James Hong, 93, has become the oldest person ever to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, having amassed more than 650 film and TV credits over a stellar career.
The actor, director and producer was joined on the red carpet by fellow stars Daniel Dae Kim and Jamie Lee Curtis, who spoke at a ceremony honouring Hong in front of Madame Tussauds Hollywood, which is on Hollywood Boulevard.
Kim was responsible for sponsoring Hong for his star, whilst Curtis is a friend and cast-mate of Hong’s in comedy-drama Everything Everywhere All at Once, which came out on 25 March in the US.
The 11.30am event on Tuesday saw a presentation from Representative Judy Chu, the chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus, as well as a dance by the Shaolin Entertainment Group to bless the ceremony.
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Honestly, for a man who is 93, Hong has definitely still got plenty of energy.
It was timed to coincide with Asian/Pacific Heritage Month in the USA and was streamed live on the Walk of Fame’s website.
Looking frankly incredible for his age, Hong said: “I’m here! I’m alive!”
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In an improvised speech - because he’s ‘not that kind of person’ – he said he was glad to take in the moment and to see so many familiar faces present to honour him.
Kim said that no-one had ‘blazed a trail’ for Asian actors quite like Hong, adding: “Thank you, James, for your body of work, your quality of work and your strength of character.”
He said: “You are truly deserving of the honour you are about to receive, and you make us all so very proud.”
Curtis added: “It’s about f**king time that we are here honouring James Hong with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
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Hong’s star is the 2,723rd to be laid since the whole thing started back in 1961.
That sounds like a lot, but it's a really exclusive club, in truth.
The star is known for performances in classics such as Blade Runner, Airplane, Wayne’s World 2, and Big Trouble in Little China, but has also starred in four films that were nominated for a Best Picture gong at the Academy Awards – The Sand Pebbles, Chinatown, Bound for Glory, and Love is a Many-Splendored Thing.
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On TV, Hong has found fame in Seinfeld, Perry Mason, and All in the Family amongst other credits, and first broke onto the scene in 1954 doing impersonations.
That first appearance was so successful that he started receiving fan mail, found himself an agent off the back of it, and then never looked back.
Hong was also influential in the starting of the East West Players theatre in 1965, setting out with the aim of ending stereotyping of Asian actors in mainstream Hollywood productions.
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Topics: US News, Film and TV, Celebrity
Tom Wood