Eiko Ando
Encyclopedia
Eiko Ando was a Japan
ese actress best known for appearing opposite John Wayne
in The Barbarian and the Geisha
in 1958.
Ando was born in Harbin
, in northeastern China, to a Japanese industrialist. When the Communist took over the family fled back to Japan. After her father died in 1953 she went to work as a singer and then burlesque dancer. At the time of filming The Barbarian and the Geisha
she was 5-feet, 7-inches tall and weighed 115 pounds. When director John Houston
was looking for an actress for the part of Okichi, a friend of Ando's who worked in the Tokyo office of 20th Century-Fox
recommended Ando to Houston. Once Houston saw her, after testing 33 girls, he and producer Eugene Frenke
were done looking, mainly because of her height over the other girls.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese actress best known for appearing opposite John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
in The Barbarian and the Geisha
The Barbarian and the Geisha
The Barbarian and the Geisha is a 1958 film starring John Wayne, Sam Jaffe and Japanese American actress Eiko Ando set in 1850s Japan. Shot largely on location, it was directed by John Huston.-Plot:...
in 1958.
Ando was born in Harbin
Harbin
Harbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...
, in northeastern China, to a Japanese industrialist. When the Communist took over the family fled back to Japan. After her father died in 1953 she went to work as a singer and then burlesque dancer. At the time of filming The Barbarian and the Geisha
The Barbarian and the Geisha
The Barbarian and the Geisha is a 1958 film starring John Wayne, Sam Jaffe and Japanese American actress Eiko Ando set in 1850s Japan. Shot largely on location, it was directed by John Huston.-Plot:...
she was 5-feet, 7-inches tall and weighed 115 pounds. When director John Houston
John Houston
John Houston is the name of:* John Houston * John Houston , Pioneer newspaperman and politician from British Columbia, Canada* John Houston , New Zealand historian and writer...
was looking for an actress for the part of Okichi, a friend of Ando's who worked in the Tokyo office of 20th Century-Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
recommended Ando to Houston. Once Houston saw her, after testing 33 girls, he and producer Eugene Frenke
Eugene Frenke
Eugene Frenke was a Russian-born film producer, director and writer. He twice collaborated with the director John Huston on the films Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison and The Barbarian and the Geisha....
were done looking, mainly because of her height over the other girls.