Haru

Haru

Sumi Haru (also known as Sumi Sevilla Haru; August 25, 1939 – October 16, 2014) was an American film and television actress, producer, actor, journalist, poet, and the first national vice-president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Haru is best known for such films and television shows as Krakatoa, East of Java, MASH, The Beverly Hillbillies and Hill Street Blues. She served as interim president of Screen Actors Guild in 1995, the first and to-date only woman of color to hold the position. Haru was born Mildred Sevilla in 1939 at Orange, New Jersey to Filipino immigrants. After changing her name to Sumi Haru when launching her acting career, she became involved with the film and television labor movement to address issues concerning the lack of opportunities and roles for Asians. Haru was a board member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) beginning in 1974, and also served multiple terms as the national recording secretary and first vice president. Her autobiography, Iron Lotus: Memoirs of Sumi Sevilla Haru (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, October 9, 2012; ISBN 978-1479331536), was published in 2012. The following year, she was elected for a two-year term as a member of the first elected national board of the merged SAG-AFTRA.

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