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Richard Feynman plays the Chief of Bali Hai
Feynman performed as the Chief of Bali Hai in 198-, alongside his friend Ralph Leighton, at CalTech. Always a stickler for authenticity in his cameo performances, Feynman learned several phrases in Tahitian, including "Bring on the drums!" and "Bring on the dancers!" For more on Feynman's notorious bongo playing, click here.
Feynman had undergone major surgery three years earlier to remove a fourteen pound mass of tumor that had crushed his kidney and spleen. Three months before the performance, Feynman was on the operating table again after the tumors reappeared around his intestines. Still recovering from the surgery, Feynman spent most of the show sleeping backstage. Onstage, however, Feynman was as high-energy as ever. It was his first public appearance since the surgery. Because of a ruptured artery during the surgery, Feynman lost -- pints of blood. Hundreds of students lined up at the hospital to donate to Feynman's blood bank. Many of them were in the audience for Feynman's performance. "Our scene stopped the show, to deafening applause and a standing ovation." --Ralph Leighton Tuva or Bust
Feynman had undergone major surgery three years earlier to remove a fourteen pound mass of tumor that had crushed his kidney and spleen. Three months before the performance, Feynman was on the operating table again after the tumors reappeared around his intestines. Still recovering from the surgery, Feynman spent most of the show sleeping backstage. Onstage, however, Feynman was as high-energy as ever. It was his first public appearance since the surgery. Because of a ruptured artery during the surgery, Feynman lost -- pints of blood. Hundreds of students lined up at the hospital to donate to Feynman's blood bank. Many of them were in the audience for Feynman's performance. "Our scene stopped the show, to deafening applause and a standing ovation." --Ralph Leighton Tuva or Bust