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IMDbPro

James Hong(I)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000162
James Hong (photo taken June 2014).
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:15
The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms (2024)
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
James Hong was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He studied civil engineering at the University of Minnesota, but at some point along the way became interested in acting. He graduated from the University of Southern California and practiced for 1½ years as a road engineer with the County of Los Angeles. He took sick leaves and vacation time to do films. He finally quit engineering to focus on acting full time.

He is one of the founders of the East-West Players, the oldest Asian American theater in Los Angeles. He served as president and charter member of the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists.

Hong is one of the most prolific and well-recognized Asian-American character actors of movies and television. He currently lives in Los Angeles and is planning to produce and direct his own films.
BornFebruary 22, 1929
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 22, 1929
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000162
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 14 wins & 11 nominations total

    Greatest Character Actors of All Time

    Greatest Character Actors of All Time

    The talented actors totally transform for their roles. How many do you recognize?
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos

    Photos132

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    + 127
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    Known for

    Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, James Hong, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
    Everything Everywhere All at Once
    7.7
    • Gong Gong
    • 2022
    Jack Black in Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
    Kung Fu Panda 2
    7.3
    • Mr. Ping(voice)
    • 2011
    Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, and James Hong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Big Trouble in Little China
    7.2
    • David Lo Pan
    • 1986
    Hans Zimmer, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Jack Black, Melissa Cobb, Mark Osborne, John Powell, and John Stevenson in Kung Fu Panda (2008)
    Kung Fu Panda
    7.6
    • Mr. Ping(voice)
    • 2008

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • Honorary Male
      • Li Chen
      • Pre-production
    • Gimme My Money
      • The Maître D'
      • Completed



    • Pinocchio and the Water of Life (2025)
      Pinocchio and the Water of Life
      • (voice)
      • 2025
    • Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai (2022)
      Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai
      6.9
      TV Series
      • Grandpa
      • Wing Medicine Customer (voice)
      • 2022–2025
    • Tenacious D: ...Baby One More Time (2024)
      Tenacious D: ...Baby One More Time
      7.8
      Music Video
      • James Hong
      • 2024
    • Rosa Blasi, Chris Tallman, Diego Velazquez, Kira Kosarin, Jack Griffo, Addison Riecke, and Maya Le Clark in The Thundermans Return (2024)
      The Thundermans Return
      5.0
      • Grandpa Giddy
      • 2024
    • Dustin Hoffman, Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, James Hong, Ian McShane, Cece Valentina, Lincoln Nakamura, and Awkwafina in Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
      Kung Fu Panda 4
      6.3
      • Mr. Ping (voice)
      • 2024
    • The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms (2024)
      The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms
      4.0
      • Uncle Chuck
      • 2024
    • Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Alex Borstein, and Seth MacFarlane in Family Guy (1999)
      Family Guy
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Parallel Parking Elderly (voice)
      • 2023
    • Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022)
      Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight
      6.1
      TV Series
      • Mr. Ping (voice)
      • 2022–2023
    • Praise Petey (2023)
      Praise Petey
      5.9
      TV Series
      • Elder Belshazzar (voice)
      • 2023
    • Diablo IV (2023)
      Diablo IV
      7.6
      Video Game
      • Additional Voices
      • 2023
    • American Born Chinese (2023)
      American Born Chinese
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Jade Emperor
      • 2023
    • Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Peter Linz, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Eric Jacobson, and Lilly Singh in The Muppets Mayhem (2023)
      The Muppets Mayhem
      7.9
      TV Mini Series
      • Chef Dan
      • 2023
    • Rock Inn (2023)
      Rock Inn
      Short
      • Salty
      • 2023
    • Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, and Lyric Ross in Wendell & Wild (2022)
      Wendell & Wild
      6.4
      • Father Bests (voice)
      • 2022
    • Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, James Hong, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
      Everything Everywhere All at Once
      7.7
      • Gong Gong
      • 2022

    Producer



    • The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms (2024)
      The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms
      4.0
      • producer
      • 2024
    • A James Hong Film
      Short
      • producer
      • 2013
    • James Hong in Man of a Thousand Faces (2008)
      Man of a Thousand Faces
      8.4
      • executive producer
      • 2008
    • Shannon Tweed in Scandalous Behavior (1999)
      Scandalous Behavior
      3.3
      Video
      • producer
      • 1999
    • Michael Madsen, Maria Conchita Alonso, and Jeff Fahey in Catherine's Grove (1997)
      Catherine's Grove
      4.6
      • co-producer
      • 1997
    • Austin St. John in Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities (1995)
      Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
      7.3
      Video
      • producer
      • 1995
    • Caged Fury (1990)
      Caged Fury
      3.9
      • associate producer
      • 1990
    • Teen Lust (1978)
      Teen Lust
      4.1
      • producer
      • 1978
    • Hot Connections (1972)
      Hot Connections
      4.4
      • producer (as James Haig)
      • 1972

    Director



    • A James Hong Film
      Short
      • Director
      • 2013
    • Shannon Tweed in Scandalous Behavior (1999)
      Scandalous Behavior
      3.3
      Video
      • Director
      • 1999
    • Austin St. John in Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities (1995)
      Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
      7.3
      Video
      • Director
      • 1995
    • The Vineyard (1989)
      The Vineyard
      4.7
      • directed by
      • 1989
    • Teen Lust (1978)
      Teen Lust
      4.1
      • Director
      • 1978
    • Hot Connections (1972)
      Hot Connections
      4.4
      • Director (as James Young)
      • 1972

    Videos228

    Kung Fu Panda 3
    Clip 1:23
    Kung Fu Panda 3
    Ninja III: The Domination
    Clip 1:57
    Ninja III: The Domination
    Ninja III: The Domination
    Clip 1:57
    Ninja III: The Domination
    Ninja III: The Domination
    Clip 1:55
    Ninja III: The Domination
    The Shadow
    Clip 3:02
    The Shadow
    Mulan: 2-Movie Collection
    Clip 1:41
    Mulan: 2-Movie Collection
    Mulan: 2-Movie Collection
    Clip 1:38
    Mulan: 2-Movie Collection

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Official Site
    • Alternative names
      • James Haig
    • Height
      • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
    • Born
      • February 22, 1929
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
    • Spouses
        Susan HongOctober 20, 1977 - present (3 children)
    • Children
      • April Hong
    • Parents
        Frank W. Hong
    • Other works
      TV Commercial: Burger King, voice-over Cees Geel.
    • Publicity listings
      • 2 Interviews
      • 4 Articles
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Says his breakthrough came when he appeared on Groucho Marx's game show You Bet Your Life (1950) and did impersonations of Groucho, James Cagney and others, which resulted in a huge flood of fan mail and landed him an agent.
    • Quotes
      All the laundrymen from Minneapolis had nothing to do on weekends, so they would gather at my father's store, herb store. I remember that, because we'd have those little wooden stools and they all gathered there, and they hired these Chinese opera people from San Francisco to come and do their thing ... I was only a little boy. You watch them with wide eyes, 'Wow! What a profession.'
    • Trademark
        Gruff yet softly spoken voice

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is James Hong?
      96 years old
    • When was James Hong born?
      February 22, 1929
    • Where was James Hong born?
      Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
    • How tall is James Hong?
      5 feet 10 inches, or 1.78 meters
    • What is James Hong known for?
      Big Trouble in Little China, Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2, and Everything Everywhere All at Once

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