Clyde Kusatsu

Biography

Clyde Kusatsu, born on September 13, 1948, is an accomplished American actor with roots in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he grew up and attended ʻIolani School. His acting journey began in local summer stock productions before he honed his craft at Northwestern University. By the mid-1970s, Kusatsu was making a name for himself on television, often portraying intelligent, middle-class characters such as doctors, professors, and detectives. With his trademark mustache and polished demeanor, he gained fame for his witty exchanges with Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O'Connor) as Reverend Chong on the iconic series All in the Family, where he famously withheld baptism for Archie's grandson.

Throughout his career, Kusatsu has been part of various television series, including the adventure show Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982–83) and the medical drama Island Son (1989–90), alongside Richard Chamberlain. His impressive filmography also includes significant roles in television movies like Farewell to Manzanar (1976) and the miniseries American Tragedy, where he portrayed Judge Lance Ito. His appearances span across classic shows, including M*A*S*H and the groundbreaking sitcom All American Girl (1994–1995).

In feature films, his roles have been diverse yet often minor, including appearances in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) and American Pie (1999). More recently, he has been seen in ShopGirl (2005) and The Interpreter (2005), and he currently plays Dr. Dennis Okamura on CBS's The Young and the Restless. Kusatsu is married to Gayle, and together they have two sons, Kevin and Andrew.