Kung Fu
David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine
Format	western/drama
Created by	Ed Spielman Jerry Thorpe Herman Miller
Starring	David Carradine Keye Luke Philip Ahn Radames Pera
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	60
Production
Executive producer(s)	Jerry Thorpe
Running time	50 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	1972 – 1975
External links
IMDb profile

Kung Fu (1972-1975) was an award-winning American television series which starred David Carradine. It was created by Ed Spielman, directed and produced by Jerry Thorpe, and developed by Herman Miller (who was also a writer for, and co-producer of, the series). David Chow (and later Kam Yuen) was the technical and kung fu advisor. A full length feature TV movie preceded the series. Bruce Lee had also sought or was considered for the leading role. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine on December 8, 1936 in Hollywood, California) is an American actor. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the Hollywood writer and producer Herman Miller. ... David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine on December 8, 1936 in Hollywood, California) is an American actor. ... Keye Luke ( Cantonese: Lo Sek Lam Pinyin: Lù Xílín) (June 18, 1904–January 12, 1991) was a Chinese actor. ... Philip Ahn (March 29, 1911 – February 28, 1978) was a Korean-American actor. ... Rad Pera (born Radames Pera 14 September 1960 in New York, New York, USA) is an actor who starred in many TV shows. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alternative meaning: Kung Fu (TV series) Kung fu or gongfu (功夫, Pinyin: gōngfu) is a well-known Chinese term used in the West to designate Chinese martial arts. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine on December 8, 1936 in Hollywood, California) is an American actor. ... This article is about the Hollywood writer and producer Herman Miller. ... Bruce Lee (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: Lǐ XiÇŽolóng; Cantonese Yale: Léih Síulùhng; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born martial artist, philosopher, instructor, and martial arts actor widely regarded as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century and a...

Kung Fu follows the adventures of a Shaolin monk, Kwai Chang Caine (portrayed by David Carradine as an adult, Keith Carradine as a teenager and Radames Pera as a young boy) who travels through the American Old West (armed only with his skill in martial arts) as he seeks his half-brother, Danny Caine. The Shaolin temples (少林寺; pinyin: Shàolín Sì, Wade-Giles: Shao-lin Ssŭ) are a group of Chinese Buddhist monasteries famed for their long association with Chán (Japanese Zen) Buddhism and martial arts. ... For other uses, see Monk (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine on December 8, 1936 in Hollywood, California) is an American actor. ... Keith Carradine (born August 8, 1949, in San Mateo, California) is an actor and Academy Award-winning songwriter born into a family of actors. ... Rad Pera (born Radames Pera 14 September 1960 in New York, New York, USA) is an actor who starred in many TV shows. ... The cowboy, the quintessential symbol of the American Old West, circa 1887. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ...

Keye Luke (as the blind Master Po) and Philip Ahn (as Master Kan) were also members of the regular cast. Keye Luke ( Cantonese: Lo Sek Lam Pinyin: Lù Xílín) (June 18, 1904–January 12, 1991) was a Chinese actor. ... Philip Ahn (March 29, 1911 – February 28, 1978) was a Korean-American actor. ...

Overall series plot summary

In the late 19th century, Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) is the orphaned son of an American man and a Chinese woman. He was raised in a Shaolin monastery, and was trained by the monks to be a Shaolin master. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Monastery of St. ...

Master Po (left) and Kwai Chang Caine (right) in a flashback from the episode "Dark Angel", written by Herman Miller

However, when his mentor is murdered, Caine retaliated by killing the emperor's nephew, forcing him to flee China to escape execution. Caine ends up in the American Old West during which time he discovers that he has a half-brother, Danny. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (896x480, 442 KB) Summary Screenshot from the Dark Angel episode of the Kung Fu TV series. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (896x480, 442 KB) Summary Screenshot from the Dark Angel episode of the Kung Fu TV series. ... The cowboy, the quintessential symbol of the American Old West, circa 1887. ...

Although it is his intention to find Danny while avoiding notice, his training as a priest has instilled in him a sense of social responsibility, forcing Caine to repeatedly come out into the open to fight for justice. Afterwards, he would be forced to leave to stay ahead of the emperor's assassins.

The frequent use of flashbacks is used to recall particular lessons during Caine's training in the monastery while a child (Rad Pera) by his teachers, the blind Master Po (Keye Luke) and Master Kan (Philip Ahn). In these flashbacks, Master Po called his young student "Grasshopper" as a reference to their first meeting in which young Caine said that to be blind must be the worst affliction. Master Po drew attention to the grasshopper at his feet which the blind master could hear but to which Caine had been oblivious and so showed that the pupil still had much to learn. In literature and film, a flashback (also called analepsis) takes the narrative back in time from the point the story has reached, to recount events that happened before and give the back-story. ... Radames Perá (born Radames Pera 14 September 1960) is an American actor. ... Keye Luke ( Cantonese: Lo Sek Lam Pinyin: Lù Xílín) (June 18, 1904–January 12, 1991) was a Chinese actor. ... Philip Ahn (March 29, 1911 – February 28, 1978) was a Korean-American actor. ...

During the concluding four episodes of the third and final season, "Barbary House", "Flight to Orion", "The Brothers Caine", and "Full Circle", Caine not only finds his brother Danny, but his nephew Zeke as well.

Notable guest stars

• Cannonball Adderley
• John Drew Barrymore
• John Blyth Barrymore
• Bruce Carradine
• John Carradine
• Keith Carradine
• Robert Carradine
• David Chow
• José Feliciano
• Benson Fong
• Harrison Ford
• Jodie Foster
• Anne Francis
• Barbara Hershey (Barbara Seagull)
• James Hong
• Season Hubley
• Dan Inosanto
• Don Johnson
• Nancy Kwan
• Tina Louise
• Mako (Makoto Iwamatsu)
• Pat Morita
• Diana Muldaur
• Leslie Nielsen
• William Shatner
• Victor Sen Yung

Cannonball Adderley, 1960 Julian Edwin Cannonball Adderley (September 15, 1928 - August 8, 1975), originally from Tampa, Florida, was a jazz alto saxophonist of the small combo era of the 1950s and 1960s. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... John Blyth Barrymore (May 15, 1954) is a movie actor who is part of the famous Barrymore family. ... John Carradine (February 5, 1906 – November 27, 1988) was a Daytime Emmy Award-winning American actor, perhaps best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns. ... Keith Carradine (born August 8, 1949, in San Mateo, California) is an actor and Academy Award-winning songwriter born into a family of actors. ... Robert Carradine as Lewis Skolnick Robert Carradine (born March 24, 1954) is an American actor. ... José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist. ... Benson Fong (鄺炳雄 pinyin: Kuàng Bǐngxióng; born October 10, 1916; died August 1, 1987) was a Chinese-American character actor. ... For the silent film actor, see Harrison Ford (silent film actor). ... Alicia Christian Foster (born November 19, 1962), better known as Jodie Foster, is a two-time Academy Award-winning American actress, director, and producer. ... Anne Francis Anne Francis (born September 16, 1930, in Ossining, New York) is an American actress, famous for her role in the science fiction film classic Forbidden Planet (1956) and as private detective Honey West in the television series Honey West (1965-1966). ... Barbara Hershey is an American actress, known for her many film roles. ... James Hong (吳漢章, pinyin: Wu Hanzhang, born 22 February 1929) is an American actor and former president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists (AAPAA). ... Ex-wife of actor Kurt Russell and mother of his son Boston Russell. ... Dan Danny Inosanto (born July 24, 1936) is a Filipino martial arts (FMA) instructor from California who is best-known as a student of the late Bruce Lee and the worlds foremost authority on Jeet Kune Do. ... Donald Wayne Don Johnson (born December 15, 1949) is an American actor well known for his fame in film and television. ... Nancy Kwan on the cover of Life Magazine 1960 Nancy Kwan (born May 19, 1939) (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Cantonese: Kwan Ka Shin) is an American actress, who played a pivotal role in the acceptance of actors of Asian descent in major Hollywood film roles. ... Tina Louise (born February 11, 1934) is an American model, singer, and film and television actress, best known for her portrayal of Ginger Grant on televisions Gilligans Island. ... Makoto Iwamatsu (マコ 岩松, also 岩松 信 Iwamatsu Makoto, December 10, 1933 – July 21, 2006) was an Academy Award-nominated Japanese American actor. ... Noriyuki Pat Morita (June 28, 1932 – November 24, 2005) was an American actor who is probably best known for playing the roles of Arnold on the TV show Happy Days and Mr. ... Diana Muldaur (born August 19, 1938 in New York, New York), is an American television actress. ... Leslie William Nielsen OC (born February 11, 1926) is a Canadian born American comedian and actor. ... William Alan Shatner (born on March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor who gained fame for playing James Tiberius Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the television show Star Trek from 1966 to 1969 and in seven of the subsequent movies. ... Victor Sen Yung (揚森, pinyin: Yáng Sēn)(b. ...

Production history

Herbie Pilato, in his 1993 book The Kung Fu Book of Caine: The Complete Guide to TV's First Mystical Eastern Western, commented on the casting history for the series, particularly on the involvement of both David Carradine and Bruce Lee: David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine on December 8, 1936 in Hollywood, California) is an American actor. ... Bruce Lee (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: Lǐ Xiǎolóng; Cantonese Yale: Léih Síulùhng; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born martial artist, philosopher, instructor, and martial arts actor widely regarded as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century and a...

Before the filming of the Kung Fu TV movie began, there was some discussion as to whether or not an Asian actor should play Kwai Chang Caine. Bruce Lee was considered for the role. In 1971, Bruce Lee wasn't the cult film hero he later became for his roles in Fists of Fury (1969), Enter the Dragon (1973), and Game of Death (1979). At that point he was best known as Kato on TV's Green Hornet (1966-1967). (Kung Fu guest actor Robert Ito reports that Lee hated the role of Kato because he "thought it was so subservient.") "In my eyes and in the eyes of Jerry Thorpe," says Harvey Frand, " David Carradine was always our first choice to play Caine. But there was some disagreement because the network was interested in a more muscular actor and the studio was interested in getting Bruce Lee." Frand says Lee wouldn't have really been appropriate for the series - despite the fact that he went on to considerable success in the martial arts film world. The Kung Fu show needed a serene person, and Carradine was more appropriate for the role. Ed Spielman agrees: "I liked David in the part. One of Japan's foremost Karate champions used to say that the only qualification that was needed to be trained in the martial arts was that you had to know how to dance. And on top of being an accomplished athlete and actor, David could dance." [...] The character was half-Asian, half-Caucasian, so either an Asian or a Caucasian would have been a reasonable choice (A Eurasian would have been the most natural choice.) Nonetheless, grumbling from the Asian community would have made sense, given the fact that minor roles for Asian actors were almost nonexistent. James Hong, an actor on the show and ex-president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists (AAPAA) says that at the time Asian actors felt that "if they were going to do a so-called Asian hero on Kung Fu, then why don't they hire an Asian actor to play the lead? But then the show went on, we realized that it was a great source of employment for the Asian acting community." In fact, Hong says, Carradine had a good relationship with the Asian community, (pages 32-33).

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Bruce Lee (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: Lǐ XiÇŽolóng; Cantonese Yale: Léih Síulùhng; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born martial artist, philosopher, instructor, and martial arts actor widely regarded as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century and a... The Big Boss (《唐山大兄》 aka Fists of Fury in the U.S., not to be confused with Fist of Fury) was Bruce Lees first major film. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Game of Death (Chinese: 死亡遊戲) was the film Bruce Lee had planned to be the demonstration piece of his martial art Jeet Kune Do. ... The Green Hornet is a fictional crimefighter created to be the hero of an American radio program that ran on WXYZ (a local Detroit station), the Mutual Broadcasting System and the network known through its succession of various owners as NBC Blue, the Blue Network and the ABC Network from... Robert Ito (born July 2, 1931 in Vancouver, BC) is a Canadian voice, television and movie actor. ... David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine on December 8, 1936 in Hollywood, California) is an American actor. ... James Hong (吳漢章, pinyin: Wu Hanzhang, born 22 February 1929) is an American actor and former president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists (AAPAA). ...

Sequels and new series

Made-for-television movies

Pilato in The Kung Fu Book of Caine, also comments that Bruce Lee's son, Brandon Lee, was involved in sequels related to the series: Brandon Bruce Lee (李國豪 Cantonese: Léi Gwokhòu Pinyin: Lǐ Guóháo; February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993) was an American actor of Chinese, English and Swedish descent. ...

The late Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, played Caine's son, Chung Wang. Toward the end of the film, Chung Wang asks Caine if he is his father. The question seems somewhat ironic since-in real life-Brandon's father was the chief contender for the role of Caine in the series. After Bruce Lee lost the part to Carradine, he went back to China, where he made Enter the Dragon, the film that began his legendary career in martial arts movies, (page 157).

In the first, Kung Fu:The Movie (1986), Caine (played by Carradine) is forced to fight his hitherto unknown son, Chung Wang (played by Lee). In the second, Kung Fu:The Next Generation (1987), the story moves to the present day, and centers on the story of Johnny Caine (Lee), who is the great-grandson of Kwai Chang Caine. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

Kung Fu: The Legend Continues

Main article: Kung Fu: The Legend Continues

Two decades after the first series ended, a second, related series running in syndication followed the adventures of a descendant of Kwai Chang Caine. Entitled Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, it again starred Carradine, and introduced Chris Potter as his son. The second series ran for four years, from 1993-1997. In the television industry (as in radio), syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast television programs to multiple television stations, without going through a broadcast network. ... Chris Potter (born Christopher Jay Potter August 23, 1960 in Toronto, Ontario), is a Canadian actor. ...

Warner Bros. Webisodes

In 1999 the Warner Bros. website introduced a series of animated "webisodes" that continued the adventures of the Kung-Fu series, and which featured the voice of David Carradine. There were roughly nine episodes, each approximately ten minutes in length, briefly archived on the website, but they soon disappeared after a few months. As of April 2007 they still do not appear to have been archived online.

New feature film

In June of 2006, Ed Spielman and Howard Friedlander announced that a feature film (which will serve as a prequel to the original Kung Fu series and take place in China) is in development [1]. They have also announced that David Carradine "will not be returning to the project, nor will it be an effects-laden movie" [2]. In September 2007, it was announced that Max Makowski would direct the movie and that he planned to make the film edgier than the original television series. The movie will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures & Legendary Pictures.[3] David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine on December 8, 1936 in Hollywood, California) is an American actor. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Warner Bros. ... Legendary Pictures is an American motion picture company based in Burbank, California. ...

Episodes

Main article: List of Kung Fu (TV series) episodes

This is a list of episodes for the television series Kung Fu: Kung Fu (TV series) // Original Pilot King of the Mountain Dark Angel Blood Brother An Eye for an Eye The Soul is the Warrior Nine Lives The Tide Sun and Cloud Shadow The Praying-Mantis Kills Alethea Chains...

DVD Release

Warner Home Video has released the entire series on DVD in Region 1. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 235th day of the year (236th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Quotes

• "To suppress a truth, is to give it force beyond endurance." - Master Kahn.
• "Yet it is eyes which blind the man"..."Because a man can see, he does not look." - Master Po.

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• The Shaolin Temple which appeared in flashbacks was originally a set used for the 1967 film, Camelot. It was inexpensively and effectively converted for the setting in China.

• In the film Pulp Fiction the character Jules reveals his plan to quit his life as an assassin and "walk the earth, like Caine from Kung-Fu".

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... The Shaolin temples (少林寺; pinyin: Shàolín Sì, Wade-Giles: Shao-lin Ssŭ) are a group of Chinese Buddhist monasteries famed for their long association with Chán (Japanese Zen) Buddhism and martial arts. ... Camelot is the 1967 film version of the successful musical of the same name. ... Pulp Fiction is an Academy Award-winning 1994 film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote the screenplay with Roger Avary. ...

Awards

• 1973: Emmy Award, Best Director - (Jerry Thorpe), An Eye for an Eye.
• 1973: Emmy Award, Best Cinematography - (Jack Woolf), An Eye for an Eye.
• 1973: Writers Guild of America Award, Best Drama - (Herman Miller), King of the Mountain.

For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... An Emmy Award. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... An Emmy Award. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Annual awards given out by the Writers Guild of America for outstanding achievements in film, TV, or radio writing. ... This article is about the Hollywood writer and producer Herman Miller. ...

References

• Anderson, Robert. The Kung Fu Book: The exclusive, unauthorized, uncensored story of America's favorite martial arts show. Pioneer Books, Inc., 1994. ISBN 1-55698-328-X

• Pilato, Herbie J. The Kung Fu Book of Caine: The Complete Guide to TV's First Mystical Eastern Western. Boston: Charles A. Tuttle, 1993. ISBN 0-8048-1826-6

External links

• Kung Fu at the Internet Movie Database
• tv.com
• Unofficial Kung Fu site