R.I.P. Burt Kwouk, aka “Cato”

Actor Burt Kwouk has died at the age of 85.

Kwouk’s most well-known role was “Cato”, the ninja-manservant of Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther franchise. I was a child going to the Pink Panther movies (they were major Events in our lives. “That was a priceless Steinway!” “Not anymore.”) and I totally got the humor (which, although it’s slapstick, is also pretty sophisticated in its absurdity.) I was obsessed with Cato. The mere FACT of Cato blew my mind. Every so often, Cato would come into my mind, and I’d have a moment of awe yet again. I used to say that I wished that I “had a Cato.” By total coincidence, I dated a guy later on who used to behave like Cato – kind of – (without me ever prompting him to “act like Cato”) and it was so hilarious and entertaining although it annoyed my roommates and I did punch him in the face once because I thought he was an intruder, but it was awesome. So I guess I did end up “having a Cato” after all.

Cato brought so much joy, even to a little kid like myself sitting in a movie theatre with my friends: those scenes when Clouseau came home and snuck through the house, on high alert, were cliff-hangers of hilarity.

As I scrolled through the comments section of the first link, the only “post” I ever wrote about Cato, I am struck by the 2004-ness of it all. But also, I came across a comment from my father (it happens sometimes and it always catches my breath in my throat.) This is a particularly good one:

Dearest: one of my favorite movie lines is “Not now Cato!” love dad

Rest in peace, Burt Kwouk.