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James Hong immortalized in Hollywood on his 95th birthday
“Kung Fu Panda 4” hits theaters in March. Actor James Hong voices the character Mr. Ping. photo
© Richard Shotwell/Invision via AP/dpa
James Hong has been in front of the film camera for 70 years. The actor recently caused a sensation with the Oscar winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. Now Hollywood is erecting a monument to him.
Actor James Hong (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) has received his own Hollywood monument. The star was immortalized with hand and shoe prints and his name in the damp cement in front of the TCL Chinese Theater in the Californian film metropolis. The ceremony took place on his 95th birthday. Another reason for the promotional celebration in the forecourt of the historic cinema was the upcoming film release of the animated comedy “Kung Fu Panda 4”, in which Hong lends his voice to the character Mr. Ping.
In the 1950s he followed in the famous footsteps for the first time Visited Hollywood Boulevard and walked in the footsteps of actor John Wayne. His feet were much larger, but now he has his own imprint, Hong said happily. The American-born son of Chinese immigrants has had a long career. For 70 years he fought for roles and had to defend himself against stereotypes, said Hong. In his early Hollywood film “Soldier of Fortune” (1955) he portrayed a vicious soldier alongside Clark Gable.
Hong, who has appeared in hundreds of productions, including films such as “Chinatown”, “Blade Runner”, “Breathless” and “RIPD”, was most recently seen in the Oscar winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2023). The action hit’s directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert paid tribute to Hong at Thursday’s ceremony. Actress Lucy Liu (55, “Charlie’s Angels”) also gave a speech.
Since the late 1920s, around 250 stars have had their footprints immortalized in cement on the forecourt of the historic cinema, including Kirk Douglas, Fred Astaire, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Robert de Niro and Jack Nicholson. The square on Hollywood Boulevard attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.