Tony,
The only connection that I ever heard about (isn't THAT a ringing endorsement?!) was that that role on Get Smart may have been inspired by Charlie Chan.
Steve O may know about it. I'm willing to bet on him!
An Asian character, named Harry Hoo, assists Maxwell Smart in two episodes of Get Smart. Harry Hoo is a Chinese detective. Eps 25: "The Amazing Harry Ho" and Eps 39: "Hoo Done It". Please refer to the book by Joey Green (1993).