80s star from controversial oddball role who voiced Disney classic and won over ER fans spotted on rare outing

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A well-known actor from a classic 1980s comedy was seen in public in Los Angeles on Monday, making a rare appearance.

The actor, now 70 years old, seemed cheerful and happy while shopping, despite past controversy surrounding his role as Long Duk Dong in the movie Sixteen Candles.

He looked much more casual than usual, wearing an Oxford shirt, cargo shorts, and a bucket hat. It was a far cry from his glamorous appearances on red carpets and his famous roles, like the one he had in the 1986 film Gung Ho with Michael Keaton.

Longtime fans will remember him for voicing the unforgettable Ling in Disney’s 1998 Mulan.

Later, he captured hearts once again as the charming Nurse Yosh Takata on ER from 1997 to 2003.  

Okay, before we even get to talking about the stuff some people are saying about his part in Sixteen Candles – you know, the movie with the amazing Molly Ringwald? – can you just tell me who this celebrity is? I’m dying to know! It’s driving me crazy that I don’t recognize them, and then we can finally dissect everything about that iconic film!

If you guessed Gedde Watanabe, you’re absolutely right! 

Long Duk Dong, a character in the film who is an Asian exchange student living with Molly Ringwald’s character’s grandparents, has received a lot of criticism recently.

Many critics have called the character a racist portrayal, arguing it relies on damaging and inaccurate stereotypes about Asian people.

He was instantly recognizable thanks to his over-the-top behavior and the famous gong that played whenever he showed up, but some people found his act to be troublesome.

Over the years, many critics have realized this character reflects the stereotypes of its time, specifically the common idea of Asian men as ‘nerdy outsiders’ who struggle with social interactions.

Long Duk Dong wasn’t treated as a real person; he was simply used for jokes, from making fun of his name to ridiculously exaggerating how he spoke. He became nothing more than the setup for a punchline.

The character was frequently called a derogatory slur, demonstrating how Hollywood often relied on offensive racial stereotypes for comedic effect.

Long Duk Dong was a funny character when the movie came out, but today, people are discussing whether the way he was portrayed was a harmful stereotype of Asian people.

Even with some criticism about the character he played, Watanabe remained successful in Hollywood, proving his talent for both comedy and dramatic acting in subsequent films.

In 1989, he appeared alongside ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic in the film UHF, playing Kuni – a karate teacher who also hosted a mean-spirited game show. He later brought the same character to life on ‘The Weird Al Show’.

From 1988 to 1991, he was on Sesame Street playing the character Hiroshi. He also provided the voices for many Japanese characters on The Simpsons.

Watanabe is also well-known for voicing Ling in Disney’s Mulan, a role he reprised in Mulan II (2004) and the Kingdom Hearts II video game (2005).

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2026-04-12 17:23