
Poncie Ponce, the Maui native who played a wise-cracking cab driver Kazuo "Kim" Quisado on the 1960s ABC TV detective series Hawaiian Eye, the first network series to be set in the 50th state, has died. He was 80. (Photo left, with Connie Stevens)
The TV show led to parts in a handful of films, most notably as part of a stock car racing pit crew on Elvis Presley's team in the 1968 movie 'Speedway'.
During Hawaiian Eye’s opening each week, Ponce was seen floating in the ocean on an inner tube, wearing his trademark straw hat and stroking a ukulele. Connie Stevens played a nightclub singer/photographer on the series, which was actually filmed on a lot in Burbank.
When Hawaiian Eye’s run came to an end in 1963, Ponce traveled the world performing in nightclubs in Australia, Argentina, Japan and elsewhere.
Ponce also appeared as Kim in TV's 77 Sunset Strip. He also had a bit role as Pineapple in the comedy The World’s Greatest Lover (1977).
Ponce, a native of Maui, Hawaii, died July 19th 2013 at his home in Los Angeles.
source: http://www.elvisinfonet.com - Elvis Information Network
The TV show led to parts in a handful of films, most notably as part of a stock car racing pit crew on Elvis Presley's team in the 1968 movie 'Speedway'.
During Hawaiian Eye’s opening each week, Ponce was seen floating in the ocean on an inner tube, wearing his trademark straw hat and stroking a ukulele. Connie Stevens played a nightclub singer/photographer on the series, which was actually filmed on a lot in Burbank.
When Hawaiian Eye’s run came to an end in 1963, Ponce traveled the world performing in nightclubs in Australia, Argentina, Japan and elsewhere.
Ponce also appeared as Kim in TV's 77 Sunset Strip. He also had a bit role as Pineapple in the comedy The World’s Greatest Lover (1977).
Ponce, a native of Maui, Hawaii, died July 19th 2013 at his home in Los Angeles.
source: http://www.elvisinfonet.com - Elvis Information Network