Hayward Soo Hoo

In Loving Memory of Hayward Soo Hoo Hayward Soo Hoo was born on August 3, 1936, to Woo Shee and She Wing Soo Hoo. He was the fourth of five sons and also had two sisters. He attended Castelar Elementary School, Nightingale Junior High School, Belmont High School, and Los Angeles City College. While in school, Hayward met the love of his life, Marian Wong. They married in 1958 and shared a loving partnership that lasted nearly 50 years, until Marian’s passing in 2007. Together they raised three daughters: Linnea, Lora Mei and Lorean. Hayward lived a remarkable life defined by hard work, determination, and devotion to family. Over the years, he worked in the family store, pursued a career as an actor, opened his own business, Mei Ling South Sea Shop, and later owned and operated Chew Yuen Company and Imperial Arts. Through every chapter of his life, he remained connected to the entertainment industry and continued acting. As a child actor, Hayward appeared in several films, including Bombs Over Burma (1943) as Ling, The Big Bonanza (1944) as Jimmy, China’s Little Devils (1945) as Little Joe Doakes, and A Yank in Indo-China (1952) as Jake. He also appeared in Freaky Friday, Airplane!, Bring ’Em Back Alive, Some Kind of Hero, and Big Trouble in Little China. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Hayward was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He worked tirelessly to build his businesses, invest in real estate, and provide opportunities for his family. Nothing brought him greater pride than watching his family grow. He was blessed with four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, each of whom brought him tremendous joy. In his younger years, Hayward enjoyed socializing with friends, cruising, going to the movies, playing Mahjong, and bowling. Later in life, hunting became one of his greatest passions. Every October, he looked forward to hunting trips and treasured the friendships, adventures, and traditions that came with them. Hayward will be remembered for his strong work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit, generosity, sense of humor, and unwavering love for his family. He touched many lives throughout his 90 years and leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, dedication, and love that will continue through the generations that follow him. He was deeply loved and will be missed immensely. Services will be coordinated by Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.