Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

James Hong

Role / Field:

Prolific American actor, producer, and director known for character roles.

Born:

1929-02-22

Century / Era:

1929s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

James Hong (born February 22, 1929) is an American actor, producer, and director. Known as one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history, he has worked in over 600 productions in American media since the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1950s. In 2022, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the American film and television industries. Earlier in his career, Hong co-founded East West Players, the first Asian American theatre organization and the longest continuously running minority theatre in the United States, to increase Asian American representation in the industry.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Hong became known to audiences through starring in the detective series The New Adventures of Charlie Chan (1957–1958), and appeared in numerous shows including Bonanza (1960), Perry Mason (1962–1963), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1965–1966), I Spy (1965–1967), Hawaii Five-O (1969–1974), and Kung Fu (1972–1975). He also guest-starred in numerous sitcoms including his memorable role as Bruce in the Seinfeld episode "The Chinese Restaurant" (1991). Hong has appeared in both comedic and dramatic film roles, including Soldier of Fortune (1955), Flower Drum Song (1961), The Sand...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Al Davis — Contemporary (Born in 1929) (1929): Pioneering NFL executive and coach, known for building the legendary Oakland Raiders.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Contemporary (Born in 1929) (1929): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Aletta Jacobs — Contemporary (Died in 1929) (1929): Pioneering Dutch physician and feminist, advocating for women's rights and reproductive health.
• Adam Ferguson — Shared historical date (02-22 · Died) (1816): Scottish philosopher, historian, and 'father of modern sociology'.
• Adolphe Quetelet — Shared historical date (02-22 · Born) (1796): Pioneering Belgian statistician, founder of anthropometry, and social scientist.
• André Previn — Historical peer (Born in 1929) (1929): Versatile American musician, composer, and conductor mastering jazz, film, and classical forms.
• Anna Walentynowicz — Historical peer (Born in 1929) (1929): Polish trade unionist and co-founder of Solidarity, key figure in Polish independence.
• Aaron Carter — Historical peer (Died in 2022) (2022): American singer and rapper known for teen pop stardom and enduring musical career.
• Alexander Vovin — Historical peer (Died in 2022) (2022): Pioneering Russian-American linguist specializing in East Asian languages, particularly Japanese.
• Achille Mbembe — Historical peer (Born in 1957) (1957): Cameroonian historian and political theorist known for critiques of colonialism.
• 1929 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1929
• February 22 (02-22) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 22

Frequently Asked Questions about James Hong