James Hong | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Hong in 2011 | |||||||||||
| Born | February 22, 1929 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Southern California (BS) | ||||||||||
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1954–present | ||||||||||
| Spouses | Pearl Huang
(m. 1967; div. 1973)Susan Tong (m. 1977) | ||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||
| Service | Minnesota Army National Guard | ||||||||||
| Years of service | 1952–1953 | ||||||||||
| Rank | Staff Sergeant | ||||||||||
| Unit | Armed Forces Radio Service | ||||||||||
| Awards | Good Conduct Medal | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 吳漢章 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 吴汉章 | ||||||||||
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James Hong (born February 22, 1929) is an American actor, producer and director. Known as one of the most prolific character actors of all time,[1][2] he has worked in numerous productions in U.S. media since the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1950s. In 2022, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the American film and television industries.[3]
Earlier in his career, Hong co-founded East West Players, the first Asian American theatre organization and the longest continuously-running minority theatre in the United States, to increase Asian American representation in the industry.[1] Hong became known to audiences through starring in the detective series The New Adventures of Charlie Chan (1957–1958), and appeared in numerous shows including Hawaii Five-O (1969–1974), Bonanza (1960), Perry Mason (1962–1963), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1965–1966), I Spy (1965–1967), and Kung Fu (1972–1975). He also guest-starred in numerous sitcoms including his memorable role as Bruce in the Seinfeld episode "The Chinese Restaurant" (1991).[4][5]
He has appeared in numerous films, in both comedic and dramatic roles. He has acted in films such as Soldier of Fortune (1955), Flower Drum Song (1961), The Sand Pebbles (1966), Chinatown (1974) and its sequel The Two Jakes (1990), The In-Laws (1979), Airplane! (1980), True Confessions (1981), Blade Runner (1982), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Wayne's World 2 (1993), Balls of Fury (2007), Safe (2012), and R.I.P.D. (2013). Hong gained newfound prominence and acclaim for his role as the elderly grandfather, Gong Gong, in the Academy Award–winning science fiction absurdist comedy film Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) for which he earned a Screen Actors Guild Award.[6][7][8]
As a voice actor, Hong has voiced numerous roles including Chi-Fu in Mulan (1998), Daolon Wong on the animated television series Jackie Chan Adventures (2002–2004), Professor Chang in Teen Titans (2003–2006), Mr. Ping in the Kung Fu Panda media franchise (2008-present), Zong Shi in Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021), Father Level Bests in Wendell & Wild (2022), and Mr. Gao in Turning Red (2022).
- ^ a b "James Hong biography and filmography". Tribute.ca. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ Gopal, Trisha; Turner, Dominique & Yim, David (August 2, 2020). "He's probably been in more movies than any actor in history". CNN. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Actor James Hong on his amazing longevity". Youtube. July 31, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "From "Seinfeld" to "Blade Runner:" James Hong's 10 Best Roles". Collider. May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ Lee, Ann (March 6, 2023). "'This is my chance!' Everything Everywhere's James Hong on bullying, 'yellowface' and his big break – at 94". The Guardian. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "James Hong Really is Everything Everywhere All at Once". Vanity Fair. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "'Everything Everywhere' actor's SAG speech goes viral for making Hollywood contend with racist past". NBC News. February 27, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.