BY LEE PFEIFFER
Character actor Burt Kwouk has passed away at the age of 85. Although primarily known for his work in comedy in film and television, Kwouk was equally adept at playing dramatic roles. In fact in the year 2011, he was awarded an OBE in honor of his accomplishments in drama. However, Kwouk will always be immortalized as Cato, the long-suffering but fanatically devoted man servant to Peter Sellers' bumbling Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series. A common theme throughout the series was having Cato follow Clouseau's orders to keep him on guard by ambushing him at the most inopportune moments. Their raucous battles were the stuff of inspired lunacy. He and Sellers first appeared together in 1964 and he would continue to play the same character in new installments of the series after Sellers death up until 1992. Kwouk was also a popular presence in British television and reinforced his cult status by appearing in two James Bond films in supporting roles, "Goldfinger" (1964) and "You Only Live Twice" (1967). He also made an appearance in the 1967 spoof version of "Casino Royale". Kwouk, a gentle and good-humored man in real life, relished the fact that his appearances in the Pink Panther and Bond films had made him popular even with younger generations. He frequently attended Bond-related fan conventions at Pinewood Studios in London where he enjoyed discussing his career and signing autographs. For more click here.