Long Duk Dong is an awkward, nerdy Chinese exchange student who communicates in broken English and American catchphrases, causing him to be lampooned by the rest of the characters.

The actor defended Hughes’ decision to write the character, explaining that, in a way, Long Duk Dong also played against stereotypes. “That was really unusual in a sense, for the Asian character to get the girl and party and be in bliss like that,” Watanabe said.

Watanabe, who hails from Utah, used a fake, heavy accent in Sixteen Candles. He shared that to prepare for the role, he took inspiration from a friend, whose actual accent is similar to the character’s. “I had a friend who sort of sounded like him, and he helped me and let me listen to him and would talk with me, and then I went in and auditioned and got it,” he said.