Noel Toy (born Ngum Yee Hom; December 27, 1918 – December 24, 2003) was an American burlesque performer famous for her fan dance and bubble dance, initially at the Forbidden City nightclub in San Francisco, California. Later, she acted in films and on television.
Noel Toy | |
|---|---|
 Toy in 1942 | |
| Born | Ngum Yee Hom December 27, 1918 |
| Died | December 24, 2003 (aged 84) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Noel Toy Young the Chinese Sally Rand |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1939–1999 |
| Spouse | |
Early years and career edit
Toy was born in San Francisco, California. She was the first of eight children born to parents who immigrated from Canton, China. Toy's parents opened a laundry in Inverness, California, where they were the only Chinese residents.[1] Toy, who was then nicknamed "Emma", was living in 1930 with her parents (Hom Gin "Gin"; Mah "Marion" Shee) and five of her ultimately seven siblings in Point Reyes Station, Marin, California, USA
She performed her routines at the Stork Club and other venues in New York City, before returning to San Francisco, where she was most famous at the Forbidden City nightclub.[2] In her later years, Toy had many small parts in films and television, including a role in Big Trouble in Little China and frequent portrayals of Korean villagers in M*A*S*H.[2]
Personal life edit
Toy met a soldier and actor named Carleton Young in 1945, who became enamored with the dancer after seeing her perform at Latin Quarter nightclub in New York. Their engagement was announced in June 1945, however it was called off a few weeks later.[3] Nevertheless, they obtained a marriage license on 19 December 1945 in Manhattan; and married the next day on December 20, 1945, in New York City.[4] They remained married until her husband's death in 1994. They had no children.[5]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Anne of the Indies | Slave Girl | Uncredited |
| 1955 | Soldier of Fortune | Luan | Uncredited |
| 1955 | How to Be Very, Very Popular | Cherry Blossom Wang | |
| 1955 | The Left Hand of God | Woman in Sarong | Uncredited |
| 1981 | S.O.B. | ||
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China | Mrs. O'Toole | |
| 1992 | Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up | David's Grandmother | |
| 1999 | Midnight Temptations 2 | Bea |
References edit
- ^ "Famed Chinese-American exotic dancer of the 1940s dies". Associated Press. January 23, 2004.
- ^ a b Squatriglia, Chuck (January 23, 2004). "Noel Toy: famed exotic dancer of '40s". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
- ^ "30 Jul 1945, 10 - Appeal-Democrat at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ "6 Dec 1945, 297 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ Miller, Stephen (January 27, 2004). "Noel Toy, 84, Fan Dancer Billed as 'Chinese Sally Rand'". The New York Sun. p. 16.
External links edit
