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Wong BarbaraJean Biography

Chinese-American actress, primarily on radio, who began her performance career at the age of five. As she could read and had a clear voice at that age, she was soon dubbed the Chinese-American Shirley Temple because of her long black hair curled into ringlets and her charming persona. Wong appeared in films as early as 1934, when she had "a featured bit" in The Painted Veil. Her biggest radio role was on the comedy show Amos n Andy, in which she played Amos daughter Arbadella. In October 1938, she began portraying the detectives oldest daughter in a new Charlie Chan radio series. After college, Jean (she used her middle name) began working in the movies and worked in 20 films, including The Good Earth, The Man from Button Willow, and Charlie Chan in Honolulu, in which she played the part of Charlie Chans Number Three daughter. After Wong married, she retired from acting and earned her teaching credentials from Cal State Los Angeles. For 23 years, she taught elementary school before retiring in 1992. Wong married Robert Wah Lee and had four children. She died of respiratory illness on 13 November 1999 in Tarzana, California, aged 75. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less