Khigh Dhiegh

Khigh Dhiegh, born Kenneth Dickerson, was of Anglo-Egyptian-Sudanese descent, but that didn't stop him from making a career out of playing Asian roles, almost always as a villain. He started his professional career in the 1950s, appearing in minor roles on programs like the anthology drama series "Robert Montgomery Presents" and the highly rated "United States Steel Hour." In 1962, he appeared as the Chinese brainwasher, Dr. Yen Lo, in the political thriller "The Manchurian Candidate," an indelible role which would clinch his career playing villains. In 1968, he appeared for the first time in the role for which he is best remembered, playing policeman Steve McGarrett's arch-enemy, Wo Fat, an elusive and violent Chinese spy, in the hit crime drama "Hawaii Five-O." He would play Wo Fat, who remains one of the most remembered television villains of all time, off and on until 1980, when he was finally captured towards the end of the series. Other memorable roles included playing the title character in the 1975 detective series "Khan!," Attila the Hun in the 1977 biography series "Meeting of Minds," and Four Finger Wu, head of a smuggling clan, in the 1988 TV mini-series adaptation of James Clavell's novel "Noble House." Along with his acting career, Dhiegh was also a Taoist philosopher who penned several books on the subject, and founded the Taoist Sanctuary in Los Angeles.