Lotus Long's paternal lineage was Japanese, while her maternal heritage was rooted in ethnic Hawaiian traditions. It was during the 1920s that her family made the significant move to California, where Lotus's striking, exotic beauty would later prove to be a valuable asset in her pursuit of a career in the film industry. As a result, she effortlessly secured roles portraying a diverse array of Asian women, adopting the stage name "Lotus Long" in the process. Interestingly, her perceived Chinese ethnicity would later serve as a means of distinguishing herself from others of Japanese ancestry, thereby allowing her to avoid internment during World War II.
Lotus Long's personal life was marked by a romantic connection with cameraman James Knott, whom she met while filming the movie "Eskimo" in the Arctic with renowned director W.S. Van Dyke in the early 1930s. The couple soon tied the knot and went on to spend four decades residing in a charming home on Beverly Glen, situated near Westwood Village in Los Angeles. Later in life, they made the decision to relocate to Orange County.
