Jack Soo
Actor

Jack Soo Net Worth

Jack Soo was a Japanese-American actor born in Oakland, California in 1917. He made his big break in 1958 playing the MC/comedian in the Broadway musical "Flower Drum Song" and went on to appear in films such as Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and The Green Berets. He is best remembered for his role as Detective Sgt. Nick Yemana on the popular sitcom Barney Miller in the 1970s. Sadly, he passed away from cancer during the show's fifth season in 1979.
Jack Soo is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Soundtrack
Birth Day October 28, 1917
Birth Place  Oakland, California, United States
Age 103 YEARS OLD
Died On January 11, 1979(1979-01-11) (aged 61)\nLos Angeles, California,\nUnited States
Birth Sign Scorpio
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1958–1979
Spouse(s) Jan Zdelar

💰 Net worth: $700,000 (2024)

Jack Soo, a renowned actor and soundtrack artist, is expected to have a net worth of approximately $700,000 by 2024. Hailing from the United States, Jack has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry throughout his career. Renowned for his acting prowess and dynamic musical talent, he has garnered both fame and wealth. With his impressive body of work, Jack Soo has established himself as a prominent figure in the world of acting and soundtracks, contributing greatly to the cultural landscape of the United States and beyond.

Biography/Timeline

1917

Jack Soo was born Goro Suzuki on a ship traveling from Japan to the United States in 1917. 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.

1958

Soo finally earned his big break in 1958 when he was cast in the Broadway musical hit Flower Drum Song in the role of the show M.C. and Comedian Frankie Wing ("Gliding through my memoree"). He was working in San Francisco at the Forbidden City, a Chinese nightclub and cabaret, which was portrayed in the musical and movie. He was offered the chance to go to Broadway on the condition that he change his name to something Chinese, as Flower Drum Song is set in San Francisco's Chinatown. At that time, he adopted the surname that he had used to leave the internment camp at Topaz, "Soo." Jack switched to the Sammy Fong role (Chinatown's "Nathan Detroit") during the run and played the role when the film version (1961) of the musical was made.

1962

Soo was first broadcast across America by Jack Benny on November 27, 1962, as the street-wise talent agent in "Jack Meets Japanese Agent". In 1964, Soo played an important weekly supporting role as a poker-playing con Artist in Valentine's Day, a one-season comedy television series starring Anthony Franciosa. During the next decade, he would appear in films such The Green Berets as a colonel of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and the 1967 musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, as well as making guest appearances on TV shows such as Hawaii Five-O, The Odd Couple, and two episodes of M*A*S*H.

1965

Soo joined Motown Records in 1965 as one of their first non-African American artists. During his time there, he recorded a slow ballad version of "For Once in My Life" as the first male singer to do so. The record was never released and was shelved in the Motown archives. The song was soon after made famous by Stevie Wonder.

1975

Soo was cast in his most memorable role in 1975 on the ABC sitcom Barney Miller as the laid-back, but very wry, Detective Nick Yemana, who was responsible for making the dreadful coffee that, in one of the series' running jokes, his fellow detectives had to drink every day.

1979

Soo was diagnosed with esophageal cancer during Barney Miller's fifth season (1978–79). The cancer spread quickly, and Soo died on January 11, 1979, at age 61, at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center (now the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center). His last appearance on the show was in the episode entitled "The Vandal," which aired on November 9, 1978.

Some Jack Soo images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.