A native of Japan, Miyoshi Umeki was the first Asian actor to win an Academy Award, for Supporting Actress in "Sayonara". She only appeared in four more films during her career including Flower Drum Song (1961), for which she had received a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, for her performance in the Broadway production in 1959. She also played the part of Mrs. Livingston in the television series "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" from 1969 until 1972.