Fans of James Hong may be shocked to learn that the veteran actor does not yet have his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but that officially changes next month. The actor, who can be recognized from the cult classic Big Trouble in Little China as well as dozens upon dozens of other big and small screen roles, has been appearing on-screen since the early 1950s. There's no retirement in sight for the 93-year-old as Hong still frequently appears in movies and TV shows with multiple upcoming projects in the works.
In 2020, fellow actor Daniel Dae Kim spearheaded an effort to get Hong his overdue Walk of Fame star. Hoping to honor the "most prolific actor in Hollywood history," Kim launched a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising the $55,000 necessary for this to happen. On the GoFundMe page, Kim also explained why it was so important for Hong to be bestowed with the honor. As the page reads:
"This man epitomizes the term 'working actor,' and that's not even taking into account all he's done to help further representation for actors of color. Not only was he one of the few who worked steadily when there were even fewer roles than there are now, but he also served the Asian American community by co-creating the legendary East West Players theater company with fellow pioneers like Mako and Nobu McCarthy, just to name a few."
Last year, it was announced that Hong would finally be getting his star, as the crowdfunding campaign was a success. Variety has now reported that the ceremony is scheduled for May 10, 2022, which will see Hong take his place on the famous walkway, a move that his fans feel should have been made many years ago. Certainly, it's better to go on late than never, and May 10 will be a monumental occasion for the actor.
James Hong Is In Good Company
The Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2022 also brought in many other popular entertainers. Just recently, Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk took his place on the Walk of Fame with his new star alongside that of Breaking Bad co-star Bryan Cranston. Other new names coming in for the 2022 class include Carrie Fisher, Michael B. Jordan, Macaulay Culkin, Willem Dafoe, Regina King, Jason Momoa, Norman Reedus, Ming-Na Wen, and Kenan Thompson, among others.
"The Panel did an amazing job choosing these very talented people," Ellen K, chair of the Walk of Fame selection panel, said when the names were announced. "We can't wait to see each honoree's reaction as they realize that they're becoming a part of Hollywood's history with the unveiling of their star on the world's most famous walkway!"
After lending his voice to the animated hit Turning Red, James Hong can currently be seen on the big screen as part of the cast of the acclaimed movie Everything Everywhere All at Once. He also did voiceover work for the upcoming HBO Max series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai as well as the animated Netflix film Wendell & Wild.