February 22, 2013
Happy Birthday James Hong!
Our favorite actor James Hong celebrated his birthday February 22!
All of us at AsianConnections.com wish you a very Happy Birthday!
Here are our favorite interviews we have done with Mr. Hong over the years.
Click on the blue headline title to the full story.
Part 1 of 3: AsianConnections' interview with James Hong:
On APAs in Hollywood - Urges Cooperation and Support of organizations like CAPEUSA.org.
Part 2 of 3: AsianConnections' interview with James Hong:
James Hong shares his famous lines from his role as Mr. Ping in Kung Fu Panda
Part 3 of 3: AsianConnections' interview with James Hong and daughter April Hong:
James Hong sighting! Mr. Hong attended a CAPE event with Film Independent in Los Angeles February 1, 2012. I had a chance to visit with him and personally wish him Happy Birthday, in advance of his real birthday today!
He was born February 22, 1929 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He studied civil engineering at the University of Southern California. As a road engineer for Los Angeles County for 7-1/2 years, he would act during his vacations and sick days, eventually quitting to go full time as an actor.
Mr. Hong has played in more than 500 television and film roles, including his award-winning role as "Mr. Ping" in Kung Fu Panda, and Kung Fu Panda 2.
- Suzanne Joe Kai, Publisher/Editor AsianConnections.com
Asian American actors are cast in only two percent of the roles in Broadway and major Off Broadway productions according to new data released by the advocacy group, the Asian American Performers Action Coalition.
The two percent number is dismal. The data disclosed that of the 6,639 total roles cast in the past five theater seasons, only 54 Broadway parts went to Asian American actors, and 100 Asian American actors got work at nonprofit companies.
Asian American Performers Action Coalition advocates point to these statistics as proof that there is negligible representation of Asian Americans on stage, and a serious lack of true diversity.
Asian Americans are New York City's fastest growing ethnic group, currently comprising 12.9 percent of the population.
More than 400 people, mostly performers attended the RepresentAsian conference at Fordham University on Monday February 13, 2012 to listen to a roundtable discussion about the topic moderated by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (Chinglish, M.Butterfly) and 17 other members of the theatrical community.
Theatre industry veterans at the round table discussion included Broadway director Bartlett Sher, Vineyard Theatre's Doug Aibel, playwright Douglas Carter Beane, producers Nelle Nugent and Stephen Byrd, and Actors' Equity boss Mary McColl.
Related:
Jeremy Lin reported on Saturday June 2 on his Facebook page that his knee is healthy and he's ready to start training again. His Facebook page shows a happy Lin holding a freshly caught marlin, which he caught and released on a vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photo credit: Jeremy Lin's Facebook page
June 12, 2012
TV late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel sent NBA stars Jeremy Lin and Roy Hibbert on an in-home scavenger hunt via Skype. During the contest Lin confirmed his knee was "good to go" confirming his successful recovering from knee surgery. Click here to view the video excerpt from the Jimmy Kimmel Live talk show.