This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Photograph was edited for publication purposes Philip Ahn was born Pil Lip Ahn on March 29, 1905 in Highland Park, California. He was the first Korean American film actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ahn appeared in numerous films and television shows in a career spanning 43 years. He is best known for his television role as Master Kan on the television series Kung Fu. His father was Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, an activist, leader of the Korean resistance movements (1905-1945) and a leader in the Korean-American community. His brother Philson was also and actor and his sister, Susan Ahn Cuddy, was the first Asian-American woman to join the U.S. Navy. Ahn opened a Chinese restaurant with his sister, Soorah, called Phil Ahn's Moongate Restaurant at 8632 Van Nuys Boulevard, in the 1950s. It was one of the first Chinese restaurants in Panorama City and operated for more than thirty years before closing. Ahn died on February 28, 1978. Photograph caption dated August 19, 1964 reads "Phil Ahn, standing, honorary mayor of Panorama City, veteran actor and Valley restaurateur, welcomes guests to his newly reopened Moongate restaurant. In the party are, from right, Miss Korea, Kwang Ja Lee, Mrs. and Consul General Kwang Soo Ahn of the Republic of Korea, and Mrs. Chang Ho Ahn, Phil Ahn's mother and the widow of a cabinet minister in the pre-World War II Korean government-in-exile." The subjects in the photo are pictured from left to right.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Ahn, Philip,--1905-1978 Cuddy, Susan Ahn,--1915--Family An, Ch'ang-ho,--1878-1938--Family Philip Ahn's Moongate Restaurant (Los Angeles, Calif.) Men--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Mothers and sons--California--Los Angeles Motion picture actors and actresses--United States Television actors and actresses--United States Restaurateurs--California--Los Angeles Consuls--Korea (South) Municipal officials and employees, Honorary--California--Panorama City (Los Angeles) Food--California--Los Angeles Restaurants--California--Panorama City (Los Angeles) Panorama City (Los Angeles, Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
