NEW YORK CITY — Actress Michi Kobi, who was known for roles in movies including “Tokyo After Dark” (1959), died March 1 at her home here, according to a statement released by her family this weekend. She was 91.MSTies will remember her role as Dr. Hideko Murata in the movie in episode 524- 12 TO THE MOON.
Born Machiko Okamoto Nov. 2, 1924, in Sacramento, California, Kobi experienced a life-changing period during World War II, when her family was interned in a concentration camp in Utah along with others of Japanese descent. She turned to acting while in the camp, appearing in a production of “Our Town” as a means of self-expression. After the war, she studied acting at New York University.
Kobi’s notable films also included “Hell to Eternity” (1960). She was in the original Broadway cast of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1963, playing Nurse Nakamura. On television, she appeared on series including “The Californians” and “Law & Order.”
Other than a handful of small roles, Kobi largely left acting after the early 1960s, frustrated by the dearth of good roles for Asian women.
Thanks to Paul for the heads up.
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would it be crass for me to at least comment, how lovely a lady miss kobi is, just from the profile pic? i don’t think i’ve reviewed the “12 to the moon” epi, but i’ll have to next… she surely lived during a tough time for asian actors/actresses on either side of the ocean at the time…
blessed be, pretty lady of the pacific; sleep well tonight.
12 to the Moon is one episode I never saw until it was finally released. I’m still getting acquainted with it, so I’ll stop to say I sympathize with Ms. Kobi’s plight in the frustrations of having an acting career in an acting sphere that overlooks talent and overthinks race.