James Hong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Hong
Hong in 2011
Born	(1929-02-22) February 22, 1929 (age 96) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Southern California (BS)
Occupation	Actor producer director
Years active	1954–present
Spouse(s)	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
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wú Hànzhāng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Ng4 Hon3zoeng1

James Hong (born February 22, 1929) is an American actor, producer, and director. He is known for being one of the busiest actors ever. He has worked in over 400 movies and TV shows since the 1950s. In 2022, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This honor recognized his amazing work in movies and television.

Early in his career, James Hong helped start East West Players. This was the first Asian American theater group. It is also the longest-running minority theater in the United States. He wanted to help more Asian American actors get roles. Hong became well-known for playing Barry Chan in The New Adventures of Charlie Chan (1957–1958). He also appeared in many other popular TV shows. These include Hawaii Five-O (1969–1974) and Kung Fu (1972–1975). He also had a memorable guest role as Bruce in the Seinfeld episode "The Chinese Restaurant" (1991).

He has acted in both funny and serious movies. Some of his famous film roles include Chinatown (1974), Airplane! (1980), and Blade Runner (1982). He also starred in Big Trouble in Little China (1986). More recently, Hong gained a lot of praise for his role as Gong Gong. This was the elderly grandfather in the Academy Award-winning movie Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). For this role, he won a Screen Actors Guild Award with the other actors in the film.

As a voice actor, James Hong has brought many characters to life. He was the voice of Chi-Fu in Mulan (1998). He also voiced Daolon Wong in Jackie Chan Adventures (2002–2004). Kids might know him best as Mr. Ping in the Kung Fu Panda movies and TV shows (2008–present). He also voiced Mr. Gao in Turning Red (2022).

Early Life and Education

James Hong was born on February 22, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His parents were Chinese immigrants. His father, Ng Fok Hong, came from British Hong Kong. He owned a restaurant in Minneapolis.

When he was young, Hong lived in Kowloon, Hong Kong. He returned to the United States at age 10. He shared that he was often the only Asian student in his classes. Because of this, he sometimes faced bullying and racism. He graduated from Minneapolis Central High School. He first became interested in acting after watching Peking opera performers. They would practice at his father's restaurant.

Hong studied civil engineering at the University of Minnesota. While there, he joined the Minnesota Army National Guard. His studies were paused when his National Guard unit was called to serve. This happened during the Korean War.

Military Service

James Hong trained with the Minnesota Army National Guard from 1952 to 1953. He was part of the Special Services unit. This unit provided entertainment for soldiers. After his daily training, he would perform for the other soldiers. A general saw his talent and asked him to manage the camp's live shows. This meant Hong did not have to go overseas for the war.

Hong later said that this experience might have saved his life. He explained that as an Asian American soldier, he might have been mistaken for an enemy. He felt he could have been in danger from both sides.

Career Highlights

Starting Out in the 1950s

After his military service, Hong moved to Los Angeles in 1953. He finished his degree at the University of Southern California. For a while, he worked as an engineer for Los Angeles County during the day. He would act in the evenings and on weekends. After five and a half years, he decided to become a full-time actor.

James Hong has played over 600 roles in TV and movies. His career began in the 1950s. At first, he often did voice work for Asian films. For example, he dubbed voices in the 1956 movie Godzilla, King of the Monsters!.

In 1954, Hong appeared on the game show You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx. He did impressions, including one of Groucho. He and his partner won $140. The next year, he acted with Clark Gable in the film Soldier of Fortune (1955). From 1957 to 1958, he played Barry Chan in The New Adventures of Charlie Chan.

From the 1960s to the 1970s

In 1961, Hong played a host in a Chinese restaurant in the musical Flower Drum Song. In 1965, he helped start the East West Players. This group was important for Asian American actors. He also appeared in many episodes of the original Hawaii Five-O.

Hong often appeared as a guest star on the TV series Kung Fu (1972–1975). He also had a role as a flight attendant in the 1979 film The In-Laws.

Roles in the 1980s and 1990s

Hong with fans at Monsterpalooza in 2011

In 1980, he appeared as a Japanese WWII officer in the comedy Airplane!. Hong played the ghost sorcerer Lo Pan in the movie Big Trouble in Little China (1986). He was also the eye manufacturer Chew in Blade Runner (1982). He played the butler in Chinatown (1974) and its sequel The Two Jakes (1990).

In 1991, Hong had a memorable role as Bruce, a Chinese restaurant host, in the Seinfeld episode "The Chinese Restaurant". He also played Jeff Wong, a martial arts expert, in Wayne's World 2 (1993). In 1994, he appeared in a documentary about mountain biking with his wife and daughter. Hong also guest-starred on Friends. He played Hoshi, a boxing coach. In 1998, he voiced Chi-Fu in Disney's Mulan.

Work from 2000 to 2019

Hong appeared in several episodes of The Big Bang Theory. He also played the Chinese Ambassador to the United States in The West Wing. He voiced Mayor Tong in Avatar: The Last Airbender (2006).

Hong in 2012

One of Hong's most famous voice roles is Mr. Ping in Kung Fu Panda (2008). Mr. Ping is the adoptive father of Po. Hong was nominated for an Annie Award for this role. He later won an Annie Award for his voice work in Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special. He has continued to voice Mr. Ping in the movies and TV shows, including Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024). He also voiced characters in Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

He appeared in the film Safe (2012). He also voiced characters in video games like Diablo III and World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. In 2014, he voiced Ho Chan in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In 2015, he guest-starred on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. He played the father of Melinda May, who was played by Ming-Na Wen. They had also worked together in Mulan.

Recent Work: 2020s and Beyond

James Hong starred in the A24 film Everything Everywhere All at Once, released in 2022. He won a Screen Actors Guild Award with the rest of the cast for their amazing performance. At the awards ceremony, he spoke about how there were few positive Asian roles when he started acting. He noted that actors often had to use prosthetics and offensive accents. Hong said, "Back in those days... the leading roles were played by these guys with their eyes taped up... and the producers said that Asians were not good enough, and they are not box office. But, look at us now." He attended the 2023 Academy Awards ceremony, where the film won many awards. Hong voiced Grandpa Wing in the animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, released in 2023.

Personal Life

Hong with his wife and daughter in Hollywood, 1994

James Hong lives in Los Angeles, California. He married Susan Tong in 1977. They have three daughters and eight grandchildren.

Hong is a Presbyterian. He attended church with his family when he was a child.

In 2020, actor Daniel Dae Kim started a fundraising campaign. He wanted to get James Hong a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hong received his star in 2022. At 93 years old, he became the oldest person to receive this honor.

Selected Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: James Hong para niños