James Hong: podcast appearances and interviews

James Hong, born February 22, 1929, is an American actor, producer, and director recognized as one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history. He has contributed to over 600 productions in American media since the 1950s and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022 for his significant impact on the film and television industries. Early in his career, Hong co-founded East West Players, the first Asian American theatre organization, which is also the longest continuously running minority theatre in the United States, to enhance Asian American representation. He became familiar to audiences through roles in the detective series The New Adventures of Charlie Chan, and appeared in numerous television shows, including Bonanza, Perry Mason, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., I Spy, Hawaii Five-O, and Kung Fu. Hong has also played diverse roles in films spanning comedic and dramatic genres, such as Flower Drum Song, The Sand Pebbles, Chinatown, Airplane!, Blade Runner, Big Trouble in Little China, and Wayne's World 2, among others. His performance as Gong Gong in Everything Everywhere All at Once garnered widespread acclaim and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Additionally, Hong is known for his voice acting in projects including Mr. Ping in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, Chi-Fu in Mulan, and roles in Wendell & Wild and Turning Red. His extensive career reflects a broad range of performances across film, television, and voice roles.