James Hong has been in over 450 feature movies and TV shows. Versatility has been James Hong’s trademark throughout his career as an actor and entertainer for over 50 years. He’s played all kinds of roles from good guys to bad guys to ancient old men. He has entertained millions as Lo Pan in “Big Trouble in Little China”, the voice of Chi Fu in “Mulan”, and appeared opposite popular stars like Harrison Ford in “Blade Runner” and Jack Nicholson in “Chinatown” and “The Two Jakes”. His television credentials include Kung-Fu (both past and present), Hawaii 5-0, Seinfeld, Chicago Hope, and many more.

Born in Minneapolis and “becoming too Americanized,” Hong was sent by his father to Hong Kong for a Chinese elementary education. He returned to the United States shortly before the outbreak of World War II and entered school in Minneapolis at the age of ten without knowing a word of English. He somehow caught up, and in college he studied civil engineering to please his parents. He started at the University of Minnesota and ultimately graduated from the University of Southern California.

His engineering career did not last very long. His first stint in show business was performing in a nightclub comedy duo with his partner, Don Parker. His flair for comedy led to a spot as a contestant on “You Bet Your Life,” where his impersonation of host Groucho Marx earned him a contract at a popular San Francisco club, Forbidden City. Soon after he worked nonstop in television and film.

However, James Hong has been frustrated with the lack of diversity in his roles.
In 1965, he and several fellow Asian actors established the East West Players, a theatre company in Los Angeles designed to give voice to the Asian Pacific-American community. According to the Asian American theater company, about 75% of Asian American performers in action living in Los Angeles have worked at East West Players. Ideally, James Hong would like to play some doctors or head businessmen or lawyers.

James Hong has paved the way for many Asian American actors. Although the roles he were not his ideal roles, he continues to look for more ways to expand the opportunities of Asian American actors including producing, directing, and starring in the feature film “Just Dance”, which will feature his daughter, actor April Hong.

Conversation with James Hong Part 1

Conversation with James Hong Part 2