William Brooks Ching (October 2, 1913 – July 1, 1989)[1] was an American character actor who appeared in numerous films and on television during the later 1940s and 1950s.

[2] along with his role as the overbearing boyfriend of Katharine Hepburn's character in George Cukor's 1952 comedy Pat and Mike.

[3] Ching began his career as a professional singer, starring in a summer series at the Memphis Open Air Theater.

[5] Ching declined to change his name at the time of his move to films, though it might give the mistaken impression that he was of Asian descent.

[citation needed] In 1989, at age 75, Ching died of congestive heart failure.