James Hong is learning to do his first Zoom video chat at the spry age of 91. The actor, who has witnessed his industry continuously …
James Hong is learning to do his first Zoom video chat at the spry age of 91. The actor, who has witnessed his industry continuously evolve with technology, is finding it “mind-boggling.” “What is this Zoom thing anyway?” Hong said from his Los Angeles home, where he’s been hunkering down with his wife. “If I live another five years, what are we going to be doing? Talking through our fingernails?” That sarcastic sense of humor is one of many reasons Hong has remained such an appealing presence on screen for nearly 70 years. With more than 600 acting and voice-over credits to his name, he’s sure to pop up any time of day in any country that airs American films and TV. His movie resume includes “Flower Drum Song,“ “Blade Runner” and “Wayne’s World 2.” He’s appeared on a slew of hit TV shows since the 1950s — from “Friends” to “The Big Bang Theory” and both versions of “Hawaii Five-0.” He’s also got films yet to come out including “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” where he plays father to Michelle Yeoh. The longtime character actor is now in the spotlight after actor Daniel Dae Kim launched a campaign Aug.5 to get Hong a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The nomination process isn’t until spring but Kim wanted to secure the required $50,000 price tag to create and install a star. While most celebrities have a studio or record label helping to cover costs, Hong does not. Gearing up for a potentially difficult grassroots fundraiser, Kim and fellow actors Randall Park, Ming-Na Wen and Ken Jeong promised a joint Zoom call for anyone who donated $5,000 or more. Turns out, it took all of three days for 1,700 people to donate $55,000 to #StarforJamesHong. “I thought maybe I should help him raise the money somehow,“ Hong said.
