Kwan Hi Lim 1922-2008
Kwan Hi Lim was a lawyer by trade. From Korean ancestry, born in Maui, Hawaii, he attended Boston Law College in 1947 and later Duke University. But from about 1970 through 1992, he appeared in many films and television shows filmed on the islands. He was Lt. Tanaka on Magnum, P.I. some 30 times; and he appeared in at least 25 episodes of Hawaii Five-O over a 10+ year period, almost always as a villain. A small, distinguished looking man with white hair, in his later years he was an elected Judge. Lim could play deadly serious, but also had a flair for comedy. The photo at the right shows Mr. Lim in retirement at the age of 82 in 2004. We learned of his death at 86 from a notice in the SAG magazine, Screen Actor. He passed away in Hawaii back on December 22, 2008.
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Kwan Hi Lim was a lawyer by trade. From Korean ancestry, born in Maui, Hawaii, he attended Boston Law College in 1947 and later Duke University. But from about 1970 through 1992, he appeared in many films and television shows filmed on the islands. He was Lt. Tanaka on Magnum, P.I. some 30 times; and he appeared in at least 25 episodes of Hawaii Five-O over a 10+ year period, almost always as a villain. A small, distinguished looking man with white hair, in his later years he was an elected Judge. Lim could play deadly serious, but also had a flair for comedy. The photo at the right shows Mr. Lim in retirement at the age of 82 in 2004. We learned of his death at 86 from a notice in the SAG magazine, Screen Actor. He passed away in Hawaii back on December 22, 2008.
12 comments:
Loved his evil characters on 5-0, but very curious. Could that have been him in the movie "Go For Broke", 1951? He was around 20 at the time. His name is not Kwan Hi Lim in the movie credits, so not sure if he did go under a different name.
Perhaps the greatest guest ever on Hawaii Five O.
If only he was here to help impeach Barry Obama, another gangster from Hawaii, or so he says (kenya)
My mother was his girlfriend for quite a few years in the 60's & maybe into the early 70's. I guess I knew a side of him in a more personal way, he made PEANUT SOUP that to this day a good memory. Wish I had the recipe?
His grand daughter from his son is my current girlfriend. I had to search him after my girlfriend told me a story about him. cool!
He's my Uncle! He was a very very hard straight forward man. Whom I give all my love and respect to. He was also very funny. He is missed...
He's my Uncle! He was a very very hard straight forward man. Whom I give all my love and respect to. He was also very funny. He is missed...
It's been almost 12 yrs since his passing, I will never forget him.
Where was he buried ?
Are you first cousin to Steven and Joan? Did you do yo the Lim family reunion back in 2016 or 2017?
Did you go I mean.
He’s buriedin Honolulu. I just forgot which cemetery. Buried next to his first wife Millie, mother of his children.
He was a classmate of my father back in elementary school. They kept in touch way up to 2001 when my father passed away. I still have the sympathy note he sent to us. He called my Father Kolohe ( rascal). My father was a boxer and Kwan claimed he used to practice on his face! yes - he was a funny man- I last saw him in 1992, we all had a lovely dinner with several other old friends an judges. I was so lucky to meet them all! Aloha old friend ! I am confident you have reconnected with my Dad by now- Smiling
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