Candace Kita

Candace Kita is an Asian American actress most known for her work with Mel Gibson on ABC’s Complete Savages. Kita was originally a model with the Wilhelmina Agency and began to pursue her dream of acting after finishing school.

Candace Kita Early Life

Kita is a native of Los Angeles, CA. She lived in both Antwerp, Belgium and London, England during her childhood before her family settled in Texas. Kita attended The American School in London and the Antwerp International School in Belgium. In Texas, Kita graduated from Austin College, where she was the department Fellow in her major of philosophy and religion.

Candace Kita Modeling Career

Kita never thought about being a model. However, she walked into a hair salon with a friend as a teenager and was asked to pose for the salon’s advertisement. Soon she was with the prestigious Wilhelmina Agency and clients included: Neiman Marcus The Little Book, Nordstrom, Marshall Fields, XOXO, Diesel, Chinese Laundry, Stila, Brighton, among others.

Candace Kita Acting

A listing of Kita’s acting credits:

* Something in the Night (2011) (in production) .... Kayla ... aka S.I.N (USA: short title) * War of the Dragon (2011) (in production) .... Ann * Wonder Woman (2011) (in production) * Better With You (2011) (in production) * House M. D. -Out of the Chute (2011) TV episode .... Sarah * Coffin (2010) ... Camille * Jailbait (2010) .... Prison Guard * Nip/Tuck (2010) ... Kei - Episode #6.19 (2010) TV episode .... Kei * Christmas in Beverly Hills (2009) .... Gioia ... aka Natale a Beverly Hills (Italy) * "According to Jim" - The Six-Week Curse (2008) TV episode .... Carmen * Falling (2008/I) .... Julie * "Ugly Betty" - Bananas for Betty (2007) TV episode .... Reporter #1 * I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) .... Hooters Girl * Smith - Pilot (2006) TV episode .... Stewardess * Pepper Dennis - Pepper Dennis Behind Bars: Film at Eleven (2006) TV episode .... Squeaky * Faith Happens (2006) .... Lisa * Two and a Half Men" - Principal Gallagher's Lesbian Lover (2005) TV episode .... Coco

• Bad News Bears (2005) .... China
• Complete Savages

- The Complete Savages in...'Hot Water' (2005) TV episode .... Misty - Thanksgiving with the Savages (2004) TV episode .... Misty - Car Jack (2004) TV episode .... Misty

• Pax Importi Modellus: The Rise of the Import Model (2004) .... Cece
• Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004) (V) .... Host - Behind the Scenes Footage
• Quintuplets

- Get a Job (2004) TV episode .... Alison

• Method & Red

- Dogs (2004) TV episode .... Sami Kim

• The Deerings (2004) (TV) .... Yoko
• Beck and Call (2004) (TV) .... Zoe's Assistant
• "Girlfriends" .... Waitress (1 episode, 2003)

- Inherit the Lynn (2003) TV episode .... Waitress

• "Dance Fever" (2003) TV series .... Sketch comedian (sketches) (unknown episodes)
• Little Heroes 3 (2002) (as Candace Bender) .... Chlorine

... aka Les petits héros III (Canada: French title: TV title) ... aka Top Dogs: Little Heroes 3 (UK)

• Son of the Beach

- Bad News, Mr. Johnson (2002) TV episode .... Female Asian News Reporter - Taco Lips Now: Part 1 (2002) TV episode .... Female Asian News Reporter - Three Days of the Condom (2002) TV episode .... Female Asian News Reporter - Rod Strikes Back (2001) TV episode .... Female Asian News Reporter

• V.I.P.

- Sunshine Girls (2002) TV episode .... holo-reporter

• Felicity

- Miss Conception (2001) TV episode .... Contestant #1

• Even Stevens

- Wild Child (2001) TV episode .... Reporter

• Rennie's Landing (2001) .... Social Services Receptionist
• Wall to Wall Records (2000) (TV) .... Secretary
• Miriam Teitelbaum: Homicide (2000) (TV)
• Masked Rider

- Detention (1996) TV episode .... Barbara - Exit Nefaria, Enter Barbaria (1996) TV episode .... Barbara - The Eye of Edenoi (1996) TV episode .... Barbara - The Invasion of Leawood (1996) TV episode .... Barbara - Dex at Bat (1996) TV episode .... Barbara - Escape from Edenoi: Part 2 (16 September 1995) - Barbara - Escape from Edenoi: Part 1 (16 September 1995) - Barbara

- License to Thrill (23 September 1995) - Barbara - Pet Nappers (30 September 1995) - Barbara - Bugs on the Loose (7 October 1995) - Barbara - Arcade Ace (14 October 1995) - Barbara - Super Gold: Part 1 (28 October 1995) - Barbara - Super Gold: Part 2 (4 November 1995) - Barbara - The Grandma Factor (11 November 1995) - Barbara - Something's Trashy (18 November 1995) - Barbara - Water Water Everywhere (25 November 1995) - Barbara - Ferbus' First Christmas (12 December 1995) - Barbara - Stranger from the North (27 January 1996) - Barbara - Dance Crazy (3 February 1996) - Barbara - The Green-Eyed Monster (10 February 1996) - Barbara - The Heat Is On (17 February 1996) - Barbara - Know your Neighbour (24 February 1996) - Barbara - The Dash (24 February 1996) - Barbara - Battle of the Bands (27 April 1996) - Barbara - Ferbus Maximus (4 May 1996) - Barbara - Unmasked Rider (15 June 1996) - Barbara - Ferbus' Day Out (22 June 1996) - Barbara - Jobless (29 June 1996) - Barbara - Back to Nature (6 July 1996) - Barbara - Testing 1, 2, 3 (13 July 1996) - Barbara - Showdown at Leawood High (20 July 1996) - Barbara - Power Out (27 July 1996) - Barbara - Saturday Morning Invasion (9 September 1996) - Barbara - Passenger Ferbus (10 September 1996) - Barbara - Mixed Doubles (11 September 1996) - Barbara - Million Dollar Ferbus (16 September 1996) - Barbara - Ectophase Albee (17 September 1996) - Barbara - Race Against Time (26 September 1996) - Barbara - Cat-Atomic (14 October 1996) - Barbara - Indigestion (21 October 1996) - Barbara - Dex at Bat (31 October 1996) - Barbara - The Invasion of Leawood (4 November 1996) - Barbara - The Eye of Edenoi (5 November 1996) - Barbara - Exit Nefaria, Enter Barbaria (18 November 1996) - Barbara - Detention (20 November 1996) - Barbara

• Barb Wire (1996) (as Candace Camille Bender) .... Dancer
• The Wayans Bros.

- It Takes a Thief (1996) TV episode .... April

• Wild Side (1995) (as Candace Camille Bender) .... Lotus Ita
• Murder, She Wrote

- Murder a la Mode (1995) TV episode (uncredited) .... Kim Huan's Wife

• Stealth Hunters (1991) .... News Anchor
• The Jace Hall Show

- 'Lost' TV Show Star Dan Roebuck... (2008) TV episode .... Herself

• Bench Warmer: Behind the Scenes (2005) (V) (as Candi Kita) .... Herself
• The Sweet Spot

- Palm Springs, California (2002) TV episode .... Manicurist

• Street Fury: Red Edition (2002) (V) .... Herself - Host
• Street Fury (2001) (V) .... Herself - Host

Candace Kita Personal Quotes

When you meet someone for the first time, you're not meeting them...you're meeting their publicist.

I've always wanted to serve my country through the USO and am excited about this opportunity. The USO has a long history of entertaining the troops and I'm proud to be a part of it. I toured the facilities and saw military personnel getting ready to be shipped overseas. So many men were saying goodbye to their wives and little babies.

I have received many emails from servicemen thanking me for visiting the troops. I will continue to support the troops any way I can.

Whatever your political affiliation may be, whether you are a conservative or liberal, we should all be bound by the belief that we need to support the troops.

I support the troops because they enable you to get up in the morning, drop your kids off to school, go to the grocery store and choose from over 200 different types of cereal, drive home in your luxury car and go to a movie with your boyfriend or girlfriend. They don't get to do this. They are in another country protecting you so you can live the American Dream. Don't ever forget it or take it for granted.

I went on an audition for a 55 year old African American truck driver with a bobbed haircut. I thought, "Good God, what are they thinking?" Today, I was told I might get this job. I must not look the way I think I look.

My real name is Candace Bender but my agent made me change it. Everyone thought he was representing Candace Bergen.

Comic-con has become a cultural phenomenon. It's the only place where you can bump into Chewbacca and Megan Fox at the same time.

All too often, we are conditioned by Asian culture to go out of our way to be polite.

I've been told my entire adult life that I look like no one else; I take this as a compliment. I have hair longer than most, but it suits me. People have told me to cut it; I don't. Plus, I will be in this year's Guinness Book of World Records for Most Sinks Clogged. I have a rather prominent mole above my upper lip. My grandmother believed in the old-school idea that you should have skin "like an eggshell;" that was true Asian beauty. So she would tell me, "If you do well in school this year, we'll have your mole removed this summer." This made me the only person in Trig who worried, "Will solving this parabola put me under the knife?" I was afraid getting my mole removed would entail getting a big, fat shot so each year I politely declined. Thank God I am a sissy when it comes to pain. As I've gotten older, I've really come to embrace that mole. Flaws are great. Well, except for that festering carbuncle on my forehead - I had that removed.

[On her work as a professional clown] Just call me Blueberry Muffin. I was allergic to the pigment red, so I painted my face blue. I must have been the early inspiration for Avatar. Looking back -- I frightened children. Once, in a scene straight out of a Fellini movie, a motorcycle ran into my car while I was on my way to work. The firemen and police officers couldn't stop laughing hysterically while the motorcycle rider hobbled about on a broken leg. I did learn how to make animal balloons, juggle, do pocket magic and work with fire -- all the skills necessary to make you a viable candidate in today's workforce. Strangely, I was often asked out while in full clown makeup. The popcorn vendor, other clowns, magicians, a Power Ranger, Hasidic Jewish men at a religious celebration, the list goes on and on. It couldn't have been yellow fever, because I was blue. I hope there aren't pictures of me on some weird clown fetish website.

I've never been a waitress, hostess, bartender or any of the typical side jobs you'd expect an actor to have. This is partly because I've always been afraid of dropping plates on customer's heads.

The horror genre is my personal favorite. But then again, I was the kid who read coroner books for fun.

You will get so much out of giving. Probably much more than you think. I think that's the key in a nutshell.

I've always gotten the greatest joy doing things for other people. I guess this is just a part of my personality. I was always the kid at Christmas not opening my presents because I was more concerned with other people having a good time. Hotties with a Heart has given me an outlet to do something in an organized manner.

In my humble opinion, preserving racial purity isn't a worthwhile goal. You should be able to date whomever, whenever, wherever without the threat of a backlash.

Red ants kill black ants. It would seem no matter how much bigger and more complex we get as humans, our socialization is still aligned with those tiny creatures who kill others based simply on color.

This is something I've always said and I think is really important and it's not so much about finding an agent or a manager. I've always said believe in yourself. I think you've really got to be your own cheerleader. You're the best cheerleader that you can have. Many times in this business I've been told, "You're too tall. You're too short. You're too ethnic. You're not ethnic enough." You've got to believe in you. And believe that you can do it. I think that's the most important piece of advice I can give anyone.

I'm from Texas. I'm poor white trash in an Asian body.

My hair is straight. When I go to Texas with the humidity, I have an afro.

Candace Kita Candace

• is a classically trained flautist and played with the Palm Beach Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.

• is also fluent in American Sign Language.

• is left-handed.

• can juggle.

• is lobbying for California to instate an anti-harassment law.

• has lobbied to make the anti-stalking laws more stringent in the state of California.

• is the founder of "Hotties with a Heart", an organization that brings together models and actresses to donate time to charitable events in the greater Los Angeles area.

• hosted a weekly radio program "Hottie Help with Candace Kita" on LA Talk Radio on Sundays from 2-3 pm PST.

• The comic heroine Kyu-Shin, from Scare Tactix Graphix, is based on Kita's likeness.

• Candace's likeness appeared in the comic book "Masked Rider" by Marvel Comics as the character Barbara Stewart.

• started out as a professional clown, Blueberry Muffin. Performed for Rod Stewart, Rachel Hunter, Bruce Springsteen, Cheryl Tiegs, Will Smith, director Tim Burton, director Ivan Reitman, among others.

• One of her first jobs was a print advertisement for the Japanese department store Takashimaya.

• has been spoofed by Beavis and Butt-head (episode: Womyn) for her role as a demented stewardess in the Catherine Wheel video, “Way Down” directed by Mark Pellington.

• met actor George C. Scott by accident while auditioning on location in downtown Los Angeles for the film, “Tyson”. The two sat and had a conversation with his longtime makeup artist Del Acevedo.

• once helped Mel Gibson prank the cast and crew of “Complete Savages” by wearing prosthetic chest hair and a bikini before getting into a hot tub with him.

• was voted as one of the Top Ten Most Beautiful Women by Rukus Magazine in 2010.

Candace Kita Charity

In 2008, Candace created a charity organization, Hotties With a Heart. This organization brings together young women who donate their time to various charities throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Recent events have included: The Bob Hope USO, Read Across America, The Salvation Army, Toys For Tots, The Frank Jordan Mission.

Candace also hosts a weekly radio show in Los Angeles, Hottie Help. This show is dedicated to women’s safety issues. Each week Kita invites a celebrity guest to discuss a specific topic pertaining to women’s safety. This live call-in show is one of the highest rated at LA Talk Radio. Among the topics discussed are car safety, travel, campus life, identity theft, surfing the internet, dating, safety at home and workplace harassment.

The Hotties With a Heart Foundation was created by women's safety advocate Candace Kita in 2008. This women's group is comprised of actresses and models who donate their time to charitable functions in the greater Los Angeles area. Recent events have included:

• The Salvation Army's Shopping Spree at Sears
• Read Across America
• The Benchwarmer 3rd Annual Toy Drive for Toys for Tots
• The City of Industry Food Bank
• The Frank Jordan Mission
• The Burbank Animal Shelter

Candace Kita Author

Candace is the author of the “The Hottie Handbook: A Girl’s Guide to Safety”. This safety primer for young women is available now as an iPhone application.