#robert ito

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝟑𝟏 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟒!!

Today in the Department of Before They Were Star Trek Stars, Jonathan Frakes guest stars in "Face of Fear," episode 20 of the fourth season of Quincy, M.E. (original air date March 24, 1982).

I wasn't going to continue making these posts while I was having trouble with my corneas and using a borrowed computer, but when I got hold of these episodes of Quincy I couldn't resist. Maybe I'll just come back and edit them when my peeper are in better shape. I'll definitely come back and add alt text to the images.

Frakes plays Leon Bohannon, a drug dealer whose name is brought to you by the letters O and N. He kills one of his mules during a deal gone wrong in his business partner's beach house. The only witness is a neighbor who suffers from severe agoraphobia and is walking past the window on her first trip outside the house by herself in seven years. Because of her emotional stress and self-medication with alcohol, the police don't believe her until the forensic evidence Dr. Quincy finds in the autopsy of an apparent Jane Doe corroborates her story. In an ending that brought a big smile to the face of this Gen X kid, when Bohannon tries to kill the witness, she runs for sanctuary to the nearby mall where her husband had been taking her for desensitization. Is there anything a trip to the mall can't fix? Look at him, getting apprehended outside the Casual Corner!

Other Trek connections under the cut:

Batman: The Animated Series - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

Kyodai Ken

A master martial artist, Kyodai Ken had been the prized pupil of Yoru Sensei.  Ken felt particular disdain for Yoru’s other student, Bruce Wayne.  Bruce had come to Japan as a young man, seeking out Yoru Sensei as part the journey that resulted in his becoming Batman.  It greatly pained Ken that Yoru would accept a foreigner as a student and that this ‘rich man’s son’ was able to attain skills that rivaled his own.  

Prideful and ambitious, Ken sought to use his abilities for power and profit.  He tried to steal the Sensei's valuable ceremonial katana, but was caught by Bruce.  This resulted in Ken’s being banished from the dojo.  He angrily relocated to Tokyo and went on to become a ninja and highly successful assassin for hire.  

Years later, Ken traveled to Gotham City in order to exact revenge on Bruce.  Both adversaries had greatly enhanced their mutual skills, yet Bruce had been able to more fully incorporate the teachings of Yoru Sensei, enabling him to prevail.  A defeated Ken fled back to Japan where he formulated a new plan to attain his vengeance.  

For a master of the martial arts, fighting styles are as unique as fingerprints; and Kyodai Ken was able to surmise that Bruce Wayne was Batman.  He arranged the theft of a secret scroll containing the forbidden and deadly fighting technique called the Kiba no Houkou  (or ‘Way of the Fang’).  With this technique Ken could kill with a single touch and he challenged Batman planning to use the technique on him.  

Once more drawing from the teachings of Yoru Sensei, Batman utilized foresight and strategy.  He found Ken’s practice dummy and identified the spot on it where Ken had struck the most, determining it must be the specific chi-point where the deadly touch could be delivered.  

Batman reenforced this spot under his tunic and Ken was shocked when the Way of the Fang failed to kill his foe.  Remaining true to his own code of honor, Ken sacrificed himself, choosing to die rather than be saved by Batman.

Ito was for many years a dancer with the National Ballet of Canada before turning to acting in the mid-1960s. With a long list of performing credits to his name, he is probably best known for his seven-year role on Quincy, M.E. as forensic lab technician Sam Fujiyama. He also appeared three times (as different characters) in the 1970s TV series Kung Fu; first as a Chinese rail worker in the 2 hour movie that launched the series, then twice in regular hour-long episodes, once as a Chinese bandit named Captain Lee in the episode "The Way of Violence Has No Mind" & another time as a Japanese Ninja in the episode entitled "The Assassin".[citation needed] He likewise portrayed two different Korean characters in separate episodes of M*A*S*H in 1972 and 1976.

Ito acted in the film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. He also appeared in the 1976 World War II film, Midway, as Minoru Genda, the leader of the attack on Midway Island in June 1942. Ito guest starred on the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Coming of Age as TAC officer Lt. Chang and on Star Trek: Voyager as John Kim (Harry Kim's father). Ito starred in The X-Files episodes "Nisei" and "731". In 1999, he appeared in the episode "Hungry Man" on the sitcom The King of Queens.

Ito has voiced characters in such cartoon programmes and films as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Animaniacs, Bonkers, Batman: The Animated Series, Jackie Chan Adventures, Fantastic Max, Superman: The Animated Series, SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, My Little Pony and Friends, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?, Biker Mice from Mars, Quack Pack, Capitol Critters, ProStars, Justice League, Darkwing Duck, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Iron Man, The Karate Kid, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures, Rambo and the Forces of Freedom, Savage Dragon, The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, TaleSpin, Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos, The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries, All Grown Up!, The Mummy: The Animated Series, Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo, The Woody Woodpecker Show (the 1999 version), The Wild Thornberrys, Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects and Gargoyles.