Vale: Yoshio Yoda
Actor Yoshio Yoda, best known for McHale's Navy, has died.
- Published by David Knox
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Actor Yoshio Yoda, best known for McHale’s Navy, has died, aged 88.
He died in California on January 13.
Yoda appeared in every episode of the hit sitcom as Fuji Kobiaji, a Japanese prisoner of war, from 1962-66. Fuji befriended other characters and eventually reached the rank of “seaman 3rd class” on the U.S. naval crew led by Ernest Borgnine’s Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale.
Japanese-born Yoda, he immigrated to the U.S to pursue acting, with his first role when MGM needed someone who was bilingual for 1962 war film The Horizontal Lieutenant.
Following McHale’s Navy, he found ome additional work as an actor and associate producer before ultimately becoming a businessman.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Yoda’s death now leaves actor Bobby Wright, who played radio operator Willy Moss, as the only surviving cast member.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4xoQrwAUH8\
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9 Responses
Loved McHales Navy,Enjoyed Yoshio’s role in the series.
Was a great laugh in the show! RIP!
I thought it was John Wright, not Bobby.
Ask EW I guess.
Both names are correct. Showing my age (born a long time from yesterday) this was almost compulsory viewing when my older brothers were in the regular army to watch when home on leave which amused me. Opposite attack I guess. One worked with radio communication. The actor was John Robert “bobby” Wright who played Radioman.
I still can’t believe it’s 60 years old now ,I was born when it ended ,1966.
Totally ridiculous having a Japanese man inside a US naval barracks in WWII. But I loved that character in the series. Presumably his presence was to portray the US military as compassionate, even towards the enemy.
Or maybe they had him star in the show for the irony of it.
It rather highlighted the unusual nature of Quinton McHale and his ragtag crew of non conformists.