Otto Yamaoka

Otto Yamaoka (April 25, 1904 – June 5, 1967) was an American actor and businessman who worked in Hollywood primarily during the 1930s. He was one of only a handful of Japanese-descended actors working in the industry at the time. His sister, Iris, was an actress. Otto was born in Seattle, Washington, to Ototaka Yamaoka and Jho Watanabe.

The family moved to Los Angeles in the 1920s, and he and his sister Iris both developed an interest in acting; both primarily played smaller roles. His brother, George Yamaoka, became a prominent lawyer.Otto's career in Hollywood ended around 1940, and he then began working as an importer in the Los Angeles area. The Yamaoka family was sent to the Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming during World War II following the signing of Executive Order 9066.