Gedde Watanabe stands at exactly 5ft 7 (170.2 cm), a height that has been central to his self-described struggles and comedic image in Hollywood as a Japanese-American actor.
Known for iconic 1980s roles like Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles and the lead in the TV series Gung Ho, Watanabe quipped in a 1986 People Magazine interview: "You think it's tough for women and blacks in Hollywood? Try being a 5 ft 7 inch Japanese-American named Gedde Watanabe."
His stature amplified his memorable portrayals, including the abrasive karate instructor Kuni in UHF (1989) starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, shaping his career as a versatile character actor.