Nobu McCarthy

Born in Canada, but raised in Japan, Nobu McCarthy was a model and actress. Discovered in Los Angeles by a talent scout, McCarthy landed her first film role while in her 20s, appearing in the 1958 Jerry Lewis comedy "The Geisha Boy." During the late '50s, she was featured in episodes of various popular TV series, including the comedy show "The Red Skelton Hour," the legal drama "Perry Mason," and the adventure program "Sea Hunt," starring Lloyd Bridges. In the 1960s, McCarthy could be spotted in numerous major television series, turning up in installments of various Westerns, including "Wagon Train," as well as the campy superhero show "Batman" and two episodes of the hit talking-horse comedy "Mr. Ed." McCarthy was less active during the 1970s, making only a handful of TV appearances, including guest spots on the adventure series "Kung Fu" and the popular sitcom "Happy Days." However, in the 1980s, she had a boost to her career with a supporting role in "The Karate Kid, Part II," starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, and the lead part in the lauded independent drama "The Wash." McCarthy continued to do more film work in the following decade, appearing in the 1990 thriller "Pacific Heights" and the drama "Painted Desert." She was still regularly acting when she died suddenly in 2002 of an aneurysm while shooting a film in Brazil.