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Alvin Ing, the Broadway actor best known for his work inPacific Overtures andFlower Drum Song, has died. He was 89.
The actor died on Saturday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, of breakthroughCOVID-19complications, according to his representatives.
“Honolulu native and American Army veteran with a gift to serve, he felt a duty to himself and his fellow citizens to be fully vaccinated,” reads a statement from his reps provided to PEOPLE. “Although he was fully vaccinated, Ing was first diagnosed with pneumonia in mid-July then confirmed to have COVID-19 a few days later. After two weeks of battling COVID-19, Ing passed away due to cardiac arrest.”
Breakthrough cases— COVID-19 infections that occur in people who have been fully vaccinated against the virus — are rare, but possible and expected, as the vaccines are not 100% effective in preventing infections. Still, vaccinated people who test positive will likely be asymptomatic or experience a far milder illness than if they were not vaccinated. The majority of deaths from COVID-19, around 98 to 99%,are in unvaccinated people.
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Born in Honolulu, Ing studied music at the University of Hawaii before moving to New York City to pursue a career in theater.
After appearing in several Off-Broadway shows, Ing made his debut on the Great White Way as Shogun’s mother in the 1976 original production ofPacific Overtures— a part he would reprise when the musical was revived in 2004.
In addition to theater, Ing had recurring roles on the soap operasThe DoctorsandFalcon Crestand numerous guest starring roles onBenson, 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 theHawaii Five-0revival.
His film credits includeThe Gambler, The Final Cutdown, Stir Crazy, Troop Beverly Hills, andSmilla’s Sens of Snow.
Ing was also a staunch advocate for the AAPI community in the entertainment industry and an active member of the Theater for Asian American Performing Artists.
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In the wake of Ing’s death, hisFlower Drum Songfamily have also paid tribute to the star.
“His voice was glorious and filled the room with its flawless sound, but beyond that, his sound was steeped in joy, “Lea Salonga, who starred in Broadway’sFlower Drum Song, said in a statement. “Alvin was a joyful presence to be around at every rehearsal and performance. Beyond that his voice always sounded incredible, he brought a sweetness and kindness everywhere and to everyone. There was always a gentleness to him, but also a sassy sense of humor. He was a gift to everybody that got to work with him, and I’m only extremely blessed to have had that opportunity.”
“Alvin Ing was a consummate theater person, a pioneer and my friend. Most people would say Alvin was sweet, and he was. The Alvin I knew and loved was mischievous, with a wicked sense of humor,” Ing’s costar Jodi Long shared. “I shall truly miss Alvin, for his theater knowledge, for his New Year’s vegetarian Jai, for all the songs he sang and most importantly all the laughs.”
In a statement of his own, Hwang called Ing the “beloved link between generations of AAPI performers who had found employment and sometimes even stardom during a time when other opportunities were virtually non-existent.”
“As an AAPI actor of his generation, Alvin faced terrible racist exclusion, yet survived as an artist with his joy and talent (not to mention, his high notes) intact,” Hwang said.
Robert Longbottom, the director of Broadway’sFlower Drum Song, added: “He was our spiritual guide throughout and I adored working with him every day of that long process.”
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source: people.com
