The Actor With 500 Credits and Counting

Summary

James Hong, with over 66 years in acting and nearly 500 credits, reflects on his journey from playing stereotypical Asian roles to advocating for Asian-American representation in Hollywood. At 90, he's proud of his impact and continues to push for progress, having co-founded the East West Players to showcase Asian talent, which has since launched many successful careers.

Takeaways

• 🎭 James Hong is an accomplished actor with over 500 credits in TV and motion pictures.
• 🏆 At the beginning of his career, Asian-Americans were not recognized and were often categorized as Chinese or Japanese actors.
• 💪 James Hong felt the need to change the status quo and worked towards giving Asian-Americans an identity in Hollywood.
• 👵 Now at 90, he is proud of his contributions to the industry and continues to push for progress.
• 🎬 He has played various memorable roles such as in 'Blade Runner,' 'Seinfeld,' 'Wayne's World 2,' 'R.I.P.D,' and 'Big Bang Theory.'
• 🐼 He voiced Mr. Ping in 'Kung Fu Panda' and Chi Fu in 'Mulan.'
• 🌍 Out of his 500 roles, only about 10 were non-Asian, highlighting the scarcity of diverse roles for Asian actors.
• 🎭 Despite being cast in stereotypical roles, Hong infused them with authenticity and depth.
• 🔮 In 1962, he co-founded the East West Players, a theater group for Asian-American artists to showcase their work.
• 🌟 The East West Players have been instrumental in launching the careers of many prominent Asian-American actors.
• 🚀 James Hong believes in the importance of positive representation on screen and the influence it has on young people.
• 🔥 He continues to act and push for more opportunities for Asian-Americans in the entertainment industry.

Q & A

Who is James Hong?

James Hong is an actor with over 66 years of experience in acting, known for having the most acting credits ever, alive or dead, with around 500 credits on TV and motion pictures.

What was the situation for Asian-American actors when James Hong started in Hollywood?

When James Hong started in Hollywood, Asian-Americans had no identity and were often categorized as Chinese or Japanese actors.

How has James Hong contributed to changing the representation of Asian-Americans in Hollywood?

James Hong co-founded the East West Players, which is dedicated to showcasing works by Asian-American writers, directors, and actors, thus helping to change the industry's perception of Asian-Americans.

What are some notable roles that James Hong has played?

James Hong has played roles in 'Blade Runner,' 'Seinfeld,' 'Wayne's World 2,' 'R.I.P.D,' 'Big Bang Theory,' as Mr. Ping in 'Kung Fu Panda,' and Chi Fu in 'Mulan.'

How many non-Asian roles has James Hong played out of his 500 acting credits?

Out of his 500 acting credits, James Hong played approximately 10 roles that were non-Asian.

What was James Hong's approach to overcoming clichéd roles in his early career?

James Hong put real feelings into his roles, even if they were clichéd or villainous, to overcome the clicheness and make the characters more authentic.

What was the significance of the East West Players in the Asian-American acting community?

The East West Players provided a platform for Asian-American actors to showcase their talents, which led to the industry recognizing them as leading actors rather than just extras or gimmick people.

Who are some prominent figures that have contributed to the East West Players?

Prominent figures who have contributed to the East West Players include Randall Park, George Takei, and BD Wong.

What does James Hong think is important for the portrayal of Asian-Americans on screen?

James Hong believes it's extremely important to have a good image on the screen because young people are influenced by the images they see.

What does the future hold for Asian-American actors according to James Hong?

James Hong sees a future where Asian-Americans are doing their own plays, TV series, and movies, and believes it's only a matter of time before they move forward in the industry.

Why does James Hong continue to act despite being 90 years old?

James Hong continues to act because something inside him wants to keep going, do more movies, and keep pushing forward.