James Hong talks to Ben Mankiewicz
January 24, 2022 12:28 PM Subscribe
He's been seen on screen since 1950, starting with an appearance on Groucho Marx's 'You Bet Your Life' and at 92, is showing no signs of stopping now. The TCM host chatted with the actor with 445 credits on his IMDB page, for CBS Sunday Morning.
"...this year Hong will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame." Hooray!
posted by davidmsc at 12:46 PM on January 24, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by davidmsc at 12:46 PM on January 24, 2022 [7 favorites]
Just wonderful. He also helped found the East West Players with Soon Tek-oh and Mako back in 1965.
As a side note, I just happened across a CBS Sunday Morning segment on YouTube a couple of weeks ago, and it reminded me how pleasant, relaxing and good hearted that show can be with it's segments. I used to watch it during the Charles Kuralt years regularly when I was a younger, and it hasn't changed much (thank goodness). Thanks for this, Webbster.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 12:47 PM on January 24, 2022 [6 favorites]
As a side note, I just happened across a CBS Sunday Morning segment on YouTube a couple of weeks ago, and it reminded me how pleasant, relaxing and good hearted that show can be with it's segments. I used to watch it during the Charles Kuralt years regularly when I was a younger, and it hasn't changed much (thank goodness). Thanks for this, Webbster.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 12:47 PM on January 24, 2022 [6 favorites]
Egg Shen never could beat him
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:52 PM on January 24, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:52 PM on January 24, 2022 [8 favorites]
"...this year Hong will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame." Hooray!
Finally! Feels like there was a period where James Hong & Victor Wong were nearly 100% of all Hollywood Asian actors.
posted by Going To Maine at 12:57 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Finally! Feels like there was a period where James Hong & Victor Wong were nearly 100% of all Hollywood Asian actors.
posted by Going To Maine at 12:57 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Egg Shen never could beat him
I was watching an old Hawaii 5-0 last night and there was a guy who looked soooo familiar and suddenly I screamed INDEED!!!
posted by JanetLand at 12:59 PM on January 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
I was watching an old Hawaii 5-0 last night and there was a guy who looked soooo familiar and suddenly I screamed INDEED!!!
posted by JanetLand at 12:59 PM on January 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
Another eye quote:
What does it mean? Two girls with green eyes. After all these years.
posted by eye of newt at 1:02 PM on January 24, 2022 [6 favorites]
What does it mean? Two girls with green eyes. After all these years.
posted by eye of newt at 1:02 PM on January 24, 2022 [6 favorites]
"Seinfeld! Party of four!"
posted by valkane at 1:26 PM on January 24, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by valkane at 1:26 PM on January 24, 2022 [5 favorites]
"No substitutions"
posted by Splunge at 1:32 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 1:32 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
I’m surprised and a bit disappointed he doesn’t already have a star, considering the length of his career and credits. I think the first time I consciously saw him was in Big Trouble and he was excellent. James Hong is a great character actor and seems like an all-around nice guy.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 1:40 PM on January 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 1:40 PM on January 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
I’m surprised and a bit disappointed he doesn’t already have a star,
Stars aren't awarded; they're purchased. The person the star's named after still has to have merit, but the nomination and selection process isn't as most people imagine.
posted by dobbs at 1:53 PM on January 24, 2022 [4 favorites]
Stars aren't awarded; they're purchased. The person the star's named after still has to have merit, but the nomination and selection process isn't as most people imagine.
posted by dobbs at 1:53 PM on January 24, 2022 [4 favorites]
Happy to see the voice of Hong Shi getting some respect.
posted by Apocryphon at 1:57 PM on January 24, 2022
posted by Apocryphon at 1:57 PM on January 24, 2022
What a lovely human. He's wonderful in the Kung Fu Panda films.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 1:59 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 1:59 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
For years, he was one of that group of "that guys," you know, the actors you remember because they've been in so many thing and have always put a memorable stamp a lot of small parts. A decade or so ago I made a point of learning his name (and those of some other prolific character actors) so I could actually look for them in stuff.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:10 PM on January 24, 2022
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:10 PM on January 24, 2022
Huh, Mako and Soon-Tek Oh were both in Pacific Overtures, but I don't see Hong's name in the cast. Maybe he can't sing?
posted by hippybear at 7:47 PM on January 24, 2022
posted by hippybear at 7:47 PM on January 24, 2022
Also guested in maybe the best Gangnam Style parody (maybe, because of the Klingon one), "Lo Pan Style."
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:38 AM on January 25, 2022
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:38 AM on January 25, 2022
While I certainly saw him in Blade Runner before then, the first movie I remember seeing James Hong in is Wayne's World 2, in a scene that is pretty racist in retrospect (yet still pretty funny) and demonstrates how much things have changed since 1993.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:54 AM on January 25, 2022
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:54 AM on January 25, 2022
Props for Daniel Dae Kim for arranging for the Go Fund Me that funded the Hollywood Star.
James Hong is wonderful.
posted by vespertinism at 9:18 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
James Hong is wonderful.
posted by vespertinism at 9:18 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
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Ah! I thought he looked familiar.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 12:33 PM on January 24, 2022 [5 favorites]