Xuan Phat

Xuân Phát (1932-2014) was a famous Vietnamese actor of stage and film.  He was married to actress Mỹ Lệ and together were parents of Vietnamese-American actor Dustin Nguyễn.

Nguyễn Xuân Phát was born in Saigon, South Vietnam in 1932.  Prior to 1975, Xuân Phát was one of the most prominent actors of the stage in South Vietnam.  Among his most popular stage plays while in South Vietnam included Đắc Kỷ Ho Gà, Tình Chú Thoàng, Tình Anh Bảy Chà and Tiết Giao Đoạt Ngọc.  Among his most popular films prior to the Fall of Saigon include Mưa Rừng (1971) starring Kim Cương, Kiều Chinh, Lê Quỳnh and Ngọc Phu, Chân Trời Tím (The Purple Horizon) (1971) starring Hùng Cường, Kim Vui, Ngọc Đức and Mộng Tuyền and Trường Tôi (1973) starring Tuyết Lan, Băng Châu, Quốc Dũng, Thanh Lan and Thanh Mai.

Mai Lệ Huyền and Xuân Phát in Đêm Sài Gòn 1
at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada
(Asia Entertainment - 1992)

Upon the Fall of Saigon, Xuân Phát and his family emigrated from South Vietnam to the United States.  For many years after resettling in Southern California, he traveled around the United States entertaining for overseas Vietnamese communities with fellow performers Túy Hồng, La Thoại Tân and Trúc Mai.  In 1992, Xuân Phát performed in a comedy sketch, Duyên Kỳ Ngộ, with Mai Lệ Huyền and Văn Chung on Asia Entertainment's live show video series, Đêm Sài Gòn 1, filmed at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.  In 2000, Xuân Phát performed a comedy sketch, Chuyện Chú Sồi, on volume 18 of the popular live show video series produced by Vân Sơn Entertainment entitled as Sân Khấu & Nụ Cười.  The following year, Xuân Phát returned for volume 19 of the popular live show video series produced by Vân Sơn Entertainment appearing in a musical comedy sketch, Thằng Bờm, alongside Vân Sơn, Bảo Liêm, Quang Minh, Hồng Đào, Bích Tuyền and Văn Chung.  In 2013, he costarred in his last film, Lửa Phật (Once Upon in Vietnam).  Produced and directed by his son, Dustin Nguyễn, the film also starred Ngô Thanh Vân, Roger Yuan, Thái Hòa, Ngọc Diệp, Hiếu Hiền, Phi Thanh Vân and his wife, Mỹ Lệ.

Xuân Phát and his wife, actress Mỹ Lệ

On June 11, 2014, Xuân Phát passed away from heart disease at Coastal Communities Hospital in Orange County, California.  He was 82.