Patrick Adiarte, wonderful dancer of stage & screen 'Flower Drum Song,' dies at 81

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 9:14am

Patrick Adiarte's claim to musical-theater fame is assured, thanks to his big-screen debut as Prince Chulalongkorn in the 1956 Oscar-winning movie of ''The King and I'' and his Broadway debut as Wang San in Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1958 ''Flower Drum Song,'' directed by Gene Kelly. But to me, the Filipino-born Adiarte (1943-2025) meant much more.

Growing up Asian-American, especially in the 1970s, it was almost impossible to see any Asian-American faces on TV, with the possible exceptions of Hop Sing, the Chinese cook on ''Bonanza,'' and Mrs. Livingston, the Japanese housekeeper on ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father.'' So it was exciting to see Adiarte in ''Flower Drum Song,'' as a young Asian-American guy dancing so dynamically in that 1961 movie version. He didn't speak in Pidgin English, and he was just a contemporary, all-American teen. There are rare clips of him on YouTube, dancing on ''Omnibus,'' alongside Kelly, who compared the kid to Fred Astaire, and clips from ''Hullabaloo,'' dancing alongside Michael Bennett and Donna McKechnie.

But I'll always remember him as a baseball-loving teenager dancing around the fountain in ''The Other Generation'' in ''Flower Drum Song,'' directed by Henry Koster, with choreography by the great Hermes Pan. They also allowed Adiarte to cut loose in another number, ''Chop Suey.'' He appeared in guest shots on TV shows in the '60s and '70s (like ''M*A*S*H'' ). Alas, opportunities were limited for Asian-American performers back then, and what a shame he never got to step onto Broadway again. Happily, Adiarte left a small but lasting legacy of his graceful and athletic dancing on film and TV, where he always put his best foot forward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmXqVZpOObs&list=RDEMnElt55pLESsfgo_lIdueuw&start_radio=1

Updated On: 4/17/25 at 09:14 AM

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 9:25am

'Omnibus': Gene Kelly & Patrick Adiarte on tap (1958)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwiVcgEzHW4

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 1:00pm

Thanks for this nice appreciation. RIP to a trailblazer and an incredible dancer. I sure was fascinated by the sight of him, athletic and so balletic, in that baseball uniform when I saw Flower Drum Song as a teen. Might have been some kind of awakening lol. 

[merle57]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 1:35pm

He was fabulous in Flower Drum Song on stage as well as in the film. What a wonderful stage presence, and a great singer and dancer. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 2:12pm

Such a talent.  I always remember him as David from the Hawaii episodes of "The Brady Bunch."  Had no idea he was married to Loni Ackerman at one time.  

Updated On: 4/17/25 at 02:12 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 8:31pm

Sad news. I was a fan. I used to obsess over his appearances on "Hulabaloo". I loved watching him dance. 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/18/25 at 6:20pm

Whenever Patrick Adiarte was dancing in ''Flower Drum Song,'' his solo would steal the show, notably his turn in the crazy and kitschy ''Chop Suey'' number.

I'd love to know what went into the reasoning behind this one-of-a-kind dance number, directed by Henry Koster and choreographed by Hermes Pan. Uh, let's show how ''American'' these Chinese-Americans can be: Let's have 'em do a country  square dance (with a promenade and a do-si-do), with some of the calls in Cantonese; followed by a waltz section, and then a contemporary jazz dance. And it all wraps up with Confucian-like bows!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPwiqmv6Xeo

Updated On: 4/18/25 at 06:20 PM

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 4/18/25 at 7:24pm

Agreed, the film of Flower Drum Song is wonderful on so many levels but Adiarte is the heart of it.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/18/25 at 8:50pm

Here’s Patrick and his attempt at a singing career with his single “Five Different Girls”  which he performed at his day job: NBC’s HULLABALOO in 1965. Yes, girl number 3 is Donna McKechnie: 

 

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 4/18/25 at 11:26pm

He was so cute. 
As was his older brother played by James Shigeta. 
Did it get any better than James Shigeta?
He was great in the movie too.