Maddie James
Gedde Watanabe played the character Long Duk Dong, also known as The Donger, in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. The character has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people. Watanabe, who is Japanese-American, has said he did not realize his character was offensive at the time. He has also said he was fascinated by how the character has become such a driver of conversation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the actor who played Donger | Gedde Watanabe |
| Year of release of Sixteen Candles | 1984 |
| Genre of Sixteen Candles | American coming-of-age comedy film |
| Name of the character played by Gedde Watanabe | Long Duk Dong |
| Nationality of Gedde Watanabe | Japanese-American |
| Gedde Watanabe's birthplace and upbringing | Utah |
| Gedde Watanabe's accent | American |
| Gedde Watanabe's role in Sixteen Candles | A Chinese foreign exchange student |
| Gedde Watanabe's thoughts on his role | Didn't find it offensive at the time |
| Gedde Watanabe's thoughts on his character | Fascinated by how the character drives conversation |
| Gedde Watanabe's preparation for his role | Spent time with a friend with a thick Korean accent |
| Gedde Watanabe's career after Sixteen Candles | Acted in movies like Volunteers and Gung Ho |
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What You'll Learn
Gedde Watanabe played Long Duk Dong
Gedde Watanabe played the character Long Duk Dong in the 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles. The character has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people. Watanabe, a Japanese-American actor born and raised in Utah, said he didn't realise his character was an offensive stereotype at the time. He said he was just thrilled to see they were casting an Asian person in any movie.
Long Duk Dong is a Chinese foreign exchange student who stays with the grandparents of the film's protagonist, Samantha, played by Molly Ringwald. He appears accompanied by a gong sound and practices his conversational English with others. He has an uncool hairstyle, is mystified by American food, and calls himself "The Donger". Watanabe recalled that his portrayal attempt was to play to Dong's excitement and enthusiasm about America, the fun, the girls, and the cars.
Watanabe said he had a great experience making Sixteen Candles but recognised in retrospect that he was “a bit naive” about his role. He said he was just acting in a comedic role and wanted to make people laugh. He didn't realise how his character would affect people. Watanabe added that he stayed in character even after he got the role, and it wasn't until he was at a table read in Chicago that he broke character and spoke in his regular accent, completely surprising the film's writer and director, John Hughes.
After Sixteen Candles, Watanabe was cast in several accented roles but later mostly stopped using exaggerated Asian accents for his roles. He went on to act in movies like Volunteers and Gung Ho.
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Watanabe's portrayal of Dong was criticised as a stereotype
Gedde Watanabe, a Japanese-American actor, portrayed the character of Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. Watanabe's character has been criticised as a stereotypical caricature of Asian people.
Watanabe's character, Long Duk Dong, is a Chinese foreign exchange student who stays with the grandparents of the film's protagonist, Samantha. He is portrayed as having a heavy foreign accent, an uncool hairstyle, and a fascination with American culture. He is also portrayed as being socially inept and sexually inept, which are stereotypes that Asian men have been fighting against for years.
Watanabe has stated that he did not realise his character was offensive at the time of filming and that he was just excited to be playing a comedic role. He felt that the character played against Asian stereotypes by getting the girl and being portrayed in a positive light. However, he did acknowledge that some lines were problematic and that he was a bit naive about the impact his character would have.
The character of Long Duk Dong has been the subject of much criticism and debate, with some people quoting his lines back to Watanabe and others calling him a driver of positive change by sparking conversations about Asian representation in media.
Watanabe's portrayal of Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles has become a notable example of the homogenization of racial differences in US popular culture, particularly in teen films. The character's impact and legacy continue to be discussed and evaluated, highlighting the evolving cultural sensitivities and perspectives on racial representation in media.
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Watanabe didn't find his role offensive at the time
Gedde Watanabe, the actor who played Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles, has stated that he did not find his role offensive at the time of filming. In a recent interview reflecting on the film's 40th anniversary, Watanabe said he was just happy to get his first big paycheck and did not think about whether the character was offensive. He also noted that there were limited opportunities for Asian actors at the time, and he felt fortunate to be cast in a role that played against Asian stereotypes, as his character got the girl and partied, which was unusual for Asian characters in films at the time.
Watanabe, who is Japanese-American and was born and raised in Utah, said he had a great experience making Sixteen Candles. He added that he was just acting in a comedic role and was excited to play a character who loved everything about America. He also mentioned that he stayed in character even after getting the part, only breaking character at a table read in Chicago, which surprised the film's writer and director, John Hughes.
While Watanabe didn't find his role offensive at the time, he did recognize that some of the language used to describe his character was questionable. He recalled the movie using the word "Chinaman" and thought it wasn't great, but he also felt that people were still learning about what was offensive during that period.
Watanabe has had a successful career since Sixteen Candles, acting in movies like Volunteers and Gung Ho. He now spends a lot of his time reading, learning, and speaking about the Japanese internment camps, which his mother had been a part of. He also finds it fascinating that his character in Sixteen Candles has become such a driver of conversation and a subject of study in Asian studies classes.
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Sixteen Candles was released in 1984
The 1984 release of Sixteen Candles marked the beginning of a string of films by writer and director John Hughes, all centred on teenage life. The film, starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall, follows the story of 16-year-old Samantha Baker, who deals with a crush on a high school senior while also being pursued by a freshman.
The coming-of-age comedy was filmed in 1983, primarily in and around Chicago, Illinois, and was released in theatres on May 4, 1984. It was the directorial debut of John Hughes, who had initially conceived of the film as a low-budget production. After attracting more interest in his screenplays with the successful film National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Hughes resumed pre-production on Sixteen Candles, choosing the cast and beginning filming in July 1983.
The film's impact extended beyond its commercial success, with one of its characters, Long Duk Dong, portrayed by Gedde Watanabe, becoming a notable source of discussion. Watanabe, a Japanese-American actor, played a Chinese foreign exchange student with an exaggerated accent, a character that has since been criticised as an offensive stereotype. However, Watanabe has stated that he did not find the role offensive at the time, reflecting on his excitement about the opportunity and his focus on entertaining audiences.
The character of Long Duk Dong has been analysed in the context of racial representation in US popular culture, with critics like Catherine Driscoll characterising him as "the homogenization of racial difference". Despite the controversy surrounding the character, Sixteen Candles helped launch the careers of its stars, including Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall, who went on to find success in various film and television projects.
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The film starred Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles starred Molly Ringwald as the 16-year-old Samantha Baker, who deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on high school senior Jake Ryan, played by Michael Schoeffling. The film also starred Anthony Michael Hall as freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer, who pursues Samantha.
The film was written and directed by John Hughes and was his directorial debut. It helped launch the careers of Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall. Ringwald reflected on the film in the wake of #MeToo, stating that there were parts that bothered her.
In addition to the lead stars, Sixteen Candles also featured Gedde Watanabe as Long Duk Dong, a Chinese foreign exchange student. Watanabe's character has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people. Watanabe, however, stated that he did not find his role offensive at the time, noting the scarcity of opportunities for Asian actors. He also felt that his character went against stereotypes in some ways, such as getting the "sexy American girlfriend."
Another notable cast member in Sixteen Candles was Justin Henry, who played Samantha's younger brother, Mike. Henry was already a well-known child star, having earned an Oscar nomination for his role in Kramer vs. Kramer at the age of seven.
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Frequently asked questions
Gedde Watanabe played the role of Long Duk Dong, also known as "The Donger", in Sixteen Candles.
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes. It follows 16-year-old Samantha Baker, who deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on high school senior Jake Ryan while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer.
The film stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Baker, Michael Schoeffling as Jake Ryan, and Anthony Michael Hall as Ted "The Geek" Farmer.
