Poncie Ponce | |
|---|---|
 Ponce in 1959 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ponciano Tabac Ponce |
| Also known as | Poncie Ponce |
| Born | April 10, 1933 Maui, Hawaii |
| Died | July 19, 2013 (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Live performer Vocalist Actor Musician Stand-Up Comedian Impressionist |
| Instrument(s) | Ukulele Trumpet Bongos |
| Years active | 1953–2013 |
| Labels | Warner Bros. Collectibles |
Poncie Ponce (born Ponciano Tabac Ponce;[1] April 10, 1933 – July 19, 2013) was an American actor, musician and stand-up comedian. Born in Maui, Hawaii, he moved to Los Angeles, where from 1959 to 1963 he played the role of cab driver Kazuo Kim in the Warner Bros. detective series Hawaiian Eye, on the ABC television network. In 1961, Ponce was at the forefront of a growing national interest in martial arts when he opened a karate studio in North Hollywood.[1]