered Ceilings
Miyoshi Umeki was a Japanese-American actress and singer who smashed prejudices when she became the first Asian actress to win an Oscar. Then she smashed expectations when she threw it in the bin.
1. She Was Born In Northern Japan
Miyoshi Umeki was born an entire ocean away from the Hollywood glitterati she would one day join. She was born on May 8, 1929, in Otaru, a coastal city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Given that her father owned an iron factory, she likely grew up relatively comfortably—if a little cramped.
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2. She Was One Of Many
Umeki was the youngest of her parents’ staggering nine children. But, growing up in a household with a ready-made audience might actually have been useful.
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3. She Drew Inspiration From Kabuki Theater
Even though she would go on to fame in Hollywood, Umeki never forgot her cultural roots. She credited traditional Kabuki theater as one of her earliest artistic influences, with its dramatic storytelling, vivid imagery, and rich history. Still, there was something about that far-off place across the sea she couldn’t shake.
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4. She Dreamed Of American Music
Growing up in Hokkaido, Umeki developed an early fascination with American pop music, which she heard coming over the radio waves. Enchanted by its melodies, a sparkling ambition formed in her head—to one day travel to the United States. But first, she would have to hone her skills.l
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5. She Sang In Secret
Umeki’s parents didn’t exactly share her enthusiasm for American culture. They strongly disapproved of her love for American music and loathed to hear it. Determined to follow her heart, however, she would sing beneath her bed sheets or with a bucket covering her head to muffle the sound.
That wasn’t even the most ingenious of her secret methods.
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6. She Turned Her Dining Table Into A Piano
In addition to singing, Umeki learned to play the piano—without a piano. She taped a paper keyboard to the dining table and practiced diligently, proving her resourcefulness and unwavering dedication to her craft. And it all paid off.
7. She Sang For American Soldiers
After WWII, a teenage Umeki was free to pursue her dreams. She began performing with American GI bands at service clubs in her hometown of Otaru. These gigs offered her an entry point into the entertainment industry but not much else.
8. She Earned Pennies For Her Performances
Times were tough in post-WWII Japan. Despite her obvious talents and growing popularity with the American GIs, Umeki earned less than a dollar a night for her performances. However, instead of getting discouraged, she simply set her sights higher.
9. She Learned From The Best
In her ongoing effort to leap across the sea to Hollywood, Umeki studied the most popular American singers of the time. She absorbed the styles of Doris Day, Dinah Shore, and Peggy Lee by listening to the radio, perfecting her technique, and emulating the charm of the most iconic performers of the time.
Clearly, Japan wanted more America—and Umeki was about to give it to them.
10. She Became A Star In Japan
Long before her eventual rise to fame in Tinseltown, Umeki was already a star. She established herself as a prominent figure on Japanese radio and television, gaining recognition for her American-style singing and magnetic presence.
Even bigger things were just around the corner.
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11. She Took On A New Name
In light of her newfound success and American styling, Umeki adopted a new stage name: Nancy Umeki. She also spent time in the recording studio for RCA Japan, singing popular American standards from 1950 to 1954. And no one blended Japanese and American culture quite like she did.
12. She Sang In Multiple Languages
With RCA Japan, Umeki primarily focused on recording American jazz standards. But, with a unique twist. She performed these classics in Japanese, English, or, incredibly, a mix of both. And her talents brought her to the big screen.
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13. She Appeared In A Japanese Film
With her growing star power in Japan, Umeki broadened her appeal. She showcased her many talents by appearing in the Japanese film Seishun Jazu Musume, further solidifying her presence in Japan’s burgeoning entertainment industry. Still, she dreamed of a bigger stage—the biggest stage.
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14. She Made The Bold Move To America
In 1955, Umeki took a major step in her career—one that would forever change the face of entertainment. Even though her star was rising in Japan, she finally acted on her dream and traveled to the United States. There, boundless opportunity awaited.
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15. She Became A Familiar Face On TV
Umeki’s effortless charm and world-class talent made the transition to the American entertainment industry a seamless one. She quickly gained some national attention through her appearances on Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts. In fact, audiences loved her appearances so much that she became a regular on the show.
Thankfully, the right people were paying attention.
16. She Signed A Major Record Deal
Thanks to her success on Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts, Umeki signed with Mercury Records. She went on to release a number of singles and two full-length albums, cementing her successful transition to American entertainment. Even with this success, she could not have anticipated what happened next.
17. She Caught The Eye Of A Director
Umeki’s numerous appearances on Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts didn’t just captivate audiences—they also caught the attention of famed Hollywood director, Joshua Logan. Her talent and poise made her an ideal fit for a groundbreaking project he was casting.
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18. She Landed A Role Opposite Marlon Brando
Impressed with her talents, Logan cast Umeki in the upcoming film Sayonara alongside one of the most iconic stars of all time: Marlon Brando. The role would mark her Hollywood debut and become one of the defining moments of her career—and of Hollywood history.
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19. Her Film Tackled Prejudice
Given the subject matter of the film, Umeki’s big break was also a big risk that could have ended her career before it even started. Sayonara follows an American Air Force pilot who falls in love with a Japanese dancer during the conflict in Korea. The film boldly addressed themes of prejudice in the post-WWII era, setting it apart from typical romantic dramas.
20. She Challenged Stereotypes On Screen
In an era when Hollywood often sidelined non-white actors, Umeki’s role in Sayonara was front and center, defying conventions. Even so, the complex narrative took audiences (and Umeki) to places they never thought they would go.
21. She Played A Tragic Role
Umeki’s role in Sayonara was as heartbreaking as it was unforgettable. The writers used her character’s romance with Sgt Joe Kelly (played by Red Buttons) to show the destructive force of prejudice, culminating in a Romeo-and-Juliet-style ending that left audiences deeply moved.
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22. Her Performance Left Audiences In Tears
The film’s emotional depth and devastating ending coupled with Umeki’s powerful performance resonated strongly with moviegoers. At every screening, there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience during Umeki’s poignant exploration of love and societal bias. But, while the audience bathed in their own tears, Umeki raked in the money at the box office.
23. She Dominated The Box Office
Sayonara had an undeniable impact on audiences—and their wallets. Umeki’s powerhouse of a performance helped the film climb to the top of the box office in 1958, holding the number one spot for an impressive five consecutive weeks. She even made off with some gold.
24. She Made History At The Oscars
Umeki’s performance impressed her fellow actors just as much as it had impressed audiences and she broke down barriers. For her unparalleled performance, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. And she accepted it in style.
25. She Accepted Her Oscar In A Kimono
Even as a fully-accepted member of the Hollywood community, Umeki never forgot her roots. When she took the stage to accept her Oscar, she wore a traditional kimono, blending her cultural heritage with her historic achievement. She also had a touching acceptance speech.
26. Her Speech Was Heartwarming
Umeki’s speech reflected her humility and authenticity, even as a bona fide (if new) Hollywood star. Leaning into the mic, she said, "Thank you. I really don't know what to say. I wish somebody were to help me right now, 'cause I didn't expect so I had nothing in my mind. But right now I thank you for everyone who help me, and you, and you, and all American people. Thank you".
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27. She Broke Hollywood’s Glass Ceiling
With her role in Sayonara, Umeki made history as the first Asian actress to ever win an Academy Award. But she didn’t just make history—she also paved the way for greater representation of Asian actors in Hollywood, challenging the industry’s long-standing biases.
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28. She Had A Little Experience Under Her Belt
Even some of the most ardent cinephiles make the common mistake of believing that Sayonara was Umeki’s debut film. However, as true cinephiles—and now you—know, this isn’t exactly the case. Sayonara was only Umeki’s Hollywood debut, as she had acted in films in Japan before.
Either way, it was the beginning of something beautiful.
29. She Showcased Her Talent On Variety TV
Capitalizing on her popularity from Sayonara, Umeki made two guest appearances on The Gisele MacKenzie Show. Her rendition of “How Deep Is the Ocean” captivated audiences again, further proving her range and versatility as an entertainer. Big things were on the horizon.
30. She Got A “Once-In-A-Lifetime” Opportunity
In 1958, Joshua Logan—the same director who had picked Umeki for Sayonara—had another brilliant idea. He recommended her for another one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities. But this would take her far away from Hollywood.
31. She Made A Broadway Debut
Instead of another Hollywood role, Logan recruited Umeki for the bright lights of Broadway! Based on his recommendation, she landed the role of Mei Li in Flower Drum Song, a romantic drama from heavyweight writer-composer duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Another hit was in her future.
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32. Her Show Was A Huge Success
Flower Drum Song turned out to be yet another hit—and not just for Rodgers and Hammerstein. Umeki’s Broadway debut was just as popular with audiences as her Hollywood debut had been. Directed by Gene Kelly, the show lit up Broadway for two years. Even the critics couldn’t get enough.
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33. She Had A “Tranquil Magic”
Umeki’s performance in Flower Drum Song was among audiences’ and critics’ favorite things about the musical. In fact, she even earned a cover story in the vaunted Time magazine. The reviewer gushed about her talents, writing: “the warmth of her art works a kind of tranquil magic”.
Given praise like that, it’s little wonder what happened next.
34. She Was A Tony Nominee
Unsurprisingly, Umeki’s strong performance earned her even more accolades. When she received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, she paved the way for future icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Helen Hayes.
However, few people could go from the screen to the stage and back again quite like Umeki.
35. She Took Her Show Back To Hollywood
In 1961, when a major Hollywood studio decided to turn Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway hit into a film, they knew exactly who to call. The studio kept Umeki as Mei Li and retained several other cast members from the original Broadway production. But it wasn’t as authentic a film as it seemed.
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36. She Faced Cultural Ignorance
One of the challenges that Umeki faced in adapting to the American entertainment industry had to do with cultural ignorance. Flower Drum Song centers on the stories of Chinese immigrants. But, there was just one part-Chinese cast member: Nancy Kwan. Like much of the rest of the cast, Umeki was actually Japanese.
There was another pretty wild inaccuracy—albeit a flattering one—for Umeki.
37. Her Character Was Born In The Year Of The Rabbit
In Flower Drum Song, Umeki’s character, Mei Li, is supposed to have been born in the “year of the Rabbit”—ie, 1939-1940. And the events of the film take place in 1959, making her character a fresh-faced 19 or 20-year-old. There was just one problem with that.
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38. She Was Ageless
Umeki was born in 1929, a whole decade before her character in Flower Drum Song. However, Umeki had something every actress wished she had—no, not a great plastic surgeon. She had a timeless quality to her look that allowed her to portray a character a whole decade younger. Plus, she was fun.
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39. She Was “Demure”
Umeki had a “demure” reputation long before it was cool. Audiences had come to know her for her poise, grace, and modest character. However, it turns out that she also had a wicked sense of humor.
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40. She Had An Edgy Sense Of Humor
While working the press to promote Flower Drum Song, Umeki “demurely” showed off her slightly edgy sense of humor. When someone asked her what the Japanese word for money was, her reply was perfectly witty. Without missing a beat, the Oscar-winning actress coolly replied, “Loot”.
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41. She Had EGOT Potential
Umeki’s performance in Flower Drum Song was another one for the history books. Her powerful pantomimes landed her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. Together with her recording career, Oscar win, and Tony nomination, Umeki definitely had EGOT potential in her blood. But she never let it go to her head.
42. She Supported Her Fellow Asian Actors
Umeki always remained loyal to the Asian acting community and to her other castmates and friends. Shortly after starring alongside James Shigeta in Flower Drum Song, she paired up with her Hawaiian-born Japanese co-star again in Cry for Happy.
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43. She Was All Over TV
With two commercially and critically successful films under her belt—along with a Broadway spotlight and the Oscar gold to show for it all—Umeki reached new levels of fame. After 1961, she became a regular on television talent and variety shows, entertaining audiences just as she had dreamt of doing as a child.
She even unveiled some hidden talents.
44. She Did Impressions
Audiences had grown accustomed to seeing Umeki in dramatic roles and listening to her mellifluous voice. However, she had some other talents that only became apparent during one of her appearances on The Merv Griffin Show. Umeki delighted audiences with an impression of Billy Eckstine, whose tenor and quality she had learned as a child in Japan listening to the radio.
The world appeared to be at her feet.
45. She Didn't Get A Ton Of Roles
Despite her obvious popularity with audiences and proven box office bona fides, Umeki certainly wasn't cranking out the films. Instead, she appeared in just two movies in two years: The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962) and A Girl Named Tamiko (1963).
However, there was a special project waiting for her just around the corner.
46. She Took Over TV
Just as she had conquered film and stage, Umeki was about to conquer television, too. Between 1969 and 1972, she took a starring role as Mrs Livingston in The Courtship of Eddie's Father. Even though she portrayed the housekeeper in the series, it was a supporting role worthy of recognition.
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47. She Landed Another Important Nomination
The Courtship of Eddie's Father was a light-hearted, family-friendly sitcom that still tackled touchy topics. However, the show’s success in balancing these conflicting tones came down to, in no small part, Umeki’s deft performance. Not surprisingly, she netted another Golden Globe Award nomination for her efforts.
That’s not to say, however, that her recognition came easily.
48. She Wanted Her Own Trailer
As both a woman and a minority, Umeki learned early on to stand up for herself in Hollywood. In one such instance, she noticed that her male co-star in The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Bill Bixby, had relocated his dressing room. Not to be left out, she marched over to the show’s producers and declared, “I want a trailer, and I want it parked outside”.
It was a bold request.
49. She Always Got What She Wanted
According to another one of Umeki’s The Courtship of Eddie's Father co-stars, Brandon Cruz who portrayed the main child in the series, Umeki got her trailer. And then she negotiated the same accommodations for the rest of the cast! “Miyoshi got what she wanted by just being smart and quiet,” Cruz recalled.
But what she wanted next left everyone puzzled.
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50. She Retired Without Warning
When The Courtship of Eddie's Father ended in 1972, Umeki made a shocking announcement. After working hard her whole life to break through prejudices and forge a career in entertainment, Umeki retired from acting. She had a different kind of life in mind.
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51. She Married A TV Producer
Back in 1958, while her career in American entertainment was beginning to really take off, Umeki had done something else that surprised many. She married the TV director Frederick Winfield "Wynn" Opie. Ever the “demure” actress, she managed to keep the details of the marriage out of the tabloids. Except for one detail.
52. She Started A Family
Even as she was building her career on screen and on stage, Umeki had been focused on another aspect of her life: starting a family. In 1964, she and her husband welcomed a son, Michael H Opie into the world. But it hadn’t all been sunshine and rainbows.
53. Her Marriage Fell Apart—But We Don’t Know Why
Because of her ability to keep her private life, well, private, we’ll never know much about Umeki’s first marriage. Except that it clearly wasn’t the happiest one. By 1967, Umeki and Opie were ready to call it quits and filed for divorce. But Umeki was at the height of her popularity—she wouldn’t be single for long.
54. She Found Herself Another Husband…In A Year
Once again, Umeki’s intense preference for privacy proved impenetrable. It’s not clear what exactly happened next or how, but by 1968 she had already managed to find herself a new husband. This time, she married another director, Randall Firevod Hood. It seemed like the perfect fit.
55. Her New Husband Adopted Her Son
Turns out that Hood wasn’t just good for Umeki; he was good for her son as well. After their marriage, Hood adopted her son from her first marriage. The new couple agreed that a fresh start would be best for the boy and went ahead with a name change to Michael Randall Hood.
56. She Ran A Rental Business With Her Husband
Despite her retirement, Umeki didn’t stray too far from the entertainment business. Along with her husband, she operated a business out of Los Angeles, “renting editing equipment to film studios and university film programs”. Unfortunately, happily ever after was only true in the movies.
57. Her Husband Passed Unexpectedly
In 1976, Umeki’s suburban, post-fame life got knocked for a six. Her husband, Randall Hood, passed, leaving her with fond memories and a broken heart. However, no one could have predicted that her reaction would have erased part of her legacy.
58. She Threw Her Oscar Statuette In the Garbage
In a shocking move following her husband’s demise, Umeki lashed out—at her Oscar statuette! The crestfallen former actress removed her name from the golden trophy and then promptly proceeded to chuck the thing in the garbage. The seemingly inexplicable act only became even more inexplicable after that.
59. She Was Under A Lot Of Stress
Umeki’s son, Michael, later confessed that he didn't know for sure what prompted his mother’s extreme act against her own Oscar statuette. All he could say was that she took her husband’s passing “hard” and was likely under a lot of stress. After all, she now had a teen to raise all on her own.
60. Her Actions Didn’t Appear To Be Emotional
Umeki’s apparent act of rage and dismay wasn’t what it seemed. In fact, as Umeki’s son probed his grieving mother, it became increasingly clear that the act wasn’t emotional at all.
61. She Knew Who She Was And What She Did
When Umeki’s son questioned her about the act of vandalism against her own Oscar statuette, her response was chillingly, and somehow reassuringly, unemotional. “She told me, ‘I know who I am, and I know what I did’,” Hood recalled. But at its core, this incident taught her son an important lesson.
62. She Taught Him A Lesson
Speaking about her wrecked trophy, her son also said, "It was a point of hers, to teach me a lesson that the material things are not who she was".
Given how her life proceeded from there, no one would have guessed that she was a Hollywood legend.
63. She Settled Into Sherman Oaks
Before he passed—11 years after his mother—Umeki’s son revealed some of the details of her quiet life after walking away from the heights of her fame. He claimed that she settled in Sherman Oaks, California for a number of years, still around Hollywood though no longer a part of it. Then she gave that up, too.
Umeki’s next decision shed further light on her priorities.
64. She Left Hollywood For Good
After years of living around Tinseltown, she picked everything up and moved to Licking, Missouri so that she could be nearer to her son and grandchildren. With a full heart, she couldn’t ask for much more.
65. She Kept Her Husband’s Name Right To The End
Umeki never changed her surname after her second husband’s passing, maintaining the double-barreled “Miyoshi Hood”. It was as clear a sign as any that what she prioritized most was family. And so, in the city she shared with her family—Licking, Missouri—she passed in August 2007 at the ripe age of 78 from cancer.
Her legacy, however, lived on.
66. Her Son Questioned Her Career Choices
In a time when minority actors struggled to find work and faced terrible prejudice, Umeki thrived and punched her way through ceilings as if they didn’t exist. Even so, she had, at times, leaned into the prejudices that stymied so many others. “Why did you agree to do the pidgin English?'" her son once asked her.
Her answer encapsulated the philosophy that saw her break barriers.
67. She Beat Prejudice By Being The Best—That’s It
When her son asked her why she played into prejudices at times, Umeki gave an honest answer. “I didn't like doing it,” she confessed, “but when someone pays you to do a job, you do the job, and you do your best”. Her best was Oscar-worthy and then some.