It was discovered on Wednesday that actress Miyoshi Umeki died of cancer on August 28 in Licking, Missouri. She was 78.

Umeki was born in Otaru, Hokkaido, in 1929. She appeared on television and radio in the 1950s before moving to the United States.

Her most famous role was in the 1957 film "Sayonara," which was adapted from a James Michener novel and starred Marlon Brando. She and Red Buttons, who played her husband in the film, both won Oscars for their supporting roles. In doing so, she became the first Asian and the only Japanese person to win an Oscar.

Umeki also earned a Tony nomination for her starring role in the Broadway musical "Flower Drum Song." She later appeared in a few more movies before retiring from show business in the 1970s.