Clyde Kusatsu was born on September 13, 1948, in Honolulu, Hawaii and attended 'Iolani School where he began acting and in Honolulu summer stock. After graduating a theatre major at Northwestern University, he started to make his mark on the small screen in the mid-1970s, and got his first TV role on KUNG FU. With his quiet, wry line delivery, Kusatsu made a memorable debut as Rev.Chong on several episodes of ALL IN THE FAMILY. He has become one of the most recognizable actors in the TV and movie industry in his 48th year as an actor in front of the lens and behind the mic. Below are a few of his over 300 credits in the industry.
Kusatsu has been a regular on several series beginning with BRING EM BACK ALIVE (1982–83)CBS and the Hawaii-set medical drama ISLAND SON (1989–90) CBS playing Richard Chamberlain's best friend Dr. Kenji Fushida . His many television movies include the film adaptation of FAREWELL TO MANZANAR (1976), and AMERICAN TRAGEDY playing Judge Lance Ito. Kusatsu also recurred as Vice Admiral Nakamura on STAR TREK:NEXT GENERATION. In comedy he recurred as Principal Shimata in the '90s ABC situation comedy FAMILY MATTERS. He later starred in the ABC series ALL AMERICAN GIRL(1994–1995), the first Asian American family sitcom on TV.
In films, Kusatsu had roles in DRAGON:THE BRUCE LEE STORY (1993, IN THE LINE OF FIRE (1993), in AMERICAN PIE (1999), and HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUNATANMO Harold's Dad. He also appeared as four different characters on MAGNUM P.I. For SciFi fandom, in the CBS MOW, he was the original Wong in DR. STRANGE (1978).
In 2013 Kusatsu became the first elected President of the new SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local, and at convention was elected the first National Vice President Los Angeles, an office he currently holds. He continues to act as well as the father-in-law to Ken Jeong in DR. KEN, MADAM SECRETARY, and DESIGNATED SURVIVOR. He is actively continuing his career in film, commercials, television, and in voice-over animation plays The Grocer in CURIOUS GEORGE.
