Avatar: The Last Airbender Netflix Cast (2)
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- Ian Chen was born on September 7, 2006 in Los Angeles. At age 5, Ian booked his first national commercial and has since then, steadily worked in commercials, print, and television shows. In March 2014, he landed his big break when he booked the comedic role of Evan Huang in ABC's Fresh Off the Boat (2015) He has also guest starred in Grey's Anatomy (2005) and Dr. Ken (2015) In 2018, he landed his first feature film role in Warner Brothers' Shazam! (2019). Cited by Variety as a young star to watch, and included in Entertainment Weekly's list of "12 under 12" outstanding youth actors. He's also named one of Hollywood's Top 30 Stars Under Age 18 by The Hollywood Reporter in 2018 and 2019.
Besides acting on camera, he is also a voice actor, having a recurring role in Disney Junior's Fancy Nancy (2018), and being featured in animation films Wish Dragon (2021). Ian loves being on set and learning all aspects of the filming process.
As a trained singer, Ian appeared in the Hallmark Channel's Home & Family (2012) for his first television interview and live singing performance. He was subsequently invited to sing for many charity events.
In addition to acting and singing, Ian enjoys playing piano and guitar, watching TV, reading, swimming and playing airplane simulators. He also aspires to be a pilot when he grows up.
Ian has a younger brother named Max. Ian and Max speak Mandarin fluently.Aang
(Ancestry: Taiwanese) - Sokka
(Ancestry: Filipino) - Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Maddox Jolie-Pitt was born on 5 August 2001 in Cambodia. He is an actor and producer, known for First They Killed My Father (2017), By the Sea (2015) and VH1: All Access (2001).Zuko
(Ancestry: Cambodian)- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa got his first big break as an actor when he was cast in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor (1987). A US Army brat, he was born in Tokyo and lived in various cities while growing up. His father was in the army, stationed at Ft. Bragg (NC), Ft. Polk (LA) and Ft. Hood (TX). His mother was an actress from Tokyo. The family finally settled in Southern California, where Tagawa began acting in high school. He was an exchange student in Japan while studying at the University of Southern California. He has recently been involved off-screen in addressing student groups (at SFSU and Stanford). He has also been coaching the martial artist portraying Shang Tsung in the Mortal Kombat Live Tour, and in his free time developing his new form of martial arts, called "Chun Shin."Iroh
(Ancestry: Japanese)- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Cary Joji Fukunaga is a Japanese-American film director, screenwriter, cinematographer and producer from Oakland, California who is known for directing the James Bond film No Time to Die, Kofi, Beasts of No Nation, Jane Eyre and Sin Nombre. He co-wrote the 2017 film adaptation of the Stephen King book It. He directed several episodes of the television show True Detective.Fire Lord Ozai
(Ancestry: Japanese)- Rio Sasaki was born on 25 March 2002 in Saitama, Japan. She is an actress, known for Dragon Yankee (2015), Daru (2016) and Resident Evil 2 (2019).Azula
(Ancestry: Japanese) - Actor
- Director
- Writer
Anthony Brandon Wong is an award-winning actor who has played a wide range of roles in numerous films and more than 40 hit television programs in the US, Canada, Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. He has also played lead and major roles in over thirty stage productions, mostly in Australia. He is best known to international audiences for his role as 'Ghost', the Zen Buddhist assassin in "The Matrix Reloaded", "The Matrix Revolutions", and as the lead character (alongside Jada Pinkett Smith) in the "Enter the Matrix" video game, all written and directed by The Wachowski's. Wong spent 15 months working in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sydney, Australia, opposite Pinkett Smith, Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Monica Bellucci, Harold Perrineau and Hugo Weaving.
For 3 seasons, Wong played the principal role of Danny Law, father of five children, in the SBS/Matchbox Pictures comedy series "The Family Law", which made history for being the first acting ensemble to win an Equity Ensemble Award three times, when it won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast in a Comedy Series in 2017, 2018 and 2020. The Family Law also won the 2016 Screen Producers Australia Awards (SPAA) for Best Comedy Series Production and the 2016 Casting Guild of Australia (CGA) Award for Best Casting in a TV Comedy Series. "The Family Law" was also nominated for a 2016 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Award for Best Television Comedy Series.
In 2019, Wong played the supporting role of drag queen Virginia Woof in the Australian movie "Sequin in a Blue Room", which made its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. It was also screened at Outfest in Los Angeles in July 2019. Wong played Patrick McDermott, the real-life Korean-American cameraman who disappeared in 2005, in the mini-series "Olivia: Hopelessly Devoted to You" opposite his acting student, Australian singer/actress Delta Goodrem, who portrayed Olivia Newton-John.
Also in 2019, Wong made a cameo appearance in the ABC (Australia)/Netflix comedy series "The Letdown" (Season 2), and completed filming on two forthcoming Australian features - "The Pitch", playing the supporting role of Bobby Berman, a tough-talking New York movie executive, and "Unsound", opposite Game of Throne's Reece Noi. He was also seen in an episode of the US/French TV series "Reef Break".
In 2018, Wong played the supporting role of dance teacher Tin in the Australian feature "Thicker than Water" alongside 15 of his acting students including Australian singer-songwriter Pete Murray. Anthony was nominated for an "Honorable Mention Award for Supporting Actor" for his performance at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Awards. Wong's dance track "Emancipate" is also part of the soundtrack of the movie.
Wong starred in the sci-fi short "Emporium", playing the lead role opposite nine of his acting students including Christopher Sommers ("The Water Diviner"). Wong was nominated for Best Actor in a Short Film at the 2017 Edmonton Festival of Fear International Film Festival.
In 2017, Wong was seen in the ABC medical drama series "Pulse" as neurosurgeon Dr Arthur Chan, appearing alongside Game of Throne's Owen Teale, Hawaii Five-0's Claire van der Boom, and Seven Types of Ambiguity's Susie Porter. He was also seen in the Channel Seven (Australia) mini-series "Blue Murder: Killer Cop" which stars Richard Roxburgh, Toni Collette and Aaron Pedersen, and as high school principal John Nguyen in the multi-award winning ABC (Australia) television program "First Day". Wong reprised his role in the 2019 series of "First Day".
Earlier in 2017, Wong played a lead guest role of a father struggling with his transgender child in the ABC legal drama series "Newton's Law" opposite Claudia Karvan and Toby Schmitz.
Wong played the series regular role of lascivious shop-owner and fish-fighting champion Le Bok in the NBC Universal/Matchbox Pictures kung fu comedy series "Maximum Choppage", which was screened on Australia's ABC TV network in early 2015. The main cast of "Maximum Choppage" were nominated for a 2016 Equity Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
In 2013-4, Wong filmed the role of Michael Lau in the Matchbox Pictures sci-fi series "Nowhere Boys", which won multiple awards including an International Emmy Award in 2016, Best Children's Series at the 2014 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards, and a 2014 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children's Program.
In 2012, Wong played the role of former Chinese premier Chou En-lai in the HBO movie "Hemingway and Gellhorn" opposite Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen, directed by Philip Kaufman. That same year, he played the supporting role of 'Asian Elvis' opposite Gary Oldman and Christian Slater in the comedy "Guns, Girls and Gambling", which was shot in Salt Lake City, Utah, and also played a guest role opposite Ed Asner in "Hawaii Five-O" in the episode titled "Kalele", filmed in Honolulu.
In 2011, Wong was seen in the Steven Soderbergh movie "Haywire", alongside Michael Douglas, Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Ewan McGregor, Bill Paxton, and Gina Carano. Wong filmed the role of kidnapped journalist 'Jiang' in Dublin, Barcelona and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Other notable film credits include the 20th Century Fox action movie "Flight of the Phoenix", opposite Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi, Hugh Laurie, Tyrese Gibson, and Tony Curran, which was filmed in the deserts of Namibia, the lead male role in Clara Law's "Floating Life" as a womanizing Hong Kong stockbroker who realizes the error of his philandering ways, the villainous Chinatown crime lord Peter Cho in the Australian comedy "Crooked Business" and the films "Little Fish" (opposite Cate Blanchett), "Lilian's Story" (starring Toni Collette), "Till There Was You" (starring Mark Harmon and Jeroen Krabbe), and "Seeing Red" (opposite David Wenham, 'Faramir' in "The Lord of the Rings").
In 2008, Wong played the series regular role of 'Tasuke Kogo' in ABC Family's "Samurai Girl", father of the title character and one of Japan's most powerful businessmen. In the same year, in the BBC's "Secrets of the Forbidden City" he played the principal character of real life 15th Century Chinese Emperor Yongle, the visionary but despotic leader who built the world-famous Forbidden City.
Wong also played the lead role of Hirohito opposite Caspar Van Dien ("Starship Troopers") in the US martial arts TV movie "Mask of the Ninja" (Spike TV). His many other television credits include "Glee" (in the Series 2 episode "Grilled Cheesus"), "The Unit" (as a Thai prince facing death threats), "NCIS" (as Navy Doctor Russell Nguyen), the Francis Ford Coppola produced "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" (playing a Hong Kong detective), Disney Channel's "Jumping Ship" (as a modern-day pirate), "All Saints" (as a journalist who loses his partner), "Water Rats" (as a compulsive gambler), "Xena Warrior Princess" "Cassidy", "The Boys from the Bush", "Home and Away", "A Country Practice", "The Alice" and the HBO pilot "1%", written by Michael Tolkin ("The Player") and directed by Emmy award winning director Alan Taylor ("The Sopranos").
Wong also played the series regular roles of 'Mek', a heroic scientist on "Spellbinder 2", filmed in Poland, China and Australia, opposite Ryan Kwanten ("True Blood") and 'Lee', a political revolutionary in "Embassy", filmed in Melbourne and Fiji.
He played the role of Gerald in the Internet series "The Booth at the End", opposite Xander Berkeley ("24" and "Nikita"), produced by Michael Eisner.
In 1992, he won the Victorian Green Room Best Actor Award (theatre) for his performance as a Filipino transvestite in "Sex Diary of an Infidel", which also netted him a Sydney Critics Circle Award nomination. He also scored Green Room Award nominations for his stage work in "The Temple" as a cocaine-addicted paraplegic and in "The Language of the Gods" as an Indonesian priest with magical powers. He played the lead role of a Malaysian king in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of "Coup d'etat", and portrayed an Aboriginal hip-hop artist, a Lebanese tough guy, an African schoolgirl and a New Zealand-born Samoan boxer in the acclaimed stage production of "Fast Cars and Tractor Engines" (Urban Theatre Projects, Sydney). In 2010, he starred in the circus theatre spectacular "Shanghai Lady Killer", written by renown Australian director and screenwriter Tony Ayres ("The Home Song Stories") and in the villainous role of Vasquez in "'Tis Pity She's A Whore" at Melbourne's acclaimed Malthouse Theatre. In early 2017, Wong was seen in the Australian stage premiere of the Olivier-Award winning play "Chimerica" at Sydney Theatre Company, directed by Kip Williams. Wong played old alcoholic doctor Chebutykin in the Sydney Theatre Company production of Anton Chekhov's "Three Sisters" in November/December 2017 at Sydney Opera House, and the role of Mississippi-accented Doctor Baugh in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' opposite Hugo Weaving and Pamela Rabe ("Wentworth"). Both productions were also directed by Kip Williams.
Wong is an accomplished singer in cabaret, having performed in shows at Hollywood's renown cabaret venues M Bar and Gardenia Lounge, and sung in the Australian musicals "Rasputin" directed by Emmy award winning director Stephen Hopkins), and "And It's Got a Lovely Backyard". In Sydney, Australia, he has sung at well-known music venues such as The Imperial Hotel, The Harbourside Brasserie, Side On Cafe, LA Bar, and at the Chinese Gardens in Darling Harbour. He has recorded a dance single "Emancipate", co-written with Daniel Nemes, and produced by Steve Peach, who has worked with the likes of Gwen Stefani, Macy Gray and Kylie Minogue.
He is also a writer (journalism, plays) and comedian (credits include the hit Australian comedy stage show "Wog-a-rama", the sit-com "Acropolis Now" and stand up).
He is also a much sought after acting teacher and coach, who has taught at Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Arts (alumni include Cate Blanchett, Mel Gibson and Judy Davis), Actors Centre Australia (where Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts studied), West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, 16th Street Studios Melbourne, Queensland University of Technology and the Australian Theatre for Young People.
Wong has trained in many different acting techniques (Meisner, Strasberg, Improvisation, Asian theatre methods) and with many acclaimed acting teachers including world-renown acting coach Ivana Chubbuck, who has worked with Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron, Jim Carrey, Terrence Howard, Catherine Keener, Kate Hudson and hundreds of other A List actors. Ivana Chubbuck trained Wong to be an accredited teacher of her acting technique. He has also studied with Larry Moss, acting coach to Leonardo di Caprio, Hilary Swank, Helen Hunt and Tobey Maguire; with Eric Morris, former coach to Jack Nicholson, and with Elizabeth Kemp, who worked with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga on their performances in "A Star is Born". Wong studied voice with Patsy Rodenburg and the late Rowena Balos (with whom he ran annual acting, voice and US accent workshops in Sydney for many years). He has also studied with Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Amy Morton and Audrey Francis, with UK directors Mike Alfreds and Ian Rickson, and with West Side Story's Carole d'Andrea.Admiral Zhao
(Ancestry: Chinese)- Aubrey Anderson-Emmons was born in Santa Monica, California. She is an actress, best known for her role on Modern Family (2009) as "Lily," the adopted daughter of Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker. She also appeared in Distance (2014), the story of a man about to embark on a journey of reconciliation with his estranged daughter, when a natural disaster hurls his plans off course.Toph Beifong
(Ancestry: Korean and American) - Yue
(Ancestry: Indian) - Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Madison Hu stars as Frankie on the popular Disney show Bizaardvark (2016). She is also known for her recurring guest star role as Marci on Disney Channel's Best Friends Whenever (2015). Born in Longview, Texas, Madison moved to California and began her acting career at age 7 when she landed her first role as a spelling bee contestant on Bad Words (2013). She then went on to showcase her comedy abilities in The Goldbergs (2013) and Tosh.0 (2009). Madison enjoys cuddling with her dog, Marshmallow, ice skating, swimming, playing guitar and piano, and hanging out with friends.Mai
(Ancestry: Chinese)- When Mana was 3, her mom thought her becoming an actress would be fun & guided her into the vocation. Her 1st role came in 2009. She was in the TV show Mother on Nippon Television Network Corporation in 2010. The director was looking for a 7-year-old & was reluctant to audition a 5-year old, but things changed when they met, adjusting the script to suit her. She appeared in a historical drama in 2011. She was given the lead role in the serial Sayonara Bokutachi No Youchien ('Good-bye Our Kindergarten') in 2011, which made her at age six the youngest lead actress in Japanese TV history. She appeared in Marumo No Okite ('Marumo's Rule') & also sang the serial's theme song, Maru Maru Mori Mori. It became a Top 10 hit. Next, she became 1 of the Rookie Of The Year Award winners at the 34th Japan Academy Awards for her work in the movie Ghost. She also branched out into voice-over for foreign films' dub into Japanese. She became the youngest person to win Japan's Blue Ribbon Award. She was also the host for the talk-show Meringue No Kimochi in 2011, thus becoming the youngest talk or variety show hostess ever in Japan. She signed w/ Universal Music, debuting a single & an album, supporting her music career by giving concerts in 2012. She was also in the Hollywood movie Pacific Rim. She had earlier become the winner of Celebrity Kids Edition of the Japanese version of the contest Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
She's an avid reader & rides a unicycle. It's said that she could read by 4 & would read 60 books a month, starting from kindergarten. Her fans call her Mana-chan. She's represented by JobbyKids agency.Ty Lee
(Ancestry: Japanese) - Actor
- Additional Crew
Gil Birmingham is an American actor of Comanche ancestry, best known for his portrayal of Billy Black in the The Twilight Saga film series. Birmingham was born in San Antonio, Texas. His family moved frequently during his childhood, due to his father's career in the military. He learned to play the guitar at an early age and considers music his "first love". After obtaining a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California, he worked as a petrochemical engineer before becoming an actor. In the early 1980s, a talent scout spotted Birmingham at a local gym, where he had been bodybuilding and entering bodybuilding contests. This led to his first acting experience, in a music video for Diana Ross, for her 1982 hit song "Muscles". After appearing in Ross' music video, Birmingham began to pursue acting as his primary career. He studied acting with Larry Moss and Charles Conrad. In 1986, Birmingham made his television debut on an episode of the series Riptide. By 2002, he had a recurring role as the character Oz in the medical drama Body & Soul, starring Peter Strauss. In 2005, he was cast as the older Dogstar in the Steven Spielberg six-part miniseries Into the West. He recently played a Texas ranger a ranger, in Hell or High Water, opposite Jeff Bridges.Pakku
(Ancestry: Comanche Indian)- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa was born on August 1, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is the son of Coni (Lemke), a photographer, and Joseph Momoa, a painter. His father is of Native Hawaiian and Samoan descent; and his mother, who is from Iowa, is of German, Irish, and Native American ancestry. Jason was raised in Norwalk, Iowa, by his mother. After high school, he moved to Hawaii, where he landed a lead role, beating out of thousands of hopefuls in the TV series Baywatch (1989) (known as "Baywatch Hawaii" in its 10th season). When the show ended, he spent the next couple of years traveling around the world. In 2001, he moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to pursue an acting career. In 2004, after the short-lived TV series North Shore (2004), he was cast as the popular character "Ronon Dex" in the TV series Stargate: Atlantis (2004), which achieved a cult-like following. In 2010, he appeared in the Emmy-nominated HBO series Game of Thrones (2011), playing the Dothraki king, Khal Drogo. To illustrate to the producers that he was Khal Drogo, he performed the Haka, a traditional war dance of the Maori of New Zealand. The audition was with the same casting director who was casting the titular role in the reboot of Conan the Barbarian (2011). Four weeks after being cast as the popular Robert E. Howard character, Momoa began shooting in Bulgaria. His approach, like that of the filmmakers, was to pull from the eight decades of comics and stories as well as the Frank Frazetta images rather than the hugely popular 1982 movie. Jason has a production company, Pride of Gypsies, in which he is expanding his career from actor to filmmaker. He has directed a couple of short films and is working on his feature film debut Road to Paloma (2014), which is pulled from a series of stories that he's been developing over the years, which he calls the Brown Bag Diaries: Ridin' the Blinds in B Minor (2010). Jason lives with his wife, actress Lisa Bonet, with whom he has two children, Lola and Nakoa-Wolf.Hakoda
(Ancestry: Native Hawaiian and German)- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Elodie Yung was born in Paris, France, of Cambodian and French descent. She grew up in Seine-saint-Denis, in Le Bourget, where she practiced karate and obtained her black belt. She graduated from University of La Sorbonne in Paris and has a law degree. She then decided to study acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London.Kya
(Ancestry: Cambodian and French)- Actress
- Additional Crew
Geraldine Keams was born in Arizona, USA. She is an actress, known for Reservation Dogs (2021), Rutherford Falls (2021) and Dark Winds (2022).Gran Gran
(Ancestry: Navajo Indian)- Nam Da-reum is known for Six Flying Dragons (2015), Sinkhole (2021) and Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (2015).Jet
(Ancestry: Korean) - Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Hudson Yang was born on 24 October 2003 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Fresh Off the Boat (2015), The Sisterhood of Night (2014) and Honor Student (2023).The Duke
(Ancestry: Taiwanese)- Actor
- Producer
Jacob Batalon is an American actor. Batalon achieved international recognition playing Ned Leeds in five Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films, beginning with Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Jacob Batalon was born on October 9, 1996, in Hawaii, to Filipino parents. Batalon has seven half-siblings: a brother and a sister from his mother, and three brothers and two sisters from his father.Pipsqueak
(Ancestry: Filipino)- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Peyton Elizabeth Lee was born on 22 May 2004 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Andi Mack (2017), Secret Society of Second Born Royals (2020) and Prom Pact (2023).Smellerbee
(Ancestry: Chinese)- Actor
- Sound Department
- Soundtrack
Keone Young is an Asian-American actor who is known for playing Mr. Wu from Deadwood and voicing Kaz Harada from Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi. He also acted in Men in Black 3, Samurai Jack, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Codename: Kids Next Door, The Mighty B, American Dragon: Jake Long and the Spider-Man 3 video game. He speaks English, Japanese and Chinese.Monk Gyatso
(Ancestry: Chinese, Japanese and Hawaiian)- Actor
- Producer
Togo Igawa is an actor/director living in England. In 1968 he joined the Theatre Centre 68 (precursor of the Black Tent Theatre), and went on to tour throughout Japan, performing in more than 120 cities. In 1983 he moved to England. In 1986, the opening season for the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon Avon, he became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company as its first Japanese actor. Since then he has appeared extensively on stage, film, television and radio worldwide.Earth King Bumi
(Ancestry: Japanese)- Actor
- Soundtrack
Bailey May is known for James & Pat & Dave (2020), On the Wings of Love (2015) and Maalaala Mo Kaya (1991).Haru
(Ancestry: Filipino and British)- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. His mother, Bow-sim Mark, was a kung fu master and his father, Kylster Yen, a newspaper editor and amateur musician. When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston, Massachusetts.
There, Master Bow-sim Mark became a pioneer for Chinese martial arts in America, and it was only natural that her only son was trained from early childhood in the same skills. At the same time, Donnie was influenced by his parents' love of music and reached a high level of proficiency as a pianist. All these interests would have a manifest influence on Yen's later life.
In his teens, Donnie defined his own persona by rebelling against his parents edicts. Beyond the limitations of his mother's school, Yen began training in various different fighting arts, including Japanese karate, Korean taekwondo and western boxing. Donnie also took up hip-hop and break-dancing. At the same time, he began spending his nights in Boston's notorious Combat Zone. Given that he was by now a serious practitioner of modern Wu Shu, his parents decided to send him to Beijing to train at the Chinese capital's famed Wu Shu academy.
It was when Yen returned to Hong Kong en route back to Boston that he met the famed martial arts movie director Yuen Woo-ping.
Donnie exploded onto the Hong Kong movie scene when he was cast in the lead role of director Yuen Woo-ping's 'Drunken Tai Chi'. His debut film immediately established him as a viable leading man, and Yen has remained a major figure in Chinese action cinema to this day.
Yen skills as a street dancer were to the fore in his second starring role, 'Mismatched Couples', in which he showed off his breakdance moves, as well as his general athleticism. This slapstick romantic comedy was produced by Hong Kong's prestigious Cinema City studio.
Donnie was subsequently signed by the newly formed D&B Films, and cast in the hit cop actioner 'Tiger Cage'. In this movie, and his follow-up features for the company ('In the Line of Duty 4', 'Tiger Cage 2'), Yen showed off his own unique form of contemporary screen combat, a form that included elements of rapid fire kicking, Western boxing and grappling moves.
Having established a worldwide fan base, Yen moved on to star in a string of independent Asian action features before director Tsui Hark tapped him to co-star in 'Once Upon A Time In China 2'. The film's two action highlights saw Donnie's character duel the legendary martial arts master Wong Fei-hung, played by his old friend Jet Li. The film brought Yen his first real attention as a thespian and he was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category at that year's Hong Kong Film Awards.
Tsui Hark went on to produce a remake of King Hu's classic 'New Dragon Inn', which provided another showcase role for Donnie as the film's apparently invincible villain.
Donnie was reunited with director Yuen Woo-ping for 'Iron Monkey', a film which brought Yen's acting and action skills both into focus. In 'Iron Monkey', Yen played the father of Wong Fei-hung, and its success prefigured that which he would later enjoy as another pugilistic patriarch in 'Ip Man'. Donnie collaborated with Yuen on the action for the film, designing a new on-screen interpretation of Wong Fei-hung's classic 'Shadowless Kick'.
'Iron Monkey' was all the more remarkable in that, years after its Asian release, it was acquired by the American studio Miramax, re-cut, re-scored and given a wide release in US theatres. After premieres in New York and Los Angeles, the film enjoyed great acclaim from the American critics, and won a prize at that year's Taurus Awards, an event held to celebrate action in cinema.
After working on a number of independent features, Yen went on to enjoy huge success on the small screen when he accepted a lucrative offer from Hong Kong's ATV to film a series based on the Bruce Lee classic 'Fist of Fury'. The show was the top-rated action drama show around the region, and was subsequently re-edited for international distribution on video.
Donnie went on to make his directorial debut with 'Legend of the Wolf', a stylish period actioner that even attracted the attention of legendary American film-maker Francis Coppola. The film, about an amnesiac warrior returning to his home village, has become a bona fide cult classic.
As director, Donnie followed 'Legend of the Wolf' with a very different venture, 'Ballistic Kiss', an urban thriller about a conflicted assassin. The film played at the prestigious Udine Festival in Italy, and took home awards at several other events, including the Japanese Yubari International Action Film Festival.
Donnie's body of work had by then attracted the attention of Hollywood, and Yen was approached to choreograph the action for the mainstream franchise films 'Highlander: Endgame' and 'Blade 2'. After a period where he was based in Los Angeles, Donnie returned East by way of the West when Jackie Chan requested that Yen play his nemesis in the hit 'Shanghai Knights', a shoot that took the star from Prague to London.
Yen returned to China to co-star in director Zhang Yimou's epic wu xia master work 'Hero'. Yen's duel with Jet Li brought his skills to the emerging Mainland Chinese theatrical audience, and paved the way for Donnie to become the country's biggest action star. The film received a wide US theatrical release from Miramax, and remains one of the most successful foreign language titles ever distributed in the America market.
Donnie returned to Hong Kong to choreograph the smash hit fantasy-horror-comedy 'The Twins Effect', and went on to enjoy his most productive partnership with a director. Beginning with the cop actioner 'SPL', Donnie teamed with helmer Wilson Yip for a series of very different films that Yen would star in and action choreograph and Yip would direct. Star and director subsequently teamed to create the comic book inspired fantasy actioner 'Dragon Tiger Gate' and the gritty police thriller 'Flashpoint', in which Donnie created what fans feel is the definitive on-screen MMA action scene. Yen was to return to this hard-hitting, urban action style for the later 'Special ID'.
Donnie now found himself in demand as a leading man in a series of prestigious period actioners produced for the Chinese market. 'Seven Swords' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and proved a hit with worldwide audiences. The film was released in North America by The Weinstein Company's Dragon Dynasty label, and remains its biggest hit.
Yen also attracted rave reviews when he played an honorable general in 'An Empress and her Warriors' and an offbeat ghost-buster in Gordon Chan's 'Painted Skin'.
Yen took his career to a new level when he accepted producer Raymond Wong's suggestion that he play Bruce Lee's teacher, 'Ip Man', in an eponymous film relating the life of the great master. The film was a huge success in Hong Kong and China, and 'Ip Man' went on to find favor with audiences worldwide. Donnie also received a Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
'Ip Man' confirmed Donnie's position as China's greatest action hero, and he was immediately signed to lead a strong ensemble cast for Teddy Chen's 'Bodyguards and Assassins', produced by Peter Chan. Besides his on-screen performance, Donnie was also called on to choreograph the dynamic duel between himself and MMA champion Cung Le. The movie went on to sweep the board at the Hong Kong Film Awards winning Best Film, among many other prizes. Yen himself was nominated for Best Actor at the Chinese Hundred Flower awards.
Yen followed this with 'Ip Man 2', a rare example of a sequel that proved a match for its predecessor. The film followed Ip's life journey to Hong Kong, where he faces both rival kung fu masters, led by the film's choreographer, Sammo Hung, and a brutal foreign boxer, portrayed by the late Darren Shahlavi. 'Ip Man 2' was the biggest local hit of the year in China, and enjoyed a limited theatrical release in the US.
The film's success led to Donnie being cast as a number of legendary Chinese heroes: He played General Qin-long in Daniel Lee's '14 Blades', Guan Yu in 'The Lost Bladesman' and reprised Bruce Lee's Chen Zhen role in Andrew Lau's 'Legend of the Fist'. Yen also used the lighter side of his screen persona to good effect in two installments of the hit Hong Kong comedy movie series 'Alls Well Ends Well'.
Yen was cast opposite Tang Wei and Takeshi Kaneshiro in director Peter Chan's 'Wu Xia' (aka 'Dragon'), a dark, elegant period martial arts murder mystery. The film premiered to great acclaim at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and subsequently received a North American theatrical release from The Weinstein Company.
Donnie Yen played 'The Monkey King' in a hit reimagining of the Chinese classic. Donnie starred opposite screen legend Chow Yun-fat in the film, which smashed box office records in Mainland China.
Showing his versatility, Yen went on to play a kung fu master facing challenges in the modern era in director Teddy Chen's 'Kung Fu Jungle'. The movie, which premiered at the London Film Festival, paid tribute to the great history of Hong Kong martial arts cinema.
During the shooting of his ambitious, time travel themed action fantasy 'Iceman 3D', Yen was approached to revitalize the greatest brand in the history of Chinese martial arts cinema. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny' was shot primarily on location in New Zealand, with Yen in the lead role. The world class creative team gathered by producer Harvey Weinstein included legendary kung fu film director Yuen Woo-ping, acclaimed directors Peter Berg and Morten Tyldum (as producers), 'X-Men' series DP Tom Sigel as well as the Oscar-winning production, costume and FX designers from the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' film series.
The film debuted in most international territories as a Netflix Original movie, making it the most widely seen wu xia of all time. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Sword of Destiny' also played at selected Imax theatres in North America, and enjoyed a wide theatrical release in China, where it was screened in its 3D version.
Yen reteamed with his former mentor Yuen Woo-ping for the hugely popular 'Ip Man 3'. The film, with Wilson Ip as director and Yuen as choreographer, pitted the title character against legendary boxing champion Mike Tyson. The film out-performed all the previous movies featuring the character of Ip Man, smashing box office records throughout Asia. Following a high profile Los Angeles premiere, 'Ip Man 3' enjoyed a Los Angeles premiere and a US theatrical release, earning rave reviews in the mainstream American media.
Having conquered every territory beneath the Asian skies, Donnie accepted an invitation to join the cast of an entry in the world's biggest film franchise. In 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', Yen plays one of the Rebel warriors responsible for the theft of the Death Star plans, the adventure that, within the 'Star Wars' universe, leads to the events of the very first film in the series. The film was shot primarily at the famed Elstree Studios in England.
Donnie had a role opposite Vin Diesel and his fellow Asian action star, Tony Jaa, in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017), which filmed in Toronto, Canada.
Now firmly established as a leading player across the globe, Donnie Yen continues to present a unique blend of Eastern experience and Western innovation, of musical grace with martial impact, from Hong Kong to a galaxy far, far away....
Donnie is one of the leading martial arts choreographers in the world of action cinema. His skills behind the camera began developing from his early days in the industry, and he was very much involved with the action choreography of his films for D&B Films. He received his first full action directing credit on the Michelle Yeoh, kung fu drama 'Wing Chun', in which he also starred.
Yen further developed his style of choreography in the high pressure world of Hong Kong television, where he created the action for his hit series 'Kung Fu Master' and 'Fist of Fury', and as a low-budget film-maker, when he directed, starred in and choreographed the movies 'Legend of the Wolf' and 'Ballistic Kiss'.
It was after Yen had helmed his first two Chinese features that Hollywood made its first serious bid for his services. He was signed to co-star in and action direct 'Highlander: Endgame', the latest in a series of fantasy actioners. The film, which starred Adrian Paul and Christopher Lambert, was produced by the US studio Dimension, and enjoyed a successful worldwide theatrical release.
Having relocated to Los Angeles, Yen paid his dues by directing action scenes for the Dimension action thriller 'Stormbreaker' and providing the fight sequences for the German TV series 'The Puma'.
Donnie agreed to both action direct and cameo in the major New Line action franchise entry 'Blade 2', starring Wesley Snipes. The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro, was a huge hit, earning almost twice the box office of the original 'Blade'.
Returning to Hong Kong, Yen found he now had a major contribution to make behind the camera, co-directing the SFX action adventure 'The Twins Effect'. The film, which starred two of China's top pop idols, told the tale of young vampire hunters with well-honed martial arts skills. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
'The Twins Effect' saw Donnie start to introduce elements of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in his film fight scenes. He took the on-screen depiction of the style to new heights with the film 'SPL', released in the US as 'Kill Zone'. Yen's final reel duel with Sammo Hung is now regarded as a classic of the genre. The film won Donnie his second Best Action Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
He took his on-screen depiction of MMA to new heights in 'Flashpoint', which featured an even longer and more intense final showdown, this time between Yen and 'Matrix Reloaded' actor Collin Chou. The film won Donnie his third Best Action Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards, as well as a prize for Best Action in a Foreign Language Film at the Taurus Awards.
Yen explored different styles of screen combat when he choreographed the stunning kung fu fights for the period actioners 'Legend of the Fist' and 'The Lost Bladesman', the fantasy combat for 'The Monkey King' and the time travel adventure 'Iceman Cometh 3D'.
Many fans feel that Yen delivered his best choreographic work to date in Peter Chan's masterful 'Wu Xia', released in the US as 'Dragon'. The film saw Donnie bring his own unique flair to classical Shaw Bros style kung fu action.
Donnie brought traditional Chinese martial arts into the modern era with 'Kung Fu Jungle', for which his work won yet another Best Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Away from the cameras, Yen entered into the most rewarding partnership of his life when he married former beauty queen, Cissy Wang. The couple now has two children, a girl and boy, Jasmine and James.Tyro
(Ancestry: Chinese)- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Anupam Kher is a renowned Indian actor who has worked extensively in the Indian film industry, as well as in international films and television shows. He is known for his versatile acting skills and has portrayed a wide range of characters throughout his career.
Kher studied at Simla in D.A.V. School and graduated with a degree in Economics from Simla's Himachal Pradesh University. He studied at the Government College, Sanjauli. He left the university mid-way and instead studied the Indian theatre in Chandigarh at Panjab University.
Kher was a part of several plays at Himachal Pradesh University. He took drama classes in Lucknow at Raj Bisaria's Bharatendu Natya Akadem for a small role in Sheeshay Ka Ghar (1984), his debut film.
In 1984, he landed his first role in Bollywood with the film Saaransh (1984). He played the role of a 65-year-old teacher in this film. He went on to work in projects like Tezaab (1988) and Vijay (1988), for which he was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Kher received public recognition for his performances in movies like Ram Lakhan (1989) and his first Filmfare Award under the Best Performer in a Comic Role category. He also won a Filmfare Critics Award and a National Film Award - Special Mention for his role in Daddy (1989).
In 1990, Kher starred in Dil (1990) and received another Filmfare Best Supporting Actor nomination. He was critically acclaimed for his performance in Lamhe (1991). He won a Filmfare Award as the Best Comedian for his role in the movie.
Kher later appeared in Beta (1992) alongside Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor. In the same year, his role in Khel (1992) earned him another Filmfare Award as the Best Comedian.
Kher went on to star in massive hits like Darr (1993), which got him a Filmfare award as the Best Comedian. In 1994, he appeared in another blockbuster, Laadla (1994).
One of Kher's most successful movies Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), earned him another nomination as the Best Supporting Actor at Filmfare and was the second movie for which he won the National Film Award, this time under the category Best Popular Film.
Kher's performance in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) got him his fifth Filmfare Best Comedian Award and was highly applauded and loved by the audience.
After a gap of almost three years, he made his comeback in yet another blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), for which he received the Best Comedian nomination at Filmfare.
Kher also tried his skills in directing with Om Jai Jagadish (2002) and was also the producer. In 2007, Kher collaborated with Satish Kaushik and started Karol Bagh Productions, a film production company. They produced their first movie Teree Sang: A Kidult Love Story (2009), in 2009.
He hosted TV shows like Say Na Something to Anupam Uncle (2000) and The Anupam Kher Show (2014).
Kher has also appeared in international films like Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Bride & Prejudice (2004).
Kher received the Best Actor Award at the Karachi International Film Festival for his performance in I Did Not Kill Gandhi (2005), which was also produced by him.
His other foreign films were The Mistress of Spices (2005), Lust, Lust, Caution (2007), the TV show ER (1994), Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook (2012), and Hotel Mumbai (2018).
He also received a nomination for BAFTA for his supporting role in the British sitcom The Boy with the Topknot (2017).
In 2019, Kher took the role of Manmohan Singh, India's former Indian Prime minister in The Accidental Prime Minister (2019). In 2022, he appeared in the controversial film The Kashmir Files (2022), which was a blockbuster.
Kher was awarded the best actor for his role in a short film titled Happy Birthday (2021) at the New York City International Film Festival. He is a recipient of two National Film Awards, eight Filmfare Awards, two International Indian Film Academy Awards, two Screen Awards India, and five other state/viewer awards.
His handprint was preserved for posterity at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai as he was honoured by 'Walk of the Stars'. The US state of Texas presented him with the "Honoured Guest" award for his contribution to cinema and art.
He has also been honoured with Civilian Awards like the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 by the Indian Government for his contribution to Indian cinema and arts.
Anupam Kher tied the knot with Kirron Kher, a fellow Indian actress, in 1985. Kher became a stepfather to Kirron's son, actor Sikandar Kher. He was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of the Pratham Education Foundation in 2010, which works to improve the education of children in India. In 2021, Kher received an honorary doctorate degree in Philosophy of Hindu Studies from the Hindu University of America.Guru Pathik
(Ancestry: Indian)- Actress
- Music Department
- Producer
One of the leading lights of the 1965-1990's Indian New Wave, Shabana Azmi (alongside the late Smita Patil) was one of the main female actors who dominated the films of the so-called "Parallel Cinema" in India in the 1970s and 1980s. Born to noted Urdu progressive poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi and theatre actress Shaukat Azmi, Shabana has acted in films by virtually all of India's most famous art-house directors including Shyam Benegal, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Aparna Sen and others, as well as in commercial and middle-of-the-road Hindi films, where she has essayed several strong female characters (e.g., in The Death Sentence: Mrityu Dand (1997) and Godmother (1999)). Shabana Azmi was paired opposite Rajesh Khanna in 7 successful films.She is noted for her naturalness and intensity on-screen, matched by her fierce advocacy of the rights of women, minorities and slum-dwellers off-screen, both through activism and in her role as a Member of Parliament, where her consistent stand in defense of liberal values and the freedom of expression is noteworthy. She has also acted on stage to considerable acclaim, most notably in Tumhari Amrita with Farookh Sheikh. She is married to noted scriptwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar.Hama
(Ancestry: Indian)- Actress
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Amy Hill's television and film credits number over 180. As a voice actor, she's been heard as recurring characters on numerous shows including "American Dad", "Lilo and Stitch" (film and series), "King of the Hill", and HBO's "Happily Ever After." She had recurring roles on "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend", "UnReal", "Preacher", and the CBS sitcom "Mom". She's was also a regular on Amazon Prime's "Just Add Magic."
She started her career in theater working with the famed Asian American Theater Company in San Francisco and continued as a teacher, director, and artistic committee member there in addition to being a part of San Francisco's improvisation and sketch-comedy scene. Hill is also known in the theatre world as a respected performance artist, having written and performed a number of one-woman shows, including the trilogy of "Tokyo Bound", "Reunion", and "Beside Myself."
She has worked with regional theaters such as The Mark Taper Forum, Berkeley Rep, Seattle Rep, Actors Theater of Louisville, and The Public Theater in New York City, and has appeared on Broadway in Lincoln Center's "Twelfth Night," which also aired on PBS' "Live from Lincoln Center." She is proud to consider East West Players as her Los Angeles Theater "home," where she has also performed, directed, and taught.Lo
(Ancestry: Japanese and Finnish)- Actress
- Music Department
- Producer
Bo-Bo Fung was born in 1954 in Hong Kong. She is an actress and producer, known for 92 Legendary La Rose Noire (1992), C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993) and Beyond the Sunset (1989).Li
(Ancestry: Chinese)- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Daniel Dae Kim has made a career of creating multifaceted and stereotype-breaking roles as an actor, director and now, producer. Prior to his seven-season portrayal of Chin Ho Kelly on "Hawaii Five-0," Kim was best known for his role as Jin Soo Kwon on the hit TV series "Lost," for which he shared a 2006 Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble, and was individually honored with an AZN Asian Excellence Award, a Multicultural Prism Award and a Vanguard Award from the Korean American Coalition, all for Outstanding Performance by an Actor. In 2009, he was recognized with the prestigious KoreAm Achievement Award in the field of Arts and Entertainment, and has twice been named one of "People" Magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive."
Most recently, he received a Broadway Beacon Award for his role as the King of Siam in Lincoln Center's Tony Award-winning production of "The King and I," as well as the Theater Legacy Award from New York's Pan Asian Repertory Theater. Outside of his artistic endeavors, he actively pursues interests in the community at large, having most recently served as Cultural Envoy and Member of the U.S. Presidential Delegation for the United States at the World Expo in Korea.
Born in Busan, South Korea, and raised in New York and Pennsylvania, Kim discovered acting while a student at Haverford College. After graduation, he moved to New York City, where he began his career on stage, performing in classics such as "Romeo and Juliet," "Ivanov," and "A Doll's House." Despite early success, he deepened his knowledge of the craft by enrolling at New York University's Graduate Acting Program, where he earned his Master's Degree.
After receiving his MFA, Kim's film career began in earnest with roles in "The Jackal," "For Love of the Game," "The Hulk," "Spider-Man 2" and "The Cave," as well as the Academy Award-winning "Crash." Most recently, he created the role of Jack Kang in "The Divergent Series films, "Insurgent" and "Allegiant." Kim is set to star as Ben Daimio in the highly anticipated feature: "Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen".
Kim has also lent his voice talents to animated series and films, such as the award-winning Studio Ghibli film, "The Tale of Princess Kaguya," as well as the PBS nature documentary series, "Big Pacific". He's also voiced characters for several video games, including Johnny Gat in the bestselling series, "Saints Row."
On camera, he has guest-starred on numerous TV shows, including "CSI," on the network, "ER" and two seasons on "24" as CTU Agent Tom Baker. In 2008, he starred in the Emmy Award-nominated miniseries "The Andromeda Strain."
In addition to his onscreen career, Kim spearheads his production company 3AD, established in 2014 by Daniel Dae Kim to produce premier content for TV, film and digital media - in development partnership with ITV Studios America. Committed to storytelling that features characters and cultures traditionally underrepresented in today's media, 3AD produced projects include this season's acclaimed new series The Good Doctor (ABC),where he serves as Executive Producer. Daniel Dae Kim can be found on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook @danieldaekim and is repped by UTA and KlevanLongarzo LLP and EPR. 3ADmedia.The Mechanist
(Ancestry: Korean)- Actor
- Producer
Albert Tsai is an American actor. He started his professional career at the age of 9. Albert won rave reviews and multiple awards recognition for his breakout role as Bert on the ABC comedy series Trophy Wife, including a "Best Supporting Actor" nomination from 2014 Critics' Choice Television Awards, and "The Breakout TV Stars of 2013" by The Huffington Post, Hollywood.com, and E! Online. In 2015, he was named one of Entertainment Weekly's 12 Best Child Actors.
Albert was born on August 5, 2004 in San Jose, California. He discovered his passion for acting at seven years old, when he participated in a school play. He made his TV debut on CBS' hit series "How I Met Your Mother" in May 2013. Since then, Albert has starred on four network comedy series including ABC's "Trophy Wife", "Dr. Ken", CBS' 9JKL, and Disney Channel's "Coop and Cami Ask the World". He also made guest appearances on "Fresh Off The Boat", "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend", "Hot In Cleveland", and "Benched". In 2019, Albert stars as Peng in Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation's feature film "Abominable" opposite Chloe Bennet and Sarah Paulson.
When not working, Albert loves to read, swim & surf, and go horseback riding. He is bilingual and speaks Chinese Mandarin fluently. He enjoys traveling and has been to many different places in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.Teo
(Ancestry: Taiwanese)- Actor
- Soundtrack
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee was born on 16 August 1972 in Daejeon, South Korea. He is an actor, known for Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024), The Mandalorian (2019) and Kim's Convenience (2016). He is married to Anna. They have two children.Fire Lord Sozin
(Ancestry: Korean)- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Hiro Kanagawa is a Vancouver-based actor and writer. Born in Sapporo, Japan, he spent his childhood in Guelph, Ontario and Sterling Heights, Michigan before attending International Christian University High School in Tokyo where he acted in his first student films and stage productions. Returning to the U.S., he attended Middlebury College, VT, the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and the Tyler School of Art at Temple University before settling in Vancouver, BC. Since 1990, his multi-faceted career has earned him numerous stage awards and distinctions in his native Canada. Internationally, he is perhaps best known for his recurring roles and guest appearances on popular American television series such as Altered Carbon (2018), The X-Files (1993), iZombie (2015), and Smallville (2001), and for memorable comedic turns in hits like Best in Show (2000) and Supernatural (2005). His screenwriting credits include story editing on the critically-acclaimed Canadian series Da Vinci's Inquest (1998), Da Vinci's City Hall (2005), Intelligence (2005), and Blackstone (2009). Also an accomplished playwright, he received the 2017 Governor-General's Literary Award for Drama for his play Indian Arm.Avatar Roku
(Ancestry: Japanese)- Actor
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Music Department
Born in Chamberlain, South Dakota and residing in Montana, Spears has five brothers, one sister, and is Lakota Sioux Tribe. His first role was in the film "Dances With Wolves" as Otter. Michael went on to appear in "Skins", "Into The West", "Yellow Rock", Cyril Morin's "The Activist", and had a guest role on "Longmire". He has an American Photographic Artists (APA) Award for best subject matter in a film. He co-hosted the American Indian Film Institute Awards in 2013.Avatar Kuruk
(Ancestry: Lakota Indian)- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Nora Lum, known professionally as Awkwafina, is an American actress and rapper. She has played supporting roles in the comedy films Ocean's 8 and Crazy Rich Asians (2018), and her leading role in the comedy-drama The Farewell (2019) earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress nomination.
She has released two albums, Yellow Ranger (2014) and In Fina We Trust (2018). She has also ventured into comedy and hosting, making television appearances in Girl Code, Future Man, and Saturday Night Live.
Lum was born in New York City to painter and South Korean immigrant Tia, who died when she was four, and Chinese-American father Wally. She grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, raised by her father and his grandparents; she became especially close to her grandmother. One of her paternal great-grandfathers was a Chinese immigrant in the 1940s; he opened the Cantonese restaurant Lum's in Flushing, Queens that was one of that neighborhood's first Chinese restaurants.
Lum attended LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts where she played the trumpet and was trained in classical music and jazz. At age 16, she adopted the stage name Awkwafina, "definitely a person I repressed" and an alter ego to her "quiet and more passive" personality during her college years. Lum majored in journalism and women's studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York. From 2006 to 2008, Lum attended Beijing Language and Culture University in China, where she studied Mandarin.
Lum states that Charles Bukowski, Anaïs Nin, Joan Didion, Tom Waits, and Chet Baker were early influences. Prior to her career in entertainment, she was an intern at local New York publications Gotham Gazette and the Times Union newspaper in Albany, and was a publicity assistant for publishing house Rodale.Avatar Kyoshi
(Ancestry: Chinese and Korean)- Actress
- Soundtrack
On February 13th, 1968, a girl of Chinese, English, and Hawaiian ancestry was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father, Herbert, was a salesman and her mother, Juanita, worked many odd jobs to help support the family. She has one older brother, Glenn. She is a former Miss Teen USA, and modeled in Japan and Italy for several months before deciding to relocate to L.A. and try her hand at show business. She received her break on TV's Growing Pains (1985) in 1987 and never looked back.Avatar Yangchen
(Ancestry: Chinese and Hawaiian)- Kim Hwan-hee was born on 25 August 2002 in South Korea. She is an actress, known for The Wailing (2016), Sweet Revenge (2017) and You Are the Best! (2013).Suki
(Ancestry: Korean) - Actress
- Music Department
Moon Bloodgood was born on 20 September 1975 in Alliance, Nebraska, USA. She is an actress, known for Terminator Salvation (2009), Faster (2010) and Eight Below (2006). She was previously married to Grady Hall.Ursa
(Ancestry: Korean and American)- Actor
- Soundtrack
Santos was born in Manila, Philippines and moved with his family to the United States when he was sixteen, residing in Gresham, Oregon and attending Gresham's Centennial High School. Santos studied acting at Southern Oregon University. He worked for several years in the costume department of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He later moved to California where before getting his big TV break, Santos regularly performed as a stand-up comic. He was also part of the talk show round-table Chelsea Lately.Koh the Face Stealer
(Ancestry: Filipino)- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Danny Pudi was born on 10 March 1979 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Community (2009), DuckTales (2017) and Knights of Badassdom (2013). He has been married to Bridget Showalter Pudi since 5 June 2004. They have two children.Bato
(Ancestry: Indian and Polish-American)- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ramon Tikaram was born on 16 May 1967 in Singapore. He is an actor, known for Jupiter Ascending (2015), Vampire Academy (2014) and Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996).The Boulder
(Ancestry:Indian-Fijian and Malaysian)- Dalip Singh was born on 27 August 1972 in Dhirana, Himachal Pradesh, India. He is an actor, known for Get Smart (2008), The Longest Yard (2005) and MacGruber (2010). He has been married to Harminder Kaur since 27 February 2002. They have one child.Combustion Man
(Ancestry:Indian) - Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Ken Jeong is an American actor, comedian, and physician. He is known for his roles as Ben Chang on the critically acclaimed NBC/Yahoo! sitcom Community (2009) and gangster Leslie Chow in The Hangover (2009) Trilogy. He appeared in Michael Bay's Pain & Gain (2013), as Johnny Wu, a motivational speaker.
Ken was born in Detroit, to Korean parents. He completed his internal medicine residency at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans while developing his stand-up comedy. He is a licensed physician in California.Earth King Kuei
(Ancestry: Korean)- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Cung Le made his first appearance on the professional M.M.A. stage in 2006, and shortly after won the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship in 2008, setting high standards through his powerful kicks, skillful strikes, and well-timed take-downs. This U.S.-Viet Namese champion, actor, producer and action director is a household name in many parts of East Asia and is equally adored in Hollywood. He has starred in many major movies such as 'Puncture Wounds', 'Dragon Eyes', 'The Man With the Iron Fists', 'Pandorum' and Oscar-nominated 'The Grandmaster'. Born in Saigon, Viet Nam and arrived in the U.S. at three years old, this world-class fighter has graced the covers of many major martial arts publications such as Inside Kung Fu, Black Belt, Martial Arts Illustrated; and has made headlines and appearances in numerous main-stream outlets all over the world. Cung Le's latest high-profile project was coaching and mentoring fighters on the reality T.V. show: 'The Ultimate Fighter: China' and preparing them for the March 1st match in Macao where the winner earned a six-figure U.F.C. contract. This is the dream title that will catapult any fighter's status into stardom. Typically, the role of mentor and coach is reserved for the president of U.F.C. - Dana White. For the first time, he has appointed someone else - Cung Le - to take his position this season. This speaks volumes about Cung Le's martial arts skill and his ability to attract a world audience. Behind the scenes, Cung Le is an extremely down-to-earth, warm and fun-loving person with a positive view on life. He enjoys spending quality time and on vacation with his wife, taking his sons out to celebrate their academic and mixed martial arts successes at Five Guys Burgers, playing with his two dogs, embracing injuries with a light-hearted attitude, and training daily to stay in shape. He has been promoting his own amateur mixed martial arts event, Born to Fight, since 2001. He also attends martial arts events, works on various publicity projects, contributes positively to society through his "Train for a Cause with Cung Le" events, and stays true to himself by always expressing his candid points of view.Long Feng
(Ancestry: Vietnamese)