Anecdotes

His father, Ahn Changho, was one of the first prominent Korean-Americans, and an activist for Korean independence. He helped to write the lyrics to the South Korean national anthem and modernize the country's schools. His sister, Susan Ahn Cuddy, was the first Asian-American woman to join the US Navy, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant and becoming its first female gunnery officer.

Received death threats during World War II, as he was often mistakenly assumed to be Japanese.

Died after suffering complications from surgery for a biopsy for lung cancer, which led to pneumonia.

Best remembered by the public for his role as the wise Master Kan on Kung Fu (1972).

Posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6211 Hollywood Blvd. on 11/14/84, becoming the first Asian-American actor to do so.

Interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles, CA.

The first known Korean-American actor in Hollywood history, as well as the first actor to ever portray a Korean character in an American film.

Attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA.

Considered moving to South Korea in the 1950s due to his popularity there and desire to help the country's film industry, but ultimately decided against it.

Spoke a unique dialect of Korean because of his particular heritage; his mother was from the northern region of Korea and emigrated to the US in the early 1900s. As a result, Ahn learned a dialect of Korean that was both very regional and also quite antiquated, a fact that was noted by many South Koreans when he traveled to the country in his adult life.

Brother of Philson Ahn and Ralph Ahn.

Was President of the University of Southern California's Cosmopolitan Club during his time as a student there, being nicknamed "the most popular student at USC".

Short biography in "Extraordinary Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders" by Susan Sinnott.

Claimed to be the first American born to two Korean parents in the US.

He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: La fille de Shanghaï (1937) & Vengeance aux deux visages (1961).