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40 years after ‘Sixteen Candles,’ gay star Gedde Watanabe reflects on controversial Long Duk Dong role
Sixteen Candles was released 40 years ago this week.Decades later, the film holds a special place in the pantheon of pop culture—as John Hughes feature directorial debut, its success made him the voice of a generation, it jumpstarted Molly Ringwald’s rise to It Girl status, and everything from its fashion to its soundtrack helped solidify what we think of as ’80s style. (And how about that hunky Michael Schoeffling, eh?)But, these days, Sixteen Candles is also not-so-fondly remembered for its most notorious supporting role: foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, a walking caricature of Asian stereotypes.Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.Played by gay actor Gedde Watanabe, Dong was a classmate of protagonist Sam Baker (Ringwald), who happened to be living with her grandparents while in the exchange program.
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