Latest news with #BigTroubleInLittleChina
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Peter Kwong dead at 73: Big Trouble in Little China star passes away
Peter Kwong, the actor and martial arts expert best known for his role in Big Trouble in Little China, has died aged 73. Kwong played Rain, one of the mystical martial arts enforcers known as the Three Storms, in John Carpenter's 1986 cult classic. According to his representative, he passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday night. A Sacramento native, Kwong launched his screen career in the late '70s, landing roles in popular series like The A-Team, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, and Miami Vice. His breakout came with Big Trouble in Little China, where he starred alongside Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall. Though the film flopped at the box office—earning just $11 million on a $20 million budget—it later gained cult status. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Kwong also appeared in 1986's Never Too Young to Die, opposite John Stamos and Vanity, and had a role alongside Eddie Murphy in The Golden Child. Kwong was deeply involved in the entertainment industry beyond his acting work, per Variety. He spent over a decade serving on the SAG National Board of Directors and was also part of the AFTRA National Board. His dedication extended to leadership roles within the Television Academy's Board of Governors and the Actors Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Tributes and condolences poured in across social media, with fans fondly remembering Kwong's iconic role in Big Trouble in Little China. One fan wrote, 'Oh no. Condolences to his family,' while another added, 'These Asian actors who played the 3 gods are so iconic. I am not sure of the reality but I suspect this motivated Mortal Kombat's Raiden.' Yet another chimed in, 'Wang vs Rain fight scene was bad ass! Rest in peace!' Kwong, born April 9, 1952, launched his acting career in the mid-1970s and quickly became a familiar face on television with roles in Wonder Woman, Black Sheep Squadron, and throughout the '80s with appearances on Cagney & Lacey, Dynasty, The A-Team, Miami Vice, and many others. Tributes and condolences poured in across social media, with fans fondly remembering Kwong's iconic role in Big Trouble in Little China Trained in both comedy and drama through institutions like East West Players and The Groundlings, Kwong sustained a steady career well into the 2020s. His film work included titles such as The Presidio, Gleaming the Cube, Paper Dragons, Cooties, and I'll Do Anything. On television, he took on a wide range of guest roles in shows including General Hospital, JAG, Sisters, Drake & Josh, The Wayans Bros., Lethal Weapon, and King of the Hill. 'He had a wonderful life and career,' Kwong's longtime friend Peter R.J. Deyell told Deadline. 'I watched him fight for the things he believed in, and I championed him for that. At the TV Academy, we were both very active and sometimes joked about being in the Pin Club as we always wore our pins. He was always a gentleman and willing to help.' An outspoken advocate for representation, Kwong was among those who signed a 2016 letter denouncing racially insensitive jokes during that year's Oscars. Reflecting on the moment, he told Deadline: 'I was there at the Academy Awards, and I was shocked because [Academy President] Cheryl Boone-Isaacs went up and talked about diversity and then right after that comes the jokes from Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen. Some people have the attitude, "Why can't you have a sense of humor?' and 'in humor there are no boundaries." It's because it gives people permission to not only continue it but to escalate it as well.' The Academy eventually issued an apology for the 'tone-deaf' portrayal of Asians during the broadcast. Kwong was honored in 2023 with the Snow Leopard Award for Outstanding Cinematic Achievement at the Asian World Film Festival, a recognition that capped off his decades-long contribution to film, television, and advocacy.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Big Trouble in Little China star Peter Kwong dead at 73
Peter Kwong, the actor and martial arts expert best known for his role in Big Trouble in Little China , has died aged 73. Kwong played Rain, one of the mystical martial arts enforcers known as the Three Storms, in John Carpenter's 1986 cult classic. According to his representative, he passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday night. A Sacramento native, Kwong launched his screen career in the late '70s, landing roles in popular series like The A-Team, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, and Miami Vice. His breakout came with Big Trouble in Little China, where he starred alongside Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall. Though the film flopped at the box office—earning just $11 million on a $20 million budget—it later gained cult status. Kwong also appeared in 1986's Never Too Young to Die, opposite John Stamos and Vanity, and had a role alongside Eddie Murphy in The Golden Child. Kwong was deeply involved in the entertainment industry beyond his acting work, per Variety . He spent over a decade serving on the SAG National Board of Directors and was also part of the AFTRA National Board. His dedication extended to leadership roles within the Television Academy's Board of Governors and the Actors Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Tributes and condolences poured in across social media, with fans fondly remembering Kwong's iconic role in Big Trouble in Little China. One fan wrote, 'Oh no. Condolences to his family,' while another added, 'These Asian actors who played the 3 gods are so iconic. I am not sure of the reality but I suspect this motivated Mortal Kombat's Raiden.' Yet another chimed in, 'Wang vs Rain fight scene was bad ass! Rest in peace!' Kwong, born April 9, 1952, launched his acting career in the mid-1970s and quickly became a familiar face on television with roles in Wonder Woman, Black Sheep Squadron, and throughout the '80s with appearances on Cagney & Lacey, Dynasty, The A-Team, Miami Vice, and many others. Trained in both comedy and drama through institutions like East West Players and The Groundlings, Kwong sustained a steady career well into the 2020s. His film work included titles such as The Presidio, Gleaming the Cube, Paper Dragons, Cooties, and I'll Do Anything. On television, he took on a wide range of guest roles in shows including General Hospital, JAG, Sisters, Drake & Josh, The Wayans Bros., Lethal Weapon, and King of the Hill. 'He had a wonderful life and career,' Kwong's longtime friend Peter R.J. Deyell told Deadline . 'I watched him fight for the things he believed in, and I championed him for that. At the TV Academy, we were both very active and sometimes joked about being in the Pin Club as we always wore our pins. He was always a gentleman and willing to help.' An outspoken advocate for representation, Kwong was among those who signed a 2016 letter denouncing racially insensitive jokes during that year's Oscars. Reflecting on the moment, he told Deadline: 'I was there at the Academy Awards, and I was shocked because [Academy President] Cheryl Boone-Isaacs went up and talked about diversity and then right after that comes the jokes from Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen. Some people have the attitude, "Why can't you have a sense of humor?' and 'in humor there are no boundaries." It's because it gives people permission to not only continue it but to escalate it as well.' The Academy eventually issued an apology for the 'tone-deaf' portrayal of Asians during the broadcast. Kwong was honored in 2023 with the Snow Leopard Award for Outstanding Cinematic Achievement at the Asian World Film Festival, a recognition that capped off his decades-long contribution to film, television, and advocacy.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Peter Kwong dead at 73: Big Trouble in Little China star passes away
Peter Kwong, the actor and martial arts expert best known for his role in Big Trouble in Little China, has died aged 73. Kwong played Rain, one of the mystical martial arts enforcers known as the Three Storms, in John Carpenter's 1986 cult classic. According to his representative, he passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday night. A Sacramento native, Kwong launched his screen career in the late '70s, landing roles in popular series like The A-Team, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, and Miami Vice. His breakout came with Big Trouble in Little China, where he starred alongside Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall. Though the film flopped at the box office—earning just $11 million on a $20 million budget—it later gained cult status. Kwong also appeared in 1986's Never Too Young to Die, opposite John Stamos and Vanity, and had a role alongside Eddie Murphy in The Golden Child. Kwong was deeply involved in the entertainment industry beyond his acting work, per Variety. He spent over a decade serving on the SAG National Board of Directors and was also part of the AFTRA National Board. His dedication extended to leadership roles within the Television Academy's Board of Governors and the Actors Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Tributes and condolences poured in across social media, with fans fondly remembering Kwong's iconic role in Big Trouble in Little China. One fan wrote, 'Oh no. Condolences to his family,' while another added, 'These Asian actors who played the 3 gods are so iconic. I am not sure of the reality but I suspect this motivated Mortal Kombat's Raiden.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Peter Kwong dead at 73: Big Trouble in Little China movie star, martial arts expert & acting veteran dies in his sleep
Peter Kwong, the movie star, martial arts expert and acting veteran has died, aged 73. Kwong died in his sleep on Tuesday night, according to one of his representatives. 1 The actor played Rain in John Carpenter's 1986 action classic Big Trouble in little China. He began his career as a TV actor in the late 1970s and 1980s in shows such as The A-Team, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie and Miami Vice. His most well known role came in Big Trouble in Little China in which he played Rain, one of the three super-powered martial artists. He starred alongside Kim Cattrall and Kurt Russell. The film has emerged as a cult classic over time despite failing at the box office at the time of release. Kwong also starred in Never Too Young to Die in 1986.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Peter Kwong Dies: ‘The Golden Child' And ‘Big Trouble In Little China' Actor Was 73
Peter Kwong, a martial artist, dancer and actor who appeared in just shy of 90 film and television roles, according to his IMDb page, died overnight in his sleep on Tuesday. He was 73. Born April 9, 1952, Peter Kwong debuted on television in 1976 with an appearance in the anthology drama Visions. Early guest roles included episodes of Black Sheep Squadron, Wonder Woman, The Man From Atlantis, Sword of Justice, Bret Maverick, and Cagney & Lacey. His first film role was the drama Panic in Echo Park in 1977. And he was active in the 1980s with more TV guest spots in entries including Little House on the Prairie, 227, Amazing Stories, MacGyver, St. Elsewhere, Dynasty, The A-Team, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Full House and the war drama Tour of Duty. But the first of two movie roles he was immediately identified with was Tommy Tong in Eddie Murphy's The Golden Child in 1986. That same year, Known appeared as Rain, an elemental master and expert martial artist with a sword, in the fantasy action-comedy film Big Trouble in Little China. There was no shortage of other TV guest spots for Kwong in the 1990s and beyond, both drama and comedy, including Renegade, Malcolm & Eddie, The District, My Wife and Kids, JAG, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. His other film roles included The Presidio (1988), Gleaming the Cube (1989), I'll Do Anything (1994), Paper Dragons (1996) and Cooties (2014). He was an accomplished martial artist, working in Northern Shaolin kung fu, Chinese kata and with weapons including swords, staffs, spears and nunchaku. And Kwong was a professional dancer, from ballroom and martial arts fusion to disco and breaking. Off camera, Kwong served on the SAG National Board of Directors for more than a decade and was on the AFTRA National Board of Directors. He also did a four-year stint on the Television Academy Board of Governors and was a member of the Actors Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, among other roles. And Kwong was an activist against anti-Asian stereotyping in Hollywood. Kwong's final credited role was the voice of Mike in the 2023-24 comedy vignette web-series Pepito's Mamadas.
