Actor and singer Aki Aleong, 90, died on June 22. Born in Trinidad, he was playing supporting roles in movies and TV when cast in Martin Ritt’s No Down Payment (1957), as a man trying to buy a house in an all-white suburban neighborhood. He went on to play character roles in well over 100 movies and TV shows, including Never So Few, Hong Kong, Ben Casey, Bachelor Father, The Outer Limits, Hazel, As the World Turns (as Dr. Sam Yee, for two years), V, General Hospital, China beach, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Babylon 5, Beverly Hills 90210, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and last year’s My Redneck Neighbor. He also appeared on Broadway in Teahouse of the August Moon and The Interview. Frank Sinatra was impressed with Aleong’s singing voice, and hooked him up with Reprise Records; he went on to write and record several hits, including "Trade Winds" and “Shombalor.”
