Why does Dean ignore his Asian roots?
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conchie — 20 years ago(January 17, 2006 03:58 PM)
I find it so amazing that so many people are so racially conscious. Who cares what race anyone is? A person of light skin could be from anywhere on this planet. A person from dark skin too. A person with "slanted" eyes could be from any of the hundreds of countries with Asian influence. Is it just America, or is the entire planet so in tune with this absurd train of thought? You look at someone, take in their appearance, reach your own conclusions and go on with your life! Plus, if you've read anything at all on Dean Cain, he has mentioned AD NAUSEAM that his biological father is Japanese, he was never close to him as his parents were divorced when he was an infant, his mother subsequently married Christopher Cain, who adopted him legally and gave him his last name. Now, if he had changed his last name because he wanted to, or for the heck of it, why does it matter? Why is racial identification so important to so many people!!!???
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borg_queen — 20 years ago(January 17, 2006 10:32 PM)
Well, because that's the way it is. People want to be different from each other. Our differences make us unique. To know where we came from. To honor our heritage. If we are all similar, then life would be such a bore.
So, how did you manage to hurt you back? By running away from good taste?
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WackyKacky — 10 years ago(May 06, 2015 07:45 PM)
True, people are still hung up, prejudice is alive and well, and what is so funny now is how many actors are mixed and people don't know. If they can act, do a good job at entertaining us, who care? And if you care, it doesn't mean THEY are obligated to scratch all your itches.
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o_th_fret_o — 18 years ago(October 15, 2007 08:58 AM)
Seriously will people stop this crap about people being ashamed of thier ethnicity?he's beep 1/4 japanese, who gives a rats ass. My friend is 1/4 black you would never know it and just because he doesn't go around shouting black pride doesn't mean he's ashamed or trying to cover it up. Nearly every site with Dean Cain's profile has him listed as 1/4 Japanese, so STFU!
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tazguys — 18 years ago(December 15, 2007 09:59 PM)
My there are weird people on here. Does the media CALL him a white man? He is actually more Caucasian than Asian in race anyway (1/4 Asian). I think it's actually more offensive to characterize someone as another race just because a small part of their ancestry is tied to that race. If an African American was 1/16 Caucasian would you say they are, in reality, Caucasian?
Incidentally, you can actually have a Japanese last name and only have a small bit of Japanese ancestry. And if you're adopted, you can have none whatsoever!
That being said, yes, lots of actors Anglicize their last names but this is pretty rare nowadays. This used to be the norm, unfortunately. It was particularly common among actors with Jewish-sounding last names. -
Batwoman_the_Crimson_Avenger — 18 years ago(March 10, 2008 08:46 PM)
That being said, yes, lots of actors Anglicize their last names but this is pretty rare nowadays. This used to be the norm, unfortunately. It was particularly common among actors with Jewish-sounding last names.
yet in Dean's case, he was adopted by his step dad when he was little. Why keep his original last name when his mom remarried and he was adopted at such a young age? makes perfect sense to me that it was changed from Tanaka to Cain. Besides, Cain suits him better.
not to sound racist or anything. -
HereMyDear — 18 years ago(February 05, 2008 04:12 PM)
I have noticed in the American media they refer to Dean Cain as though he is just a white man but he's not he is an Asian American. Dean's biological father is a Japanese man and his real last name isn't Cain it's Tanaka. Perhaps a Hollywood agent told him to just say he is a white man? Because by looking at Dean I can clearly tell he is part Asian.
What the hell are they supposed to do, make it a point to mention it
every time
they talk about him? Just the fact that you are aware 2000that he's part Asian, and what his original surname is, tells me that it has been acknowledged in the media. I seriously doubt that you know the man personally to be privy to such information otherwise.
bjorkpluto, this thread is soyou -
Maesgwyn — 18 years ago(March 03, 2008 03:19 AM)
I've recently had the DVD's of Lois and Clark and if you listen to the commentary on the pilot episode, Dean explains that he is part Japanese and the interesting 'look' he has was one of the reasons he got the part. He's not trying to hide anything. Why should he acknowledge a culture that has had no part in his upbringing. I would say living in Malibu in a celebrity area is about as far away from Japanese culture as you can get. You just integrate into the life you know and are familiar with.
He is also part Welsh - do you expect him to play rugby and speak Welsh and wear a daffodil on St David's Day (I wish)! Incidentally being Welsh myself, does anyone know anything about his Welsh roots?