Quincy M.D.

Jack Klugman 

I’m here reminiscing about my time with Jack Klugman, the talented actor best known for his iconic roles in the hit TV series "Quincy, M.E." and "The Odd Couple." I genuinely miss him and the joy he brought to every scene.  In one memorable scene, I portrayed a provocative character, and Jack couldn’t stop laughing during the takes. We ended up having to film it multiple times because of his contagious laughter! It made the experience even more enjoyable. Funny enough, when we were off the set, he saw me as the quiet, sweet, and innocent Vietnamese angel. LOL! He certainly had that one wrong! Those were truly unforgettable moments.

Divorce Court. 

This clip was filmed in the 1980s for a TV show called Divorce Court. The episode focused on white men marrying Asian women from Vietnam. I believe I was the first Vietnamese actress to appear on a national commercial television show. I was extremely nervous to tackle such a controversial subject. This particular episode addressed domestic abuse and the negative stereotypes suggesting that Vietnamese women were all whores and hustlers. Around that time, I was very busy balancing my concert performances with my acting and music career.

Too close for comfort. 

I acted alongside Le Tuan and Ted Night on the TV show "Too Close for Comfort," which aired on April 26, 1986. At that time, the Vietnam War had just ended, and America was adjusting to the Vietnamese presence in its communities. This series was notable for being the first television show to depict the radical racism against Vietnamese people in America. Other cast members included Henry Monroe, Muriel, and Mrs. Stinson (Pat Carroll) in the episode titled "Ho-Ho-Ho Chi Henry," Season 6, Episode 4. Unfortunately, the only actor I connected with on set was Le Tuan, as he spoke Vietnamese and my English was quite limited, which made me feel embarrassed.

Highway to Heaven. 

This photo was taken on the set of the hit TV series *Highway to Heaven*, starring Michael Landon. The episode titled "One Fresh Batch of Lemonade" featured one of my first speaking roles as a waitress. Unfortunately, my back was towards the camera, so despite the part's small size, I didn't get to show my face on screen. I was incredibly excited to be acting alongside Michael Landon, but I nervously fumbled my lines five times. With his characteristic humour, Michael suggested that perhaps I should order a drink for myself to help loosen up a bit. Everyone laughed, except for me, as I felt too embarrassed. To make up for my lack of camera time, Michael kindly offered to take a couple of photos with me, and that’s the one I’ve posted. Michael also starred in *I Was a Teenage Werewolf*, *Little House on the Prairie*, *The Legend of Tom Dooley*, and *Bonanza*.

China Beach

In the 1980s, hit television shows like *M*A*S*H* and *China Beach* (1988) were among the few that depicted war. One notable episode of *China Beach* is Episode #43, titled "Phoenix," in which I had a significant speaking role. Throughout my career, I have worked on various TV shows and movies, often crossing paths with emerging actors. It was on this show that I met Ricki Lake, who later gained fame for her roles in *Hairspray*, *Cry Baby*, *Mrs. Winterbourne*, *Working Girl*, *The Ricki Lake Show*, and several other films. The director of *China Beach* was Mimi Leder, and the writer was Toni Graphia. The cast featured Dana Delany, Michael Boatman, Ricki Lake, and me, Thu Thuy, in the role of Mrs Truong Chinh.

1971 All my children

This was my very first acting role on the hit TV series *All My Children*, which aired in the early 1990s and had a huge following. At the time, I was uncertain about my readiness to act, mainly due to my struggles with English. However, when my husband reassured me that the role would be non-speaking, I enthusiastically accepted the opportunity.  I portrayed a Vietnamese woman who encounters Phillip at the edge of a serene, meandering river, which added an intriguing layer to my character. The production team wanted me to look the part of a poor village girl, so they dressed me in tattered, earthy-toned garments that reflected the character's humble background. The photo captures me in my full costume, or rather, what I’d call 'dressed down' since it was meant to convey a rugged simplicity. That particular day was swelteringly hot, and the wide-brimmed hat perched on my head intensified the heat, causing beads of sweat to trickle down my forehead. Despite the discomfort, I managed to embrace the experience and stay in character, eventually laughing about it afterwards. It's a memory that reminds me of that exciting leap into the acting world!

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0862295/

Chi Tai 

It's a sad day. My friend and musician, Chi Tai, was discovered lying motionless on the seventh-floor staircase of his apartment building in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City. Khanh Hoang, his ex-manager, informed Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about the unfortunate incident. Despite emergency treatment, the renowned Vietnamese comedian could not be saved and passed away at the hospital around 3:20 PM on Wednesday, Hoang stated. Chi Tai, born in 1958, was a famous Vietnamese musician, comedian, and actor. I will always remember him fondly. I recall him making me laugh during the recording of my first cassette album, "Nu Hon Dau 1985," which he helped produce. We had so much fun touring together as a band. I can still hear Chi Tai saying, "Why are you always laughing at me?" to which I would reply, "You should be a comedian." 

I will miss you dearly, Chi Tai. Love you always. I have enclosed a link to the last song we created together, “Gonna Lose My Heart” (In Vietnamese): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT0_QqVzM4s

Randy Jackson

This photo was taken at my performance in 2013 at the world-famous Whisky A-Go-Go. Though I'm not an American Idol contestant, Randy stopped by to visit. He was very sweet and polite and despite his contract to refrain from taking any photos or movie clips. He allowed us to video our meeting together. And when I was on stage, he cheered me on, and that made my day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teVAnIk3WOw

Richard Blade

Without Richard, New Wave '80s would have never happened to America. He was KROQ '80s radio host Legend. It was in the early '80s when I met Richard Blade at the time he was interviewing WHAM! (George Michael) on MV3 1982.  And after a long 25 years of my missing in action.  It was nice to see him again as we worked together producing my live concert in Huntington Beach Ca at Club AVEC.  And 25 years later you can see us having a fun dance together. Ckick Here!