Victor Wong
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| Victor Wong | |
| Birth name | Yee Keung Victor Wong |
| Born | July 30, 1927 San Francisco, California, USA |
| Died | September 12, 2001 Locke, California, USA |
Victor Wong (July 30, 1927 – September 12, 2001) (Chinese: 黃自強; pinyin: Huáng Zìqiáng) was a Chinese American character actor who appeared in supporting roles throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
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[edit] Early life
Wong, born Yee Keung Victor Wong, was a second-generation Chinese American, born in Chinatown, San Francisco, California to Chinese immigrant parents. Wong graduated from San Francisco's Lowell High School in 1945 and attended the University of California, Berkeley to study journalism. He later attended the University of Chicago Divinity School for theology and an MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute. In 1968, Wong was working as a newscaster for KQED, but he was forced to change careers when his Bell's palsy caused drooping in the left side of his face. When he was in Chicago, he also joined the Second City improvisational group which was in its formative stages. Wong was asked to leave after only a short while because they felt he would not fit in, and they could not use him.
[edit] Acting career
After his news career ended, Wong turned to acting, starting in the local Asian American theatre, and later landing larger roles on the stages New York City. This led to television work and eventually, into movies. In between film roles, Wong lived in Sacramento, California, where he supported the local performing arts. In 1992, he acted in the Hong Kong film, Cageman (笼民). He later starred as the grandfather in the popular 3 Ninjas franchise and cult-classic, Big Trouble in Little China. He died soon after the September 11, 2001, attacks, having stayed up watching the news on television for two days without sleep. Film director Wayne Wang called Victor Wong his role model for living life. Director Bernardo Bertolucci got into an argument with Wong on the set of The Last Emperor, told Wong he would never work with him again, and cut most of Wong's scenes in the film that won the Best Picture Oscar for 1987.
[edit] Death
Wong died of heart failure on September 12, 2001. Upset at the September 11, 2001 attacks, and concerned about the fate of his two sons who lived in New York City at the time, Victor, who had already survived multiple strokes, deprived himself of needed sleep while riveted to the TV set for nearly two days.
[edit] Trivia
- In October 1980, Wong made his Asian-American theater debut by appearing in Paper Angels by Genny Lim. He was on Social Security Disability Insurance at the time.
- He was the only actor to apear in all four 3 Ninjas movies.
- Wong's first art exhibit as a painting student was hosted by his friend Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the owner of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. Wong was also friends with another prominent member of the Beat Generation, writer Jack Kerouac, who mentioned him in his novel Big Sur.
- He is no relation to the 1930s/40s actor Victor Wong, best remembered for supporting roles in King Kong and The Son of Kong, both from 1933.
- Wong had two strokes in 1998 that caused him to retire from acting.
- Wong was a big fan of public transit; he did not drive automobiles.
- Wong was 5 feet 2 inches tall.
[edit] Family
- Had two daughters: Emily and Heather.
- Had three sons: Anton, Lyon, and Duncan
- Was married four times, one african american and three caucasian, his last to Dawn Rose until his death.
[edit] Filmography
- Year of the Dragon (1985)
- The Golden Child (1986)
- Shanghai Surprise (1986)
- Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
- The Last Emperor (1987)
- Prince of Darkness (1987)
- Bloodsport (1988)
- Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989)
- Tremors (1990)
- Mystery Date (1991)
- 3 Ninjas (1992)
- The Joy Luck Club (1993)
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994)
- The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995)
- Jade (1995)
- 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up (1995)
- Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- My America....Or Honk If You Love Buddha (1997)
- 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)
