Personal Information
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, James Hong initially pursued civil engineering at the University of Minnesota before shifting his focus to acting. After graduating from the University of Southern California, he worked as a road engineer for the County of Los Angeles for a year and a half. During this period, he utilized sick leave and vacation time to appear in films, eventually resigning from engineering to dedicate himself fully to an acting career. Hong is a founding member of the East-West Players, recognized as the oldest Asian American theater in Los Angeles. Additionally, he served as president and a charter member of the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists. Widely regarded as one of the most prolific and recognizable Asian-American character actors in film and television, he currently resides in Los Angeles. He is currently planning to produce and direct his own films.
