Victor Sen Yung

Biography

Victor Sen Yung, originally named Victor Cheung Young or Sen Yew Cheung, was born on October 18, 1915, in San Francisco, California. He was the son of Chinese immigrants Gum Yung Sen and his first wife. After the loss of his mother during the 1919 flu epidemic, Victor and his sister, Rosemary, were placed in a children's shelter while their father sought a new partner. In 1922, he returned with a new wife, Lovi Shee, creating a blended family.

Sen Yung's acting career took off with his memorable role as Jimmy Chan, the "number two son" of the iconic detective, in the 1938 film *Charlie Chan in Honolulu*. He reprised this role in 11 additional Charlie Chan films through 1942. His talent shone in the 1940 film *The Letter*, where he portrayed Ong Chi Seng, a young attorney, earning critical praise. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces, where he contributed to training films and the play *Winged Victory*.

After the war, Victor resumed his Hollywood career, now billed as Victor Sen Young, and continued to appear in Charlie Chan films alongside Sidney Toler. Following Toler's passing in 1947, he starred in five more Chan features. Beyond this series, he achieved lasting fame as Hop Sing, the spirited cook on the beloved television series *Bonanza*, appearing in 107 episodes from 1959 to 1973. Additionally, Sen Yung was a talented chef, authoring *The Great Wok Cookbook* in 1974 and making appearances on cooking shows. He passed away on November 9, 1980.