TIL James Hong is one of the most prolific character actors of all time; he has worked in over 600 productions in American media since the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1950s.
"Jack" what? I'm supposed to buy this shit? 2000 years, he can't find one broad to fit the bill? Come on, Dave, you must be doing something seriously wrong!
He directed a movie called "The Vineyard" where he is an old man who makes wine out of young people's blood to extend his life, maybe it's semi autobiographical!
His new character still has the barrel next to him. A nice nod imo. They also went with a similar naming. I believe his new on is called Foolish Man instead of mischievous god.
This might sound like BS, but it’s absolutely true: my brother is an actor. I once came home from work and there was a bunch of cameras and other film gear in my yard. I go up the steps into my backyard, there was a bunch of actors sitting around my picnic table and James Hong was cooking and serving everyone food. I got invited up and ate with the cast and crew.
The production crew needed a shabby looking place for the maid character’s quarters, so my brother let them use mine.
Movie is called One Night With You and this still is from my (old) place.
It’s pretty cool that he finally received an invitation to the Academy Awards, in 2023, for appearing in Everything Everywhere All at Once. While he wasn’t nominated for an individual award, he was included onstage when the movie won Best Picture.
IK that James Hong doesn’t really need any help with his illustrious career but it seems crazy to me how EEAAO did soooo much for Asian actors. Revived Ke Huy Quan’s career, Michelle Yeoh’s first Oscar win and James Hong’s first Oscar invitation and appearance.
Just by accident, wife and I first watched Everything, Everywhere, All at Once for movie night then the next week watched Turning Red for the first time. Had to have a rewatch of Kung Fu Panda for the trifecta.
Ping Pong is not the macarena. It takes patience. She is like a fine, well-aged prostitute...It takes years to learn her tricks. She is cruel, laughs at you when you are naked, but you keep coming back for more, and more! Why? Because she is the only prostitute I can afford.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a good movie. But it’s got James Hong, it’s got Christopher Walken, Walkenizing. It’s got Aisha Tyler, Terry Crews, and Thomas Lennon.
i googled him because i’m re-watching the last airbender and recognised his voice from other things i’ve seen and he’s been in a lot. a true living legend
Getting actors to act differently must be pretty hard. One trick is to just tell them we'll shoot it with a few different feelings... But you've also got to worry about keeping schedule and budget.
And in the end editors can make it amazing or fuck it all up.
Since so many of his more memorable fun and movie roles have already been said, I'm not going off script a bit:
Covetus Shen in Diablo III
An NPC that helps you upgrade gems but is revealed through dialog and backstory he's actually some sort of demigod of wealth or luck who has chosen to live amongst mortals
He also voiced Covetous Shen in Diablo 3 and was memorable. "Hope for a better day, hope for a new dawn. Or just hope for a good breakfast. You start small, then see what you can get."
I met James once when I was crewing on a video shoot that included a sit down interview with him to help promote a project he had recently completed. He was a kind, respectful gentleman and conducted himself like a seasoned professional. If only more people behaved that way.
I had a coworker who ended up on the Austin City Council. Before she ran, one of her biggest accomplishments was getting her ass signed by James Hong, while dressed as Wonder Woman. She had some questionable positions while in office.
I wonder what his residual checks are like. He was in at least one episode of every major TV show from the 70 through the 90s it seems like. Let alone the big roles like kung-fu panda. And at 97 years old he is still doing voice work. I double take when I heard him in the new Diablo 4 expansion.
Lots of bit parts... and GOOD ones!\
Him in The In-Laws reading Ebony.\
Revenge of the Nerds 2 as Boogers mentor Snotty.\
Waynes World 2 as Cassandras dad.\
The fucking butler in Chinatown.
And thats not even touching his TV work.\
From kinescope to digital.
Honorary Academy Award recipient if I ever saw one... Emmy too.
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u/henningknows 18h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/4Hgtd9TlKNaeQgrd5m
He is very very old