# James Hong..."THE" actor. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 11, 2019, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879 "2019-07-11T02:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/21 "2019-07-12T01:29:22Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > One of his better acting roles may have been his voice work in Kung Fu Panda. I don’t blame Hong. But it’s a disgrace the way the studio hired a human for the role rather than casting a goose. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/22 "2019-07-12T02:53:53Z")
At 90 he doesn’t have much time left…The Academy and MTV better give him his Lifetime Achievement Awards _pronto!_ ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/23 "2019-07-12T19:49:02Z")
Like Roger Corman, he has a degree in engineering. Engineers rule!! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/24 "2019-07-12T21:18:34Z")
I couldn’t remember his name, but I knew exactly who this thread was about! ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/25 "2019-07-12T21:35:01Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Often speaks with an accent, born in Minnesota. > > One of his better acting roles may have been his voice work in Kung Fu Panda. I also like him as Shen in Diablo 3 (video game). ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/26 "2019-07-12T23:37:47Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Strangely, I remember him from Lethal Weapon 4 the most. > > But yeah, he’s in everything. Umm…sorry, no. Similar look, but that was Kim Chan as _Uncle Benny_ Coincidentally(?) Chan was _Benny Wong_ in The Corruptor a year earlier. –G! [Yeah, I know. We all look the same. :dubious:] ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/27 "2019-07-13T00:24:55Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/28 "2019-07-14T21:33:30Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > _And_ he appeared on _Sky King_. Woot! [The In Laws](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vOLnXUc21A) Airplanes in his blood… ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/29 "2019-07-15T01:44:36Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > You stole my quote. Now this really pisses me off to no end! 😃 Indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/30 "2019-07-15T02:01:47Z")
Anyone else remember his appearances in _Friends_ and _Seinfeld_? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/31 "2019-07-15T12:58:38Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > [The In Laws](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vOLnXUc21A) Wow. Forgot about that bit. Amazingly funny despite not being able to understand any of it except the two words “Mae West”. The Ebony magazine at the end wraps it up perfectly. Now if he had gone serpentine … ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/32 "2019-07-15T13:54:14Z")
There are loads of “That Guy” actors out there - so much so that [it’s an internet thing](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls069710880/). Hong appears at #21 on that list. But he is excellent. And his filmography is [insanely long](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0393222/?ref_=nmls_hd) - he’s worked steadily since **1954** (admittedly, usually in some racist Asian stereotype role but hey, it’s a job). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/33 "2019-07-15T18:23:39Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > There are loads of “That Guy” actors out there - so much so that [it’s an internet thing](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls069710880/). Hong appears at #21 on that list. Is Stephen Root a “That Guy”? I think of him as a recognized actor. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/34 "2019-07-15T20:24:20Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > There are loads of “That Guy” actors out there - so much so that [it’s an internet thing](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls069710880/). Hong appears at #21 on that list. > > But he is excellent. And his filmography is [insanely long](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0393222/?ref_=nmls_hd) - he’s worked steadily since **1954** (admittedly, usually in some racist Asian stereotype role but hey, it’s a job). Kind of a crappy list, if you ask me. Not because of who is there, but because of who isn’t. For example, [Herbie Faye](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1221&bih=856&ei=aeAsXeDbNqis5wKqspCgCQ&q=herbie+faye&oq=herbie+faye&gs_l=img.3..0j0i24l2.1578.3192..3816...0.0..0.182.1672.0j11......0....1..gws-wiz-img.....0..0i8i30.pNOxDjB2JBc#imgrc=YY7yBZw_J28p2M:) belongs on that list, if anyone does. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/35 "2019-07-15T23:35:50Z")
1. Stephen Tobolowsky - Yup. 2. James Rebhorn - Yes, but closing in on being a name guy. 3. M.C. Gainey - Way too high on the list. 4. [del]Stephen Root[/del] - Name guy. 5. [del]Matt Walsh[/del] - Name guy. 6. [del]Keith David[/del] - Name guy…the insult! 7. Jon Polito - Too high on this list. 8. [del]David Koechner[/del] - Name guy. 9. [del]Luis Guzmán[/del] - Name guy. 10. Kevin Corrigan - Too high. 11. [del]M. Emmet Walsh[/del] - Name guy. 12. Austin Pendleton - Definitely. 13. Kevin Dunn - Closing in on being a name guy. 14. [del]Philip Baker Hall[/del] - Name guy. 15. Kurt Fuller - Yes. 16. [del]James Remar[/del] - Name guy. 17. Bob Gunton - Yup. 18. [del]Clancy Brown[/del] - Get out of here, totally a name guy. 19. J.T. Walsh - Yup 20. [del]Bruce McGill[/del] - Name guy. 21. James Hong - THE actor. 22. Joe Viterelli - Super type cast, belongs on a different list. 23. Charles Napier - Yup. 24. Zach Grenier - Too high, but yes. 25. Raymond J. Barry - Too high. 26. Harris Yulin - Yes, should be way higher. 27. Mike Starr - Okay. 28. [del]Reg E. Cathey[/del] - Not in enough stuff. 29. Art LaFleur - Too high. 30. Bruce Altman - Should be higher. 31. Tracey Walter - Definitely. 32. [del]Stanley Anderson[/del] - Not in nearly enough stuff. 33. Xander Berkeley - Yup. 34. Anthony Heald - Yup. 35. Michael Lerner - Yup. 36. Dan Hedaya - Yup. 37. [del]Colleen Camp[/del] - Hasn’t been relevant since the '80s. 38. [del]Richard Lineback[/del] - Not in enough stuff. 39. Dylan Baker - All star on this list. 40. Bob Balaban - Yes, but close to a name guy. 41. [del]Margo Martindale[/del] - Name gal. 42. Erick Avari - Maybe too high. 43. [del]Philip Bosco[/del] - Hasn’t been relevant in forever. 44. Richard Riehle - Yup. 45. Larry Hankin - Yup. 46. [del]Larry Miller[/del] - Name guy, legit stand ups shouldn’t be on this list. 47. Edie McClurg - Yup. 48. Brett Cullen - Yup. 49. Chelcie Ross - Yup, but almost a name guy. 50. Matt Craven - Yup. 51. Richard Edson - To the top with you! 52. [del]Josh Mostel[/del] - Not in enough stuff. 53. Bill Smitrovich - Okay. 54. Stephanie Faracy - Yes. 55. Robert Joy - Bordering on not relevant enough. 56. [del]Taylor Negron[/del] - Name guy who frankly doesn’t get that much work. 57. Jay O. Sanders - Yup, yup. 58. Nestor Serrano - Yes. 59. Maury Chaykin - Yes. 60. Rex Linn - Yes. 61. [del]Stuart Pankin[/del] - Not relevant anymore. 62. Joe Grifasi - Yes, but might be too high. 63. Brion James - Yes. 64. [del]R. Lee Ermey[/del] - Need to punch however made this list. 65. [del]Vincent Schiavelli[/del] - Ditto. 66. Marshall Bell - Yes. 67. [del]Tony Longo[/del] - Another type cast guy. 68. Paul Dooley - Yes 69. Harve Presnell- Yes. 70. [del]Gailard Sartain[/del] - Not in enough stuff. 71. [del]Meredith Scott Lynn[/del] - Not in enough stuff. 72. Paul Gleason - Another all star. 73. [del]Mary Ellen Trainor[/del] - Not relevant any more. 74. Ed Lauter - Yes. 75. Chris Ellis - Yes. 76. Richard Masur - Yes, could be higher. 77. Nick Chinlund - Yes. 78. Glenn Morshower - Yes. 79. [del]William Atherton[/del] - Not relevant any more. 80. Beth Grant - Needs to be higher. 81. [del]Brent Briscoe[/del] - Too obscure. 82. James Tolkan - God yes, Maverick. 83. Daniel Roebuck - Yes. 84. John Diehl - Yes. 85. [del]Richard Schiffp[/del] - Name guy since West Wing. 86. [del]John Hawkes[/del] - Name guy barely. 87. Paul Guilfoyle - Yup. 88. Richard Gant - Yup. 89. [del]Will Patton[/del] - Name guy. 90. Nick Searcy - Yup. 91. [del]Ray Baker[/del] - Too obscure. 92. Jeffrey DeMunn - Yup. 93. Daniel von Bargen - Tough one, huge on Seinfeld and Malcolm in the Middle, but not that relevant otherwise. 94. Rob Huebel - Yes. 95. Cliff Curtis - Dangerously close to type cast. 96. [del]Jed Rees[/del] - Too obscure. 97. Kevin Tighe - An all star. 98. [del]William Hickey[/del] - Love him, but been dead for 20+ years. 99. Charles Rocket - Yes. 100. Gregory Itzin - President Logan stays on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/36 "2019-07-16T09:21:10Z")
I admire your dedication to analysing the relative fame of supporting character actors. There are many other “That Guy” lists, FWIW; I just picked one of the first Google results. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/37 "2019-07-19T23:27:42Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > 1. [del]Taylor Negron[/del] - Name guy who frankly doesn’t get that much work. Nor will he get more since he died in 2015. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879/38 "2019-07-20T08:08:30Z")
Yeah, the SDMB is the only place I’d expect to see a person who is an expert in character actors to respond. Bravo. > [@Omniscient](#): > > 1. Richard Edson - To the top with you! Yep, if he hadn’t been the drummer for Sonic Youth, I’d never had known his name, but would always be able to recognize his face and voice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-hong-the-actor/836879.md?page=1)