James Hong at the Los Angeles premiere of “Kung Fu Panda 4” March 3.Photo:Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty ImagesIn his seven decades of screen work, didJames Hongever imagine his name would be on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard? “Absolutely not,” he tells PEOPLE with a cackle.“I walk there quite often and I [have said], ‘Gee, I wish I was here,’ ” says the Los Angeles-based star, 95.But now Hong is honored twice on the iconic sidewalk: with a star on theHollywood Walk of Fameand with his hands and feet immortalized in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre.“It never came to be for 70 years of my career,” theKung Fu Panda 4star says. “Then all of a sudden, on the 70th year, things began to pop in place!”James Hong at his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony in 2022.Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesThe exact number of Hong’s screen credits is hard to pinpoint due to the sheer number of them (he approximates a whopping 700), but his résumé stretches from a 1955 big-screen debut inSoldier of Fortune— making him, as he acknowledges, “possibly the only actor alive that has worked with Clark Gable” — to the hitEverything Everywhere All at Once.ThatOscar-sweepingfilm fromDaniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinertis most responsible for Hong’s career resurgence, although actorDaniel Dae Kimfought tocampaign for his Walk of Fame starback in 2020.Kim andEverything EverywherecostarJamie Lee Curtispresented at Hong’s 2022 ceremony, which featured a traditional Chinese lion dance from the Shaolin Entertainment Group to bless the occasion.The Feb. 22 TCL Chinese Theatre ceremony, which included presentations from Kwan, Scheinert,Lucy Liuand a traditional dragon dance in honor of the Lunar New Year, also happened to fall on Hong’s 95th birthday.“I never dreamed to be there,” says Hong of his cemented hands and feet, alongside John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and more.“I’m not parallel with those guys, but I’m so glad to be so-called ‘chosen’ to be on that sidewalk because it’s not only for me, but for the Asian Americans who’ll be represented. … It’ll be good for the image of Hollywood.”Hong’s newfound recognition as one of the industry’s most impressive character actors can also be attributed to a viral moment at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards in which he also spoke out about Asian American representation.AfterMichelle Yeohshouted out herEverything Everywherecostar while the cast accepted the best ensemble prize, Hong announced to the world that a producer had once told him “that Asians were not good enough, and they are not box office. But, look at us now, huh?"“For some reason that was in my soul and I just came out with that sentence,” he tells PEOPLE. “‘Just look at us now. Here we have arrived.’ That’s whatEverything Everywhere All at Oncemeant to me, that we have arrived as actors — we’ve come a long way.”Still, the need to fight for equity remains a key part of Hong’s mission — and, in fact, may be the secret to his longevity.“It’s always on my mind, on my soul,” he says of Asian American representation. “I’ve dedicated my whole life to this, all the way from the time my first movie wasSoldier of Fortunewhere I was a Communist soldier, and those were the only roles in those days for actors like myself.”The fight against the “hidden prejudice in this town,” as the Minnesota-born actor says, is “in that Hong blood. My father struggled to get here to America… The story goes that my grandmother helped fight off the bandits. I think it was that kind of aggressiveness, the will to fight and survive that carries all those years down.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.James Hong at the Los Angeles premiere of “Kung Fu Panda 4” March 3.Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/ShutterstockAnd, adds Hong with a smile, “overcoming those obstacles” is precisely what has helped him survive.“I’m 95 and I’m still going. Probably if I didn’t struggle, I would die earlier because the fight wasn’t there," he says.As the self-confessed “workaholic” keeps busy with a documentary and memoir in development — and reprising his role as Chinese goose Mr. Ping, adoptive father toJack Black’s panda Po inKung Fu Panda 4— it’s clear what motivates him continues to be the philosophy he espouses to fellow artists: “You’re born,” he advises. “Be what you want.”Kung Fu Panda 4is in theaters Friday.
James Hong at the Los Angeles premiere of “Kung Fu Panda 4” March 3.Photo:Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
In his seven decades of screen work, didJames Hongever imagine his name would be on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard? “Absolutely not,” he tells PEOPLE with a cackle.“I walk there quite often and I [have said], ‘Gee, I wish I was here,’ ” says the Los Angeles-based star, 95.But now Hong is honored twice on the iconic sidewalk: with a star on theHollywood Walk of Fameand with his hands and feet immortalized in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre.“It never came to be for 70 years of my career,” theKung Fu Panda 4star says. “Then all of a sudden, on the 70th year, things began to pop in place!”James Hong at his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony in 2022.Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesThe exact number of Hong’s screen credits is hard to pinpoint due to the sheer number of them (he approximates a whopping 700), but his résumé stretches from a 1955 big-screen debut inSoldier of Fortune— making him, as he acknowledges, “possibly the only actor alive that has worked with Clark Gable” — to the hitEverything Everywhere All at Once.ThatOscar-sweepingfilm fromDaniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinertis most responsible for Hong’s career resurgence, although actorDaniel Dae Kimfought tocampaign for his Walk of Fame starback in 2020.Kim andEverything EverywherecostarJamie Lee Curtispresented at Hong’s 2022 ceremony, which featured a traditional Chinese lion dance from the Shaolin Entertainment Group to bless the occasion.The Feb. 22 TCL Chinese Theatre ceremony, which included presentations from Kwan, Scheinert,Lucy Liuand a traditional dragon dance in honor of the Lunar New Year, also happened to fall on Hong’s 95th birthday.“I never dreamed to be there,” says Hong of his cemented hands and feet, alongside John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and more.“I’m not parallel with those guys, but I’m so glad to be so-called ‘chosen’ to be on that sidewalk because it’s not only for me, but for the Asian Americans who’ll be represented. … It’ll be good for the image of Hollywood.”Hong’s newfound recognition as one of the industry’s most impressive character actors can also be attributed to a viral moment at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards in which he also spoke out about Asian American representation.AfterMichelle Yeohshouted out herEverything Everywherecostar while the cast accepted the best ensemble prize, Hong announced to the world that a producer had once told him “that Asians were not good enough, and they are not box office. But, look at us now, huh?"“For some reason that was in my soul and I just came out with that sentence,” he tells PEOPLE. “‘Just look at us now. Here we have arrived.’ That’s whatEverything Everywhere All at Oncemeant to me, that we have arrived as actors — we’ve come a long way.”Still, the need to fight for equity remains a key part of Hong’s mission — and, in fact, may be the secret to his longevity.“It’s always on my mind, on my soul,” he says of Asian American representation. “I’ve dedicated my whole life to this, all the way from the time my first movie wasSoldier of Fortunewhere I was a Communist soldier, and those were the only roles in those days for actors like myself.”The fight against the “hidden prejudice in this town,” as the Minnesota-born actor says, is “in that Hong blood. My father struggled to get here to America… The story goes that my grandmother helped fight off the bandits. I think it was that kind of aggressiveness, the will to fight and survive that carries all those years down.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.James Hong at the Los Angeles premiere of “Kung Fu Panda 4” March 3.Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/ShutterstockAnd, adds Hong with a smile, “overcoming those obstacles” is precisely what has helped him survive.“I’m 95 and I’m still going. Probably if I didn’t struggle, I would die earlier because the fight wasn’t there," he says.As the self-confessed “workaholic” keeps busy with a documentary and memoir in development — and reprising his role as Chinese goose Mr. Ping, adoptive father toJack Black’s panda Po inKung Fu Panda 4— it’s clear what motivates him continues to be the philosophy he espouses to fellow artists: “You’re born,” he advises. “Be what you want.”Kung Fu Panda 4is in theaters Friday.
In his seven decades of screen work, didJames Hongever imagine his name would be on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard? “Absolutely not,” he tells PEOPLE with a cackle.
“I walk there quite often and I [have said], ‘Gee, I wish I was here,’ ” says the Los Angeles-based star, 95.
But now Hong is honored twice on the iconic sidewalk: with a star on theHollywood Walk of Fameand with his hands and feet immortalized in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
“It never came to be for 70 years of my career,” theKung Fu Panda 4star says. “Then all of a sudden, on the 70th year, things began to pop in place!”
James Hong at his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony in 2022.Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
The exact number of Hong’s screen credits is hard to pinpoint due to the sheer number of them (he approximates a whopping 700), but his résumé stretches from a 1955 big-screen debut inSoldier of Fortune— making him, as he acknowledges, “possibly the only actor alive that has worked with Clark Gable” — to the hitEverything Everywhere All at Once.
ThatOscar-sweepingfilm fromDaniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinertis most responsible for Hong’s career resurgence, although actorDaniel Dae Kimfought tocampaign for his Walk of Fame starback in 2020.
Kim andEverything EverywherecostarJamie Lee Curtispresented at Hong’s 2022 ceremony, which featured a traditional Chinese lion dance from the Shaolin Entertainment Group to bless the occasion.
The Feb. 22 TCL Chinese Theatre ceremony, which included presentations from Kwan, Scheinert,Lucy Liuand a traditional dragon dance in honor of the Lunar New Year, also happened to fall on Hong’s 95th birthday.
“I never dreamed to be there,” says Hong of his cemented hands and feet, alongside John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and more.
“I’m not parallel with those guys, but I’m so glad to be so-called ‘chosen’ to be on that sidewalk because it’s not only for me, but for the Asian Americans who’ll be represented. … It’ll be good for the image of Hollywood.”
Hong’s newfound recognition as one of the industry’s most impressive character actors can also be attributed to a viral moment at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards in which he also spoke out about Asian American representation.
AfterMichelle Yeohshouted out herEverything Everywherecostar while the cast accepted the best ensemble prize, Hong announced to the world that a producer had once told him “that Asians were not good enough, and they are not box office. But, look at us now, huh?"
“For some reason that was in my soul and I just came out with that sentence,” he tells PEOPLE. “‘Just look at us now. Here we have arrived.’ That’s whatEverything Everywhere All at Oncemeant to me, that we have arrived as actors — we’ve come a long way.”
Still, the need to fight for equity remains a key part of Hong’s mission — and, in fact, may be the secret to his longevity.
“It’s always on my mind, on my soul,” he says of Asian American representation. “I’ve dedicated my whole life to this, all the way from the time my first movie wasSoldier of Fortunewhere I was a Communist soldier, and those were the only roles in those days for actors like myself.”
The fight against the “hidden prejudice in this town,” as the Minnesota-born actor says, is “in that Hong blood. My father struggled to get here to America… The story goes that my grandmother helped fight off the bandits. I think it was that kind of aggressiveness, the will to fight and survive that carries all those years down.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
James Hong at the Los Angeles premiere of “Kung Fu Panda 4” March 3.Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
And, adds Hong with a smile, “overcoming those obstacles” is precisely what has helped him survive.
“I’m 95 and I’m still going. Probably if I didn’t struggle, I would die earlier because the fight wasn’t there," he says.
As the self-confessed “workaholic” keeps busy with a documentary and memoir in development — and reprising his role as Chinese goose Mr. Ping, adoptive father toJack Black’s panda Po inKung Fu Panda 4— it’s clear what motivates him continues to be the philosophy he espouses to fellow artists: “You’re born,” he advises. “Be what you want.”
Kung Fu Panda 4is in theaters Friday.
source: people.com
