Lifers Group

Asian-American Character Actors... in er, America...

James Hong

Perhaps the most consistently employed Asian-American (Double A from here on out) in ALL OF HISTORY!!! Certainly the Greek Tragedists rarely utilised the talents of the Double A actors... With a resume that includes Kung Fu, Chinatown, Blade Runner, and Days Of Our Lives, James Hong has consistently kept the Bok Choy in the fridge. You wish you could count the productions he's been in... Born is 1929 and STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!


Keye Luke

From Son #1 in "Charlie Chan" to "Kung Fu" the original series, Mr. Luke saw things change, yet stay the same. The sad truth is that Asians in the Entertainment Industry still have to work with, and continue to struggle against cultural and racist stereotypes.

Not every Asian person knows Martial Arts... just most of them.

And as for 'Inscrutability', I can personally attest to having tried to 'scrute' quite a few Asians, with no luck.



At least the popular TV miniseries "Vanishing Son" tried to combat these myths, by having the two lead characters break into Kung Fu at the slightest provocation. Two brothers... one is a classical Cellist, the other a gangbanger from beyond the grave.

"It speaks to the truth of the Asian-American Experience": Ken Burns.


Yet the sad truth is that these hackneyed productions provide valuable employment for struggling actors.

Cheesy Director:
"Hey Mr. Hong, great to work with you.. big fan of your work, big fan.... anyway, your character is "Ching Chong', a deadly, Kung-Fu-Fighting, Opium-Smuggling Chinese Warlord..."


Victor Wong

As you knew him. Died in 2001

Education: University of California, Berkeley (political science, journalism); University of Chicago; San Francisco Art Institute (painting).

Brother of Zepplin Wong. (!) That's quite an achievement in itself

One of television's first Chinese American reporters. He worked on the daily "Newsroom" program on KQED, San Francisco's public TV station, 1968-1974.

Wong's first art exhibit was hosted by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, owner of City Lights Bookstore. Wong, Ferlinghetti and writer Jack Kerouac were friends, with Kerouac mentioning Wong in his book "Big Sun."

Retired from showbusiness in 1998 after suffering two strokes.

Claimed casting directors liked him because of his "lopsided" face, which was caused by Bell's palsy, a facial nerve disorder that struck him in middle age.

Studied theology at the University of Chicago.

Was a fourth generation Chinese-American.

Still had to play 'Grandpa Mori' in "3 Ninjas Kick Back" and 'Old Chong the Piano Teacher' in "The Joy Luck Club", which employed ALL of the Double A actors mentioned here and then some.

sigh

Some might say we've come a long way from "The Flower Drum Song" and "Charlie Chan", and that might be true... but I'm still waiting for "Kung Fu: The Pants Continue" for some sweet Double A Redemption.... how about starring 'Shannon Lee?".

We'll call it even....

Bruce Lee's daughter, dimwits

and what could possibly go wrong?