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Khigh Dhiegh 1910 - 1991

Khigh Dhiegh was born on August 25, 1910 at Spring Lake, NJ, USA in Spring Lake, Monmouth County, New Jersey United States, and died at age 81 years old on October 25, 1991 in Mesa, AZ.

Khigh Dhiegh

Kenneth Dickerson, Kenneth Dickerson

August 25, 1910

Spring Lake, NJ, USA in Spring Lake, Monmouth County, New Jersey, 07762, United States

October 25, 1991

Mesa, Arizona, United States

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Khigh Dhiegh Khigh Dhiegh (1910 - 1991)

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Khigh Dhiegh's History: 1910 - 1991

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Introduction

KHIGH DHIEGH, 'HAWAII FIVE-O' VILLAIN, DIES MESA, ARIZ. -- Khigh Dhiegh, 81, the actor best known as the villain Wo Fat on the long-running television series "Hawaii Five-O," died of heart and kidney ailments Oct. 25 at a hospital here. He had lived in Chandler, Ariz. A generation of television viewers knew him as an evil master criminal who repeatedly eluded Steve McGarrett, head of a law enforcement organization known as Five-O. McGarrett, played by Jack Lord, finally brought Wo Fat to justice near the end of the show's run. In real life, Mr. Dhiegh wrote 11 books, crafted jewelry, taught philosophy for six years at UCLA, and had once owned a Taoist sanctuary in Tempe, Ariz. Born in Spring Lake, N.J., he lived most of his life in New York. He worked in his mother's bookstore there before becoming a character actor on the Broadway stage. Khigh Dhiegh (/ˌkaɪˈdiː/ KY DEE or /ˌkaɪˈdeɪ/ KY DAY) (born Kenneth Dickerson; August 25, 1910 - October 25, 1991) was an American television and motion picture actor of Anglo-Egyptian Sudanese ancestry, noted for portraying East Asian roles. He is perhaps best remembered for portraying villains, in particular his recurring TV guest role as Chinese agent Wo Fat on Hawaii Five-O (from the pilot in 1968 to the final episode in 1980), and brainwashing expert Dr. Yen Lo in 1962's The Manchurian Candidate. He also starred in the short-lived 1975 TV series Khan! as the title character. In 1988, he was featured as Four Finger Wu in James Clavell's Noble House television mini-series. In 1965, Dhiegh recorded and released an album on Folkways Records, entitled St. John of the Cross: Volume II, a collection of poems of St. John. Besides his acting endeavors, Dhiegh was active in Taoist philosophy, writing a number of books on the subject, including The Eleventh Wing (ISBN 0-385-28371-7). He founded the Taoist Sanctuary (now the Taoist Institute) in Hollywood, California. Dhiegh also had a doctorate in theology, and in his later years, was the rector for a Taoist sanctuary in Tempe, Arizona called 'Inner Truth Looking Place.' He held weekly services and sponsored many 'Tea Ceremonies' in the Phoenix metro area. One of his last interviews was on One World in 1990, where he presented the concept of World Citizenry and its benefit to mankind. Dhiegh's contributions to Taoism are discussed in some detail in the book Taoism for Dummies (John Wiley and Sons Canada, 2013). Select filmography Year Title Role Notes 1957 Time Limit Col. Kim 1962 The Manchurian Candidate Dr. Yen Lo 1963 13 Frightened Girls Kang 1965 How to Murder Your Wife Bald Actor playing Thug 1966 Seconds Davalo 1968 The Destructors King Chou Lai 1968-1980 Hawaii Five-O Wo Fat 15 episodes 1970 The Hawaiians Kai Chung 1971 The Mephisto Waltz Zanc Theun 1974 Judge Dee and The Monastery Murders Judge Dee 1978 Goin' Coconuts Wong References
08/25

1910

Birthday

August 25, 1910

Birthdate

Spring Lake, NJ, USA in Spring Lake, Monmouth County, New Jersey 07762, United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Anglo-Egyptian Sudanese
Nationality & Locations

Manhattan, NY and Tempe Arizona and Hawaii and Los Angeles.
Religious Beliefs

Taoism Expert with a Doctorate.
Professional Career

KHIGH DHIEGH, 'HAWAII FIVE-O' VILLAIN, DIES MESA, ARIZ. -- Khigh Dhiegh, 81, the actor best known as the villain Wo Fat on the long-running television series "Hawaii Five-O," died of heart and kidney ailments Oct. 25 at a hospital here. He had lived in Chandler, Ariz. A generation of television viewers knew him as an evil master criminal who repeatedly eluded Steve McGarrett, head of a law enforcement organization known as Five-O. McGarrett, played by Jack Lord, finally brought Wo Fat to justice near the end of the show's run. In real life, Mr. Dhiegh wrote 11 books, crafted jewelry, taught philosophy for six years at UCLA, and had once owned a Taoist sanctuary in Tempe, Ariz. Born in Spring Lake, N.J., he lived most of his life in New York. He worked in his mother's bookstore there before becoming a character actor on the Broadway stage. NNDB This is a beta version of NNDB Search: All Names for Khigh Dhiegh Khigh DhieghAKA Kenneth Dickerson FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR Forbidden Nights (10-Apr-1990) Noble House (21-Feb-1988) Goin' Coconuts (6-Oct-1978) Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders (29-Dec-1974) The Mephisto Waltz (9-Apr-1971) The Hawaiians (17-Jun-1970) · Kai Chung The Destructors (Jan-1968) Seconds (5-Oct-1966) How to Murder Your Wife (26-Jan-1965) · Bald Actor in White Coat Fanfare for a Death Scene (1964) 13 Frightened Girls (Jul-1963) The Manchurian Candidate (24-Oct-1962) · Dr. Yen Lo Time Limit (23-Oct-1957) · Col. Kim
Personal Life & Family

Wife: Mary Dickerson - a very endearing woman who worked at Macy's in NY. Children: Kenneth Dickerson Jr, and Kathleen Dickerson. Adopted his grandaughter, Letitia Dickerson. Very involved with Taoism. Highly educated. Fun to meet and hang out with. Lovely wife Mary.
10/25

1991

Death

October 25, 1991

Death date

Kidney Failure at 81.

Cause of death

Mesa, Arizona United States
Death location

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Obituary

Khigh Dhiegh Biography Born August 25, 1910 in Spring Lake, New Jersey, USA Died October 25, 1991 in Mesa, Arizona, USA (kidney and heart failure) Birth Name Kenneth Dickerson Khigh Dhiegh was born on August 25, 1910 in Spring Lake, New Jersey, USA as Kenneth Dickerson. He was an actor, known for The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Seconds (1966) and Hawaii Five-O (1968). He was married to Mary Dickerson. He died on October 25, 1991 in Mesa, Arizona, USA. Mary Dickerson - a very endearing woman who worked at Macy's in NY. Children: Kenneth Dickerson Jr, and Kathleen Dickerson. Adopted his grandaughter, Letitia Dickerson. His best known role was that of "Wo Fat", the Red Chinese agent who was a recurring villain on Hawaii Five-O (1968). Professional name pronounced "Ki (rhymes with 'why') Dee." Although he portrayed innumerable Asians in the course of his career, he was actually of Anglo-Egyptian-Sudanese ancestry. Founded the Taoist Sanctuary in North Hollywood, California. (now the Taoist Institute, as of 2003) Author of multiple books on Taoist philosophy, including The Eleventh Wing. Frequently sat in as guest co-host on the nationally syndicated Long John Nebel radio show on WNBC New York in the 1960s. Owned a book store in Manhattan 7th Avenue in the 1940s and 50s. Obie Award for Best Actor in Brecht's The Jungle of Cities at The Living Theatre. [1961] Dhiegh turned his back on his own series, "Khan," about a clever detective based in San Francisco's Chinatown. For unclear reasons Dhiegh turned his back on the show, removed his name from the credits, and refused to promote it. It was canceled after five episodes.

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Did you know?

Khigh Dhiegh lived exactly as long as the average family member when died at the age of 81.

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