TV Series

Maria appeared and acted in almost two dozen TV shows during the eleven years from 1954 to 1964.

It could not have been easy for her.

During that particular era, before any progress began to be made by the burgeoning Civil Rights movement, it was effectively impossible for non-white actors and actresses to get lead or even supporting roles in US film and tv productions. Hollywood may have been internally more liberal and somewhat ahead of its time on these issues, but the producers catered primarily to national white audiences who would not have tolerated much progress of any kind. Any Asian lead or supporting characters were almost always portrayed by white actors and actresses in Yellow or Brown Face.

And, of course, beyond the racial and racist stereotypes and practices, things were not much better when it came to sexist and misogynistic tropes perpetuated by the movies and tv series of the time.

And yet Maria managed to carve out a number of speaking roles showing off her range beyond the stereotypical type casting of the submissive “exotic” “oriental” girl that she, unfortunately, also had to endure.

TV Series Credits

YearSeriesEpisodeAiredCharacterVideo Clips
1954The New Adventures of China SmithS02 E14: The Night the Dragon WalkedApr 16Jade Flower
S02 E24: The TidewalkerMay 5Miss Giong
Various Episodes TBDLi Mei, Lunan, Gin Len and more
1955CrusaderS01 E22: PressureMrs. Chen Li Kiao
Episode TBDMilly Thong
Passport To DangerS01 E28: RangoonJavanese Girl Lua Mindon
1956Navy LogS01 E30: The BeachcomberMiss Ondori
The 20th Century Fox HourS02 E01: Child of the RegimentNurse
The Man Called XS01 E10: Local HeroMar 30Sou Hei
1958 The CaliforniansS01 E17: China DollJan 21Mei Soong
December BrideS05 E02: The Alaska ShowOct 9Tahitian Glamour Girl Tanana
The Adventures of Ozzie and HarrietS06 E33: The International SetJapanese Student Makiesho Yamaguchi
1959Frontier DoctorS01 E16: Illegal EntryJan 10 Mei Ling
Alcoa TheatreS02 E35: Medals for HarryJun 1Japanese Store Clerk
Bat MastersonS02 E01: To The Manner BornOct 1Dealer
Man Without a GunS02 E07: Daughter of the DragonChi Ying
Not For HireS01 E07: One Quart of SorrowLilly
1960 Hawaiian EyeS01 E19: Hong Kong PassageSu Ling
1961Hong KongS01 E17: Night CryJan 25Sou Mei
1962Bachelor FatherS05 E22: Summer RomanceFeb 20Lin Sing
87th PrecinctS01 E24: Square CopMar 12Shop Clerk Mary
1964Burke’s LawS01 E20: Who Killed Carrie Cornell?Feb 14Japanese Girl Amiko (Madam Butterfly)
TBDThe Loretta Young ShowEpisode TBDFrench-Burmese Maid Lia
TBDJack Douglas Show TBDEpisodes TBDDance Hall Girl, Smuggler

On this Website

Alcoa Theatre

Alcoa Theatre was an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1957 through 1960. Alternative titles under which the series was broadcast include Turn of Fate. Alcoa Theatre was syndicated together with Goodyear Theatre as Award Theater.
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Burke’s Law

is American detective series starred Gene Barry as the millionaire captain Amos Burke of the LAPD’s homicide division, who is chauffeured around in his 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II as he solves various crimes.
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Bachelor Father

Bachelor Father follows the adventures of Bentley Gregg, a wealthy bachelor attorney living in Beverly Hills who assumes the responsibility of raising his niece, Kelly, after her parents died in an automobile accident. Other members of the cast included houseboy Peter Tong, teenage neighbor and Kelly’s on and off boyfriend, Howard Meechum, Kelly’s best friend, Ginger Farrell and Jasper, the dog.
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87th Precinct

Manhattan’s 87th precinct forms the backdrop for this grim and gritty American crime and police drama based on the long-running series of novels by Ed McBain. The storylines focus on neighborhood crime, and the lives of the officers of the 87th and their families.
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Hong Kong

This series follows the adventures of U.S. journalist Glenn Evans, played by Rod Taylor, who works in the then British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, and his friend Inspector Neil Campbell, played by Lloyd Bochner. His search for stories leads him deep into the underbelly of the city where he encounters smugglers, murderers, drug peddlers and mysterious women.
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Maria McClay