Chao-Li Chi was a Chinese-American actor and dancer who worked extensively in American television, including his best known role as Chao-Li, the faithful majordomo and chauffeur of Jane Wyman's character in Falcon Crest.
15 Facts About Chao-Li Chi
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Chao-Li Chi was featured in the short film by Maya Deren, Meditation on Violence, in 1948.
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Chao-Li Chi's brothers included the economist Ji Chaoding, and diplomat and UN Under-Secretary General Ji Chaozhu.
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Chao-Li Chi's older brother, Ji Chaoding, was an economist and left-wing political activist.
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Chao-Li Chi's younger brother Ji Chaozhu was a translator, diplomat, and later Under-Secretary General of the United Nations.
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Chao-Li Chi obtained a bachelor's degree from St John's College, in Annapolis, Maryland.
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Chao-Li Chi earned a master's degree from New York University and a second master's degree from The New School, which was known as the New School for Social Research at the time.
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Chao-Li Chi appeared as the lead performer in Maya Deren's 1948 film, Meditation on Violence, in which he performs a Wudangquan routine.
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Chao-Li Chi continued to perform with Deren dance companies into the 1960s.
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In 1967, Chao-Li Chi became the Dance Director of the Living Arts Program in Dayton, Ohio, while touring with Deren.
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Chao-Li Chi appeared in approximately fifty-one film and television roles during the course of his career.
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Chao-Li Chi taught courses in the Tao Te Ching, I Ching, philosophy and tai chi at California State University, Los Angeles and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
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Chao-Li Chi taught tai chi at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California, on Saturdays for more than thirty years.
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Chao-Li Chi died in his home in Granada Hills, California, on October 16,2010, at the age of 83.
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Chao-Li Chi was survived by his wife, daughter and stepson.