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Gedde Watanabe

Gedde Watanabe

Actor · Born June 26, 1955 (71) · Ogden, Utah, USA

Gedde Watanabe is an American actor and comedian best known for his breakout role as the foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong in the 1984 teen classic Sixteen Candles.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 26, 1955 (71)
From
Ogden, Utah, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 78 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

What are Gedde Watanabe's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
35%
Bonds
20%
Society
19%
Morality
12%
Survival
6%
Power
5%
Ideas
3%
Friendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 7 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 8

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Herald: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Herald
2 of 4
Shapeshifter
1 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
6
Tense
5
Thrilling
5
Joyful
4
Hopeful
5
Other
20

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Gedde Watanabe's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 43 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gedde Watanabe's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

78 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Disappointments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 13 episodes · as Gary Chen

  • Ultraman: Rising(2024)

    as Professor Sato / Ultradad (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Panda 4(2024)

    as Badger Crime Boss (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Blue Eye Samurai(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chiba (voice) · as Kenzou / Chiba (voice) · as Kenzou / Sentry (voice) · as Lord with Silk (voice) · as Nightjar Manager / Running Man / Kenzou (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms(2024)

    as Trader Joe (voice)

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Sex Lives of College Girls(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Professor Harpin

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Perfect Harmony(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Glenn

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Magnum P.I.(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Sato

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Last Word(2017)

    as Louie the gardener

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • 47 Ronin(2013)

    as Troupe Leader (Kabuki Actor)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Parental Guidance(2012)

    as Mr. Cheng

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Seven Year Hitch(2012)

    as Mr. Fujimura

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Not Forgotten(2009)

    as Agent Nakamura

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword(2008)

    as Kenji (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Onion Movie(2008)

    as James Nakatami

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall(2008)

    as Hotel Manager

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Fortune Hunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Mr. Yu

  • Two for the Money(2005)

    as Milton

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Kim Possible: So the Drama(2005)

    as Professor Bob Chen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Chicken Hatchery Manager (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Mulan II(2004)

    as Ling (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Alfie(2004)

    as Mrs. Wing

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • On The Couch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Charlie

  • I Love the '80s Strikes Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Everwood(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Art

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • What's New, Scooby-Doo?(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Vincent Wong (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as James Nob (voice)

  • Kim Possible(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Professor Bob Chen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Law: The Movie(2002)

    as Cyril

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Slackers(2002)

    as Japanese Proctor

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Proud Family(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Min (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • My Wife and Kids(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Jackie Chan Adventures(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Gangster 1 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Secret Agent Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Ling #2

  • Guinevere(1999)

    as Ed

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Rugrats: Runaway Reptar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Zack (voice)

  • The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald: The Visitors from Outer Space(1999)

    as Karate Master (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Edtv(1999)

    as Greg

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Long Duk Dong (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Batman Beyond(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Suzuki (voice) · as Principal (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Mulan(1998)

    as Ling (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Nick and Jane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Enzo

  • The Weird Al Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Kuni

  • Booty Call(1997)

    as Chan (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Psycho Sushi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Yoshi

  • That Thing You Do!(1996)

    as Play-Tone Photographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenji

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Perfect Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Nuri (voice) · as The Emperor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Boys on the Side(1995)

    as Steve

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 58 episodes · as Yosh Takata

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Duckman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Ninja (voice)

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Speech Writer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Miss America: Behind the Crown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Takeo

  • Home Improvement(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Nobu Nakamura

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Pacific Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Ram Sha

  • Rugrats(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Zack (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch(1990)

    as Mr. Katsuji

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Down Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 19 episodes · as Tran

  • Grand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · as Taki Mifune

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Cartoon Squid / Japanese Father (voice) · as Factory Foreman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Booker(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Max

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • UHF(1989)

    as Kuni

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Seinfeld(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Oh

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Matty

  • Murphy Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Guru Prem

  • The New Adventures of Beans Baxter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Ho Hum

  • Gung Ho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 9 episodes · as Kaz Kazuhiro

  • Vamp(1986)

    as Duncan

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Gung Ho(1986)

    as Oishi Kazihiro

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Volunteers(1985)

    as At Toon

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Sixteen Candles(1984)

    as Long Duk Dong

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Tagadachi

  • The Long Island Four (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Life at Stake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as David Kootook

  • Pacific Overtures(1976)

    as Priest/Girl/Boy/Ensemble

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Anatomy of a Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 78 titles from 1976 to 2026; peak year 1985.

Biggest box office

Parental Guidance (2012)

$120M worldwide

Highest rated

Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19762026

Peak 1985 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting78 of 78: 78 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rd

By decade

1970s3 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s27 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s6 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 23 roles
849404

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Gedde Watanabe's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms (2024)

80th percentile spread · 59% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Pacific Overtures (1976)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Gedde Watanabe's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles18–76 · median 48 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles19–61 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles26–83 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles24–60 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles11–64 · median 46 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Gedde Watanabe work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gedde Watanabe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Keone Young shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers

Producers