Kyoto-born Miko Mayama, a talented actress, made a significant impact on the screen from 1965 to 1969, predominantly cast in roles as Japanese or Chinese characters in popular television shows such as I Spy, F Troop, Ironside, Hawaii Five-O, and Mannix. Her most notable appearance on a cult level is as Yeoman Tamura, a member of the Enterprise landing party to Eminiar VII, in the iconic Star Trek episode 'A Taste of Armageddon' in 1966.
In 1968, Miko's career took an exciting turn when she joined a Kabuki theatre troupe in Japan, where she caught the eye of renowned actor Burt Reynolds, who was en route to the Philippines to star in Impasse. Reynolds promptly cast Miko in the role of Mariko, his on-screen mistress, and the couple's personal relationship blossomed. They returned to the United States, where they lived together from 1968 until 1971.
Miko's next notable role was as Fumiko, the mistress of Whipple Hoxworth (Charlton Heston),a hard-boiled plantation owner, in the epic drama The Hawaiians, based on James A. Michener's novel, in 1970.
Privately, Miko's relationship with Burt Reynolds was going strong until 1971, when the actor met his new flame, Dinah Shore. The inevitable break-up resulted in a settlement for Miko, which included a beach apartment, Burt's Cadillac, and a $500 weekly allowance. Miko later married Martin Erlichman, Barbra Streisand's long-standing manager.
Miko's final notable role was in a season seven episode of M*A*S*H, where she played Sun Pak, the daughter of an ailing Korean ex-cavalry officer, reduced by circumstances to doing laundry for the 4077th.
