James Hong
James Hong | |
---|---|
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
Alma mater | University of Southern California (BS) |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1954–present |
Spouses | Pearl Huang
(m. 1967; div. 1973)Susan Tong (m. 1977) |
Children | 3 |
Military service | |
Service | Armed Forces Radio Service |
Awards | Good Conduct Medal |
Chinese name | |
Hanyu Pinyin | Wú Hànzhāng |
Yue: Cantonese | |
Jyutping | Ng4 Hon3zoeng1 |
James Hong (
Earlier in his career, Hong co-founded
He has appeared in numerous films, in both comedic and dramatic roles. He has acted in films such as
As a voice actor, Hong has voiced numerous roles including
Early life and education
Hong was born on February 22, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Chinese emigrant parents Ng Fok Hong (吳福堂; aka Frank Wu Hong) and Lee Suey Far (李瑞花; aka Lee Shui Fa). His father emigrated from Hong Kong to Chicago, Illinois, via Canada, and later moved to Minneapolis where he owned a restaurant and was leader of the local
For his early education, Hong relocated to Hong Kong, residing in Kowloon, before returning to the United States at the age of 10. During his upbringing, Hong mentioned being the only Asian student in a class of 500 children. Consequently, he experienced bullying and racism from classmates who singled him out as a foreigner and due to his limited proficiency in English.[11][12] He graduated from Minneapolis Central High School. He first developed an interest in performing arts after watching Peking opera performers rehearse at his father's shop.[2]
Hong studied
Military service
While in the Minnesota Army National Guard, Hong attended training in Alabama at Fort McClellan and Camp Rucker (renamed Fort Novosel) with the Special Services for 18 months from 1952 to 1953. After finishing his training for the day, he would entertain soldiers; upon witnessing Hong's performing prowess, the camp general asked Hong to stay at Camp Rucker (renamed Fort Novosel in 2023) and be in charge of the camp's live shows rather than deploy overseas.[13]
Hong reflected on this experience and how it may have saved his life:
I do not know if I would have liked to go to war in Korea but let's admit it that with a G.I. cap and this face charging at the Korean army, the Koreans would try to kill me. But then if we were to retreat and I turned around and ran back the Americans would try to kill me too because they would think I am an enemy in disguise. I definitely think I would have been shot from one side and the other.[13]
Career
1950s: Early career
After the Korean War, Hong moved to Los Angeles in 1953 with a friend, where he would finish his degree at the
In February 1954, Hong appeared on the radio and television game show You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx. In this appearance, he did a number of impersonations including one of Groucho himself. Hong and his partner won $140 in the quiz. They contested the major prize of $2000 but did not win. The following year he acted opposite Clark Gable in the war film Soldier of Fortune (1955).[17] In 1956, Hong was cast as Jimmy Ling in the episode "Red Tentacles" of the Western aviation adventure series Sky King, starring Kirby Grant. He also guest-starred in the NBC Western series The Californians.
In 1957–1958, he was cast as the "Number One Son", Barry Chan, in the British-American series in the predecessor films. However, Keye Luke's character was known as Lee Chan.
In 1959, he appeared as a prince on an episode of
1960–1979
Hong's first appearance as a host in a Chinese restaurant was in the
Hong had a small part on a 1972 episode of CBS's
1980–1999
He appeared as a uniformed man in the 1980 comedy cult film Airplane! He has also directed such films as Teen Lust. Hong played immortal ghost sorcerer Lo Pan in John Carpenter's cult classic Big Trouble in Little China (1986), eye manufacturer Chew in Blade Runner, Evelyn Mulwray's loyal and vigilant butler in Chinatown and The Two Jakes, and a low-rent private eye in Black Widow.[20][21]
He also directed, wrote and starred in the film The Vineyard (1989). Hong portrayed Chow Ting, a dry cleaner with the power to wash sins and guilt from a person's conscience in the 1985 Tales from the Darkside episode "It All Comes Out in the Wash". Hong then appeared in a memorable role as Bruce, the host in a Chinese restaurant in Seinfeld episode "The Chinese Restaurant" (1991). Hong played Jeff Wong, Cassandra Wong's martial arts expert father, in the comedy sequel Wayne's World 2, and was featured as the head of the Scarred Foot society in the pilot for The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993). In 1994, he, his wife Susan and daughter April appeared as a family riding mountain bikes beneath the Hollywood sign in the mountain-bike travel-adventure documentary, Full Cycle: A World Odyssey.
Hong had a supporting role in the big-budget MGM film RED CORNER in 1997, which starred Richard Gere. Hong also had a small role in the
2000–2019
Hong also played a similar role in
Among Hong's other roles include in
Hong's voice also appeared as Colonel Zhou Peng in the video game
He appeared in the film
Hong guest-starred in a 2015 episode of
2020s–present
Hong appears in the
Hong voiced Grandpa Wing in the animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, released on Max in 2023.
Personal life
Hong lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Susan Tong whom he married in 1977. The couple have three daughters and eight grandchildren.[26]
Hong is a
In 2020, Daniel Dae Kim started a GoFundMe campaign to get Hong a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[29][30] He received a star as a member of the 2022 class of honorees, becoming the oldest person to receive the honor at age 93.[3][31]
Filmography
Selected filmography
- Soldier of Fortune (1955)
- Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)
- Flower Drum Song (1961)
- The Sand Pebbles (1966)
- The Carey Treatment (1972)
- Chinatown (1974)
- Bound for Glory (1976)
- The In-Laws (1979)
- Airplane! (1980)
- True Confessions (1981)
- Blade Runner (1982)
- Breathless (1983)
- Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
- Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise (1987)
- The Two Jakes (1991)
- The Perfect Weapon (1991)
- Wayne's World 2 (1993)
- The Shadow (1994)
- Mulan (1998)
- Def Jam Icon(2007)
- Balls of Fury (2007)
- The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
- Kung Fu Panda (2008)
- Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
- Safe (2012)
- R.I.P.D. (2013)
- Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
- Sherlock Gnomes (2018)
- Turning Red (2022)
- Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
- Wendell & Wild (2022)
- Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
Awards and nominations
Year | Association | Category | Project | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Annie Awards | Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature | Kung Fu Panda | Nominated | |
2011 | Best Voice Acting in a Television Production | Kung Fu Panda Holiday | Won | [32] | |
2012 | Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature | Kung Fu Panda 2 | Nominated | ||
2012 | Daytime Emmy Award |
Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | Nominated | |
2022 | Screen Actors Guild Award |
Outstanding Ensemble in a Motion Picture | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Won | |
2022 | Hollywood Critics Association |
Best Cast Ensemble | Won | [33] | |
2022 | Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | Received | [34] |
References
- ^ a b "James Hong biography and filmography". Tribute.ca. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Shanfeld, Ethan (June 18, 2021). "Michael B. Jordan, Carrie Fisher, Nipsey Hussle, James Hong and DJ Khaled Among 2022 Walk of Fame Honorees". Variety. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Actor James Hong on his amazing longevity". Youtube. 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.
- ^ "MULAN #GoldOpen Q&A with Original Animated Cast". Facebook.
- ^ "Official website". JamesHongFilms.com.
- ^ 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 March 15, 2023.
- ^ a b "James Hong: An actor's guide to longevity". CBS News. January 22, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Leung, Albert (November 4, 2009). "Home from Hollywood: James Hong's nostalgic return to Minnesota". China Insight. Retrieved October 2, 2016. Archived link.
- ^ "James Hong". Television Academy Interviews. October 22, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ James Hong (June 21, 2019). The Actor With 500 Credits and Counting. YouTube: Great Big Story. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
Wood, Drew (April 24, 2014). "A Comic Con Q&A With James Hong". Mpls St Paul. Minneapolis: MSP Communications, Inc. Retrieved July 10, 2019. - ^ Voisin, Scott (May 2014). Character Kings 2: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting. BearManor Media. pp. 79–.
- ^ "James Hong reflects on 70-year career, from white actors in yellowface to unfilmed 'Blade Runner' scene to Oscar-dominating 'Everything Everywhere'". Yahoo News. March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "The New Adventures of Charlie Chan". The A.V. Club. March 6, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "Flower Drum Song". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "The Legendary James Hong Reflects on His Most Iconic Roles". Movieweb. May 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "James Hong looks back at his iconic roles, from Big Trouble in Little China to EEAAO". Yahoo News. May 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (May 6, 2022). "Rita Ora Joins Netflix's 'Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight', James Hong To Reprise Film Role For Animated Series". Deadline. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
- ^ Busch, Anita (August 17, 2018). "James Hong, 89-Year-Old Chinese American Actor: "I Never Thought It Would Take This Long"". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ "Patsy Lee & The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms". IMDb.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 23, 2020). "A24 Reunites With 'Swiss Army Man' Directors; Finance & Distribute AGBO's 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "James Hong". NNDB.
- ^ Kahn, Rachel (April 28, 2014). "Get to know Minneapolis native James Hong, in town for Comic Con". Mill City Times.
- ^ Lee, Janet W. (August 6, 2020). "Daniel Dae Kim Launches Fundraiser to Nominate James Hong for Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Variety. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ Sharf, Zack (August 10, 2020). "Daniel Dae Kim Raises $55,000 to Help Get James Hong a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star". IndieWire.
- ^ May 11, Jessica Wang; EDT, 2022 at 04:00 PM. "Watch James Hong perform alongside lion dancers at historic Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony". EW.com.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Finke, Nikki (February 5, 2011). "38th Annual Annie Animation Awards: DWA's 'How To Train Your Dragon' Wins (After Disney Boycotts)". Deadline. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ "A24's 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Leads HCA Film Awards Total Nominations With 16". Variety. December 15, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "Watch James Hong perform alongside lion dancers at historic Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
Sources
- Pilato, Herbie J. (1993). The Kung Fu Book of Caine: The Complete Guide to TV's First Mystical Eastern Western. Boston: Charles A. Tuttle. ISBN 0-8048-1826-6.
External links
- James Hong on Facebook
- James Hong at IMDb