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Jack Soo (October 28, 1917 – January 11, 1979) was a Japanese American actor. He was best known for his role as Detective [[Nick Yemana]] on the television sitcom Barney Miller. Soo was the first Asian actor to play an American-born Asian character in a regular television series, Valentine's Day (1964). Β 
Jack Soo (October 28, 1917 – January 11, 1979) was a Japanese American actor. He was best known for his role as Detective [[Nick Yemana]] on the television sitcom Barney Miller. Soo was the first Asian actor to play an American-born Asian character in a regular television series, Valentine's Day (1964). Β 


Soo was born Goro Suzuki on a ship traveling from the United States to Japan in 1917. His parents lived in Oakland, California and they decided that as he was the oldest boy, they wanted to have him born in Japan. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English. He lived in Oakland, California, until ordered into internment along with other Japanese Americans during World War II. He was sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah and fellow internees recalled him as a "camp favorite", an entertainer singing at dances and numerous events. He got out of camp by enlisting in the US Army, and was assigned to the famous Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT)--the most decorated unit in the US Army--and fought in Italy.
Soo was born Goro Suzuki on a ship traveling from the United States to Japan in 1917. His parents lived in Oakland, California and they decided that as he was the oldest boy, they wanted to have him born in Japan. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English. He lived in Oakland, California, until ordered into internment along with other Japanese Americans during World War II. He was sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah and fellow internees recalled him as a "camp favorite", an entertainer singing at dances and numerous events.


Soo's career as an entertainer began in earnest at the end of the war, first as a stand-up nightclub performer primarily in the Midwestern United States. He changed his name to Soo while working at a Chinese night club called Chin's in Cleveland, Ohio. When he got out of the army after World War II, he began a career as a singer. However, knowing that audiences would never accept him if he used his real Japanese name of Goro Suzuki, he changed it to the Chinese-sounding Jack Soo and billed himself as "The Chinese Bing Crosby”.
Soo's career as an entertainer began in earnest at the end of the war, first as a stand-up nightclub performer primarily in the Midwestern United States. He changed his name to Soo while working at a Chinese night club called Chin's in Cleveland, Ohio.


During his years playing the nightclub circuit, he met and became friends with future Barney Miller producer Danny Arnold, who was also a performer at the time.
During his years playing the nightclub circuit, he met and became friends with future Barney Miller producer Danny Arnold, who was also a performer at the time.
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A documentary about Son's life is called [[You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story (Documentary)]], written, directed and produced by [[Jeff Adachi]].
A documentary about Son's life is called [[You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story (Documentary)]], written, directed and produced by [[Jeff Adachi]].


See all [[Nick Yemana (Barney Miller) | Barney Miller appearances here]].
See all [[Nick Yemana | Barney Miller appearances here]].


===Non-Barney Miller Appearances===
===Non-Barney Miller Appearances===


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable"
|-
|-
! Date
! Show
! Show/Episode
! Episode
! Role
! Title
! Notes
! Air Date
|-
|-
| 1978.12.04
| The Hollywood Squares
| The Hollywood Squares
| S01.E01
| Panelist
| Panelist
| Had his own square
| 4 December 1978
|-
|-
| 1978
| All-Star Family Feud Special
| Celebrity Contestant
| Barney Miller vs. Eight Is Enough; Welcome Back Kotter vs. Soap
|-
|-
| 1958-1960
| Valentine's Day
| [[Flower Drum Song (Broadway)]]
| S01.E01
| As Frankie Wing
| The Life You Save is Yours
| Produced by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Directed by Gene Kelly. 600 performances
| Fri, Sep 18, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E02
| Triple Trouble
| Fri, Sep 25, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E03
| How to Live Without Dying
| Fri, Oct 2, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E04
| Fraudulent Female
| Fri, Oct 9, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E05
| Call Me No Cabs
| Fri, Oct 16, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E06
| If Africa Speaks, Don't Answer
| Fri, Oct 23, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E07
| The Baritone Canary
| Fri, Oct 30, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E08
| The Old School Tie
| Fri, Nov 6, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E09
| Yen Ku Horowitz
| Fri, Nov 13, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E010
| The Hottest Game in Town
| Fri, Nov 20, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E011
| Bride and Gloom
| Fri, Nov 27, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E012
| Cherry Blossoms in New York
| Fri, Dec 4, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E013
| Teahouse of the Bankrupt Moon
| Fri, Dec 11, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E014
| The Seasick Sailor
| Fri, Dec 18, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E015
| All Through the Night
| Fri, Dec 25, 1964
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E016
| Follow the Broken Pretzel
| Fri, Jan 1, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E017
| The Double Shamaguchi
| Fri, Jan 8, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E018
| The Sweet Smell of Wampum
| Fri, Jan 15, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E019
| Which Witch?
| Fri, Jan 22, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E020
| Two Weeks with Pay
| Fri, Jan 29, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E021
| All Right, Louie, Drop That Blue Pencil
| Fri, Feb 5, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E022
| For Me and My Sal (No Jack)
| Fri, Feb 12, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E023
| Sin Has Two Faces
| Fri, Feb 19, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E024
| Mad, Mad Momma
| Fri, Feb 26, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E025
| The Title Fight
| Fri, Mar 5, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E026
| Viva Valentine
| Fri, Mar 12, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E027
| The Man Who Shot the World
| Fri, Mar 19, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E028
| Mama Loathes Papa
| Fri, Mar 26, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E029
| Instant Father
| Fri, Apr 2, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E030
| Tell Me in English
| Fri, Apr 9, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E031
| Farrow's Fling
| Fri, Apr 16, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E032
| A Muffin Is Not a Tart
| Fri, Apr 23, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E033
| I'll Cry at My Wedding
| Fri, Apr 30, 1965
|-
|-
| Valentine's Day
| S01.E034
| Cliimb Upon My Knee, Sonny Boy
| Fri, May 7, 1965
|-
|-
|}
|}

Latest revision as of 20:15, 28 May 2024

Jack Soo

Jack Soo (October 28, 1917 – January 11, 1979) was a Japanese American actor. He was best known for his role as Detective Nick Yemana on the television sitcom Barney Miller. Soo was the first Asian actor to play an American-born Asian character in a regular television series, Valentine's Day (1964).

Soo was born Goro Suzuki on a ship traveling from the United States to Japan in 1917. His parents lived in Oakland, California and they decided that as he was the oldest boy, they wanted to have him born in Japan. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English. He lived in Oakland, California, until ordered into internment along with other Japanese Americans during World War II. He was sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah and fellow internees recalled him as a "camp favorite", an entertainer singing at dances and numerous events.

Soo's career as an entertainer began in earnest at the end of the war, first as a stand-up nightclub performer primarily in the Midwestern United States. He changed his name to Soo while working at a Chinese night club called Chin's in Cleveland, Ohio.

During his years playing the nightclub circuit, he met and became friends with future Barney Miller producer Danny Arnold, who was also a performer at the time.

A documentary about Son's life is called You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story (Documentary), written, directed and produced by Jeff Adachi.

See all Barney Miller appearances here.

Non-Barney Miller Appearances[edit]

Show Episode Title Air Date
The Hollywood Squares S01.E01 Panelist 4 December 1978
Valentine's Day S01.E01 The Life You Save is Yours Fri, Sep 18, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E02 Triple Trouble Fri, Sep 25, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E03 How to Live Without Dying Fri, Oct 2, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E04 Fraudulent Female Fri, Oct 9, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E05 Call Me No Cabs Fri, Oct 16, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E06 If Africa Speaks, Don't Answer Fri, Oct 23, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E07 The Baritone Canary Fri, Oct 30, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E08 The Old School Tie Fri, Nov 6, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E09 Yen Ku Horowitz Fri, Nov 13, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E010 The Hottest Game in Town Fri, Nov 20, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E011 Bride and Gloom Fri, Nov 27, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E012 Cherry Blossoms in New York Fri, Dec 4, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E013 Teahouse of the Bankrupt Moon Fri, Dec 11, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E014 The Seasick Sailor Fri, Dec 18, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E015 All Through the Night Fri, Dec 25, 1964
Valentine's Day S01.E016 Follow the Broken Pretzel Fri, Jan 1, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E017 The Double Shamaguchi Fri, Jan 8, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E018 The Sweet Smell of Wampum Fri, Jan 15, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E019 Which Witch? Fri, Jan 22, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E020 Two Weeks with Pay Fri, Jan 29, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E021 All Right, Louie, Drop That Blue Pencil Fri, Feb 5, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E022 For Me and My Sal (No Jack) Fri, Feb 12, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E023 Sin Has Two Faces Fri, Feb 19, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E024 Mad, Mad Momma Fri, Feb 26, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E025 The Title Fight Fri, Mar 5, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E026 Viva Valentine Fri, Mar 12, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E027 The Man Who Shot the World Fri, Mar 19, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E028 Mama Loathes Papa Fri, Mar 26, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E029 Instant Father Fri, Apr 2, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E030 Tell Me in English Fri, Apr 9, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E031 Farrow's Fling Fri, Apr 16, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E032 A Muffin Is Not a Tart Fri, Apr 23, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E033 I'll Cry at My Wedding Fri, Apr 30, 1965
Valentine's Day S01.E034 Cliimb Upon My Knee, Sonny Boy Fri, May 7, 1965
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