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
Year | Series | Episode | Aired | Character | Video Clips |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1954 | The New Adventures of China Smith | S02 E14: The Night the Dragon Walked | Apr 16 | Jade Flower | ![]() |
S02 E24: The Tidewalker | May 5 | Miss Giong | ![]() | ||
Various Episodes TBD | Li Mei, Lunan, Gin Len and more | ||||
1955 | Crusader | S01 E22: Pressure | Mrs. Chen Li Kiao | ||
Episode TBD | Milly Thong | ||||
Passport To Danger | S01 E28: Rangoon | Javanese Girl Lua Mindon | |||
1956 | Navy Log | S01 E30: The Beachcomber | Miss Ondori | ||
The 20th Century Fox Hour | S02 E01: Child of the Regiment | Nurse | |||
The Man Called X | S01 E10: Local Hero | Mar 30 | Sou Hei | ![]() | |
1958 | The Californians | S01 E17: China Doll | Jan 21 | Mei Soong | ![]() |
December Bride | S05 E02: The Alaska Show | Oct 9 | Tahitian Glamour Girl Tanana | ![]() | |
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | S06 E33: The International Set | Japanese Student Makiesho Yamaguchi | |||
1959 | Frontier Doctor | S01 E16: Illegal Entry | Jan 10 | Mei Ling | ![]() |
Alcoa Theatre | S02 E35: Medals for Harry | Jun 1 | Japanese Store Clerk | ![]() | |
Bat Masterson | S02 E01: To The Manner Born | Oct 1 | Dealer | ![]() | |
Man Without a Gun | S02 E07: Daughter of the Dragon | Chi Ying | |||
Not For Hire | S01 E07: One Quart of Sorrow | Lilly | |||
1960 | Hawaiian Eye | S01 E19: Hong Kong Passage | Su Ling | ||
1961 | Hong Kong | S01 E17: Night Cry | Jan 25 | Sou Mei | ![]() |
1962 | Bachelor Father | S05 E22: Summer Romance | Feb 20 | Lin Sing | ![]() |
87th Precinct | S01 E24: Square Cop | Mar 12 | Shop Clerk Mary | ![]() | |
1964 | Burke’s Law | S01 E20: Who Killed Carrie Cornell? | Feb 14 | Japanese Girl Amiko (Madam Butterfly) | ![]() |
TBD | The Loretta Young Show | Episode TBD | French-Burmese Maid Lia | ||
TBD | Jack Douglas Show TBD | Episodes TBD | Dance Hall Girl, Smuggler |