Philip Chong, 70, multi-talented stunt actor dies
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PHILIP CHONG Philip Chong suffered a fatal heart attack at home
Saturday morning, March 3, 2007. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii on December
29, 1936, the son of Kin Seong Chong and Beatrice Bow Ngan Young. Phil
graduated from college in 1958 and was drafted into the service in
1959. He moved to California in 1969. In the early 1970s he met his
best fri end, Kenny Endoso, who introduced him to the "picture
business." An expert horseman, Phil's first role was a Mongolian
Horseback rider in the film Lost Horizon. As a multi-talented stunt
actor, he worked in hundreds of movies and television shows, including
doubling Benson Fong in the Kung Fu series. He was an active advocate
and board member of East West Players. Phil and Kenny founded a very
successful Stunt Equipment Rental business. He became the first Asian-
American to be invited to become a member of the Stuntmen's
Association of Motion Pictures. A longstanding member, he was fondly
thought of as a godfather amongst his peers. Phil met the love of his
life, Stephanie Page, in California in 1971; they married March 16,
1994. Since his semi-retirement they traveled extensively having
visited Hong Kong and China several times, the Caribbean, nearly all
of the United States and most of the provinces of Canada. Phil also
spent time doing the things he loved most: riding his horse, playing
golf, spe nding time "talking story" with friends and family, and
visiting Hawaii. In addition to his wife, Phil is survived by sisters,
Carol (Wes) White and Cora Chong; sisters-in-law, Priscilla Audette
and Susan Cade; step-children, David Page and Kim Knapp; nieces,
Michele, Autumn and Emma; nephews, Brian, Eric, Matthew, Anthony,
Robb; step-grandchildren, Jonathon, Alyssa, Jacob, Ethan; grand-niece,
Ki'ilani; grand-nephews, Connor and Trevor; goddaughters, Irish and
Laurel; godson, Michael. Phil's lovin g ways, generous spirit, and
sense of humor will be greatly missed by so many people whose lives he
touched. Visitation Friday evening, March 9, 2007, 6-8:30 p.m. at
Hollywood Forest Lawn. The Memorial service will be held at Church of
the Hills at the Hollywood Forest Lawn Saturday, March 10, 2007, 3:00
p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials can be sent to
Iolani Alumni Association, 563 Kamoku Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826;
MPTF (Motion Picture and Television Foundation), 22212 Ventur a Blvd,
Suite 300, Woodland Hills, CA 91364; Paniolo Preservation Society,
62-2279-B Kanehoa Drive, Kamuela, Hawaii 96743 or Unicef.
Published in the Los Angeles Daily News on 3/8/2007.