James Hong's life journey began in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, where he initially pursued a degree in civil engineering at the University of Minnesota. However, his interests shifted towards acting at some point during his academic tenure.
After graduating from the University of Southern California, Hong spent 1.5 years working as a road engineer for the County of Los Angeles, during which time he took advantage of sick leaves and vacation time to pursue his passion for acting. Eventually, he made the bold decision to leave engineering behind and focus on acting full-time.
Hong is a trailblazer in the Asian-American entertainment industry, and he played a pivotal role in the establishment of the East-West Players, the oldest Asian-American theater in Los Angeles. He also served as the president and charter member of the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists.
Throughout his illustrious career, Hong has established himself as one of the most prolific and recognizable Asian-American character actors in film and television. Currently residing in Los Angeles, he is now planning to venture into producing and directing his own films.
