Khigh Alx Dhiegh (/ˈkaɪˈdiː/KYDEE or /ˈdeɪ/DAY; born Kenneth Dickerson; August 25, 1910 – October 25, 1991)[1] was an American television and motion picture actor of Anglo-Egyptian Sudanese ancestry, noted for portraying East Asian roles.[2] 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.[a]
Life and death
He was born Kenneth Dickerson in Spring Lake, New Jersey.[3][4] Dhiegh stated his mother was "Chinese, Spanish, English, and Egyptian" and his father was "Italian, Portuguese, and Zulu"; he was raised in New York City, living in all the boroughs except Staten Island.[5]: 6 He moved to Arizona in 1977.[3]
Dhiegh died on October 25, 1991, at Desert Samaritan Hospital of Mesa, Arizona, from kidney and heart failure.[6][7]
Career
In the early 1930s, Dhiegh was asked by a customer at his mother's bookshop to understudy the role of a butler in Noël Coward's Design for Living, which led to his long career in acting, producing, and directing.[5]: 1–2
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.[citation needed]
Philosophy
Besides his acting endeavors, Dhiegh was active in Taoist philosophy, writing a number of books on the subject, including The Eleventh Wing (ISBN0-385-28371-7).[2] Dhiegh credited his "life long dear friend Chao-Li Chi" with sparking his interest in the I Ching and Taoism, starting in 1935.[5]: 2–3 In 1971, he founded the Taoist Sanctuary (now the Taoist Institute) in Hollywood, California.[5]: 4 At the time, he was living in the San Fernando Valley.[8]
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. Dhiegh picked up jewelry making as a hobby in the 1970s, later selling pieces to help support the sanctuary.[3] One of his last interviews was on One World in 1990, where he presented the concept of World Citizenry and its benefit to mankind.[10] Dhiegh's contributions to Taoism are discussed in some detail in the book Taoism for Dummies (John Wiley and Sons Canada, 2013).
^ abcO’Dell, Cary (17 August 2022). "Remembering TV's "Khan!"". Now See Hear! The National Audio-Visual Conservation Center Blog. Library of Congress. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
^ abcdKhigh Alx Dhiegh, PhD; Rector of the Taoist Sanctuary (25 July 1974). "Khigh Dhiegh interviewed by Irvin Paik" (Interview). Interviewed by Irvin Paik. USC Digital Library. Retrieved 18 May 2021.{{cite interview}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Crean, Jeffrey (2024). The Fear of Chinese Power: an International History. New Approaches to International History series. London, UK: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 108. ISBN978-1-350-23394-2.