Alvin Ing

Ing was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He studied music at the University of Hawaii{{Cite web|title=Broadway Pioneer Alvin Ing Passes Away Aged 89 |url= https://thenerdstash.com/broadway-pioneer-alvin-ing-passes-away-aged-89/|work=Nerd Stash|date= 2 August 2021|access-date=2021-08-02}} and at Columbia University in New York City. Ing served in the United States Army.{{cite web | url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/08/07/these-two-hawaii-natives-were-very-different-covid-claimed-them-both/ | title=These two Hawaii natives were very different. COVID claimed them both | date=7 August 2021 }}

Ing was well associated with the musical Flower Drum Song by Rodgers and Hammerstein. He played the role of Wang Ta in numerous tours and stock productions, performing in the piece more than any other actor. Ing appeared in the musical Chu Chem in 1966, but the production closed before it reached Broadway. Prior to his Broadway career, Ing appeared in two Off-Broadway shows. Ing made his Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures in 1976. His performance in the original production of Pacific Overtures was also recorded and broadcast on Japanese television. Ing returned to Broadway in 2004 for a revival of the same show, playing one of his original parts, the Shogun's Mother. Due to his connection to Flower Drum Song, Ing was also a part of the 2002 Broadway revision, with additions by David Henry Hwang. In 1996, Ing appeared at the Singapore Repertory Theatre in the world premiere of the Dick Lee musical Sing to the Dawn, based upon the Minfong Ho book. Fellow cast members included Lee, June Angela, and Sala Iwamatsu.{{Cite web|url=http://www.srt.com.sg/production/singtothedawn/ |title = Sing to the Dawn| website= srt.com.sg| publisher= Singapore Repertory Theatre| date= | access-date= }} In October 2011, Ing took part in workshops and backers auditions for the musical adaptation of Honeymoon in Vegas,{{Cite news |url= https://variety.com/2011/legit/news/gambling-on-broadway-1118046312/|title = Gambling on Broadway |date = 17 November 2011| first= Jeff |last= Sneider| work= Variety.com| access-date= August 3, 2021}} a piece which eventually reached Broadway in 2015. Ing performed on tours of Two Gentlemen of Verona, City of Angels, and the play adaptation of The World of Suzie Wong, as well as with regional companies such as East West Players, where he again played the Shogun's Mother in Pacific Overtures.{{cite web |url=http://archive.eastwestplayers.org/about_us/production_history/pacificovertures.htm |title=Pacific Overtures - 32nd Season |website= eastwestplayers.org |date=1998-03-12 |accessdate=2016-04-27 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082615/http://archive.eastwestplayers.org/about_us/production_history/pacificovertures.htm |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} Ing became a frequent actor in musicals at East West Players during the 1990s, also appearing in Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, Follies, and original works Canton Jazz Club and Beijing Spring.https://rafu.com/2021/08/pioneer-actor-singer-alvin-ing-dies-at-89/

Besides his musical theatre career, Ing performed on television and in film. Ing had recurring roles on the soap operas The Doctors and Falcon Crest, but also did numerous guest roles in shows such as Benson, How the West Was Won, Charlie's Angels, Quincy, M.E., All-American Girl, Dallas, Dynasty, Fantasy Island, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series). Movie credits include The Final Countdown, Stir Crazy, Troop Beverly Hills, Smilla's Sense of Snow, and in his largest movie role, Mr. Lee, a primary antagonist opposite Mark Wahlberg in The Gambler.

Ing's singing career included cabarets, benefit concerts, and an album released on CD, Swing with Ing, which he recorded with Betty Loo Taylor.{{cite web |url= http://www.honolulupulse.com/2010/11/island-mele-jazz-album-fine-but-strays-from-genre/ |title= Island Mele: Jazz album fine but strays from genre |website= HonoluluPulse.com |date= 2010-11-12 |accessdate= 2016-04-27 |archive-date= 2016-03-04 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185930/http://www.honolulupulse.com/2010/11/island-mele-jazz-album-fine-but-strays-from-genre/ |url-status= dead }} Collaborating with Flower Drum Song revival cast member and Okinawan-born Yuka Takara, Ing performed numerous singing engagements as part of a yearly Broadway Night in Okinawa.{{Cite web|url= http://www.japanupdate.com/2012/12/yuka-takara-brings-broadway-night-to-okinawa/ |title= Yuka Takara brings Broadway Night to Okinawa| website= japanupdate.com| publisher= | date= December 2012| access-date= }} In 2020, Ing released a second album digitally, Broadway is Still Calling featuring a collaboration with Takara.https://www.onstageblog.com/profiles/2021/5/1/alvin-ing Ing also participated in The X Factor.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_KWJIsAj8Q |title=Yes, I Made It! Alvin Ing - THE X FACTOR USA 2013 |publisher=YouTube |date=2013-10-04 |accessdate=2016-04-27}} In December 2018, Ing and dozens of other Asian American performers celebrated the 60th anniversary of Flower Drum Song by performing the opening number at the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit, where over $6 million was raised.{{Cite web| url= https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/red-bucket-follies-record-breaking-fund-raising_87219.html|title = Red Bucket Follies Raises Record-Breaking $6,113,301 for BC/EFA | website= TheaterMania.com| publisher= | date= | access-date= }}

Ing was active with the Theater for Asian American Performing Artists during the 1970s. The organization performed skits and revues, as well as protesting stereotypes as a way to advocate for Asian American performing opportunities.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rj2W7MrqgRUC&q=a+history+of+asian+american+theatre |title=A History of Asian American Theatre |first= Esther Kim |last= Lee |page=39 |date= 12 October 2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521850513 |accessdate=2016-04-27}} Ing was also an interview subject for a documentary about Flower Drum Song castmate Jack Soo and the struggles of Asian American performers due to yellowface and stereotyping.

Ing's final performance was an open mic rendition of "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" as a way to protest an increase in violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ing died from complications of COVID-19 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, on July 31, 2021.{{cite web| url= https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Obituary-Alvin-Ing-Dies-at-89-20210801|website=Broadway World|accessdate=2021-08-01|title=Obituary: Alvin Ing Dies at 89}} His representation, Shushu Entertainment, disclosed that the fully-vaccinated Ing was first diagnosed with pneumonia in mid-July and then confirmed to have COVID-19 a few days later. After two weeks of battling the illness, he died from cardiac arrest. He was 89 years old.{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/04/alvin-ing-death-flower-drum-song-star-dies-from-covid-19-complications-15034626/|title=Broadway star Alvin Ing dies aged 89 due to Covid-19 complications|date=4 August 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/alvin-ing-dies-pioneering-asian-163750126.html|title = Pioneering Asian-American Broadway Star Alvin Ing Died of Breakthrough Covid-19, Reps Say – Update| date=3 August 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/alvin-ing-dead-flower-drum-song-pacific-overtures-broadway-1234992806/|title = Alvin Ing, Actor in 'Flower Drum Song' and 'Pacific Overtures' on Broadway, Dies at 89|website = The Hollywood Reporter|date = 4 August 2021}}

Prior to his death, Ing gifted his 2004 Pacific Overtures co-star Francis Jue a suit he had worn at the premiere of the 1976 original Broadway production, requesting Jue wear it on the day he won a Tony Award. Jue fulfilled Ing's wish in 2025 when he received the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Yellow Face.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Margaret |title=Why Francis Jue Wore Alvin Ing's Suit From Opening Night of Pacific Overtures in 1976 |url=https://playbill.com/article/why-francis-jue-wore-alvin-ings-suit-from-opening-night-of-pacific-overtures-in-1976 |website=Playbill |access-date=10 June 2025 |date=8 June 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IBDB name}}
• {{IMDb name|0408665}}
• {{iobdb name|22764}}
• {{discogs artist|Alvin Ing}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ing, Alvin}}

Category:1932 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:Columbia University alumni

Category:University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumni

Category:Male actors from Honolulu

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male musical theatre actors

Category:American male film actors

Category:American LGBTQ people of Asian descent

Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in California