Top 50 Most Popular Asian American Actors
Aishwarya-Updated Jan 3, 2023
The Asian American community is ever-expanding and sizable in America, and they are making themselves heard. They have made significant in-roads into music, theatre, film, television, and popular culture across the USA.
The Asian-American community is made up of people from Asian countries like China, Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Malaysia, etc.
They have brought a unique Asian sensibility into arts and entertainment with their culture and style. Many Asian American actors in Hollywood have made the world sit up and take notice.
If you have missed them, here is your chance to catch up. ENTOIN brings you a list of popular Asian American actors who have made and keep making waves in Hollywood.
Check them out and let us know if we have missed any names.
Nội Dung Chính
50. Rick Yune
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
August 22, 1971
Place of Birth
Washington D.C., USA
Height
1.86 m
Debut year
1999
Debut Movie/ TV series
Snow Falling on Cedars
Rick Yune is a Korean-American actor, director, producer, and martial artist. He and his brother, Karl Yune, are both actors who have appeared in television and films.
Rick Yune graduated from Wharton School with a degree in Finance and worked as a hedge fund trader in SAC Capital.
After foraying into acting, Yune starred in films like Snow Falling on Cedar, The Fast and the Furious, Die Another Day, Ninja Assassin, Olympus Has Fallen, Prison Break, Marco Polo, etc.
49. Brian Tee
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
March 15, 1977
Place of Birth
Okinawa, Japan
Height
1.75 m
Debut year
2000
Debut Movie/ TV series
What Planet Are You From?
Brian Tee is a Japan-born American actor. He was born Jae-beom Takata but adopted a more westernized name after facing rejection from South Korean filmmakers.
Brian Tee graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in theatre and performing arts. Brian Tee starred in the TV series Chicago Med and its spin-off, Mortal Kombat: Legends, The Wolverine, The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift, Jurassic World, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, etc.
48. Hudson Yang
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
October 24, 2003
Place of Birth
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Height
1.88 m
Debut year
2014
Debut Movie/ TV series
The Sisterhood of Night
Hudson Yang is a Taiwanese American actor. He is a child actor who started acting at the age of eleven and worked in television series like Liv and Maddie, Sofia The First, The Lion Guard, etc.
However, his most famous role to date has been in Fresh Off The Boat. Currently, Hudson Yang has gone back to school.
He was admitted to Harvard University in 2021 to pursue his higher education. He is working on the films Run & Gun and Honor Student.
47. Russell Wong
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
March 1, 1963
Place of Birth
Troy, New York, USA
Height
1.85 m
Debut year
1985
Debut Movie/ TV series
The Musical Singer
Russell Wong is an American actor of Chinese descent. His brother is also an actor based in Hong Kong.
Wong started his career as a photographer and dancer and appeared in many music videos for artists like Janet Jackson, David Bowie, etc.
This led to a role in a musical play called Ge Wu Sheng Ping. Russell Wong appeared in successful TV series like The Equalizer, 21 Jump Street, etc., and became the first Asian-American lead actor in a TV series titled Vanishing Son.
Later, he starred in hit films like China Girl, New Jack City, The Joy Luck Club, Takedown, The Monkey King, Romeo Must Die, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, etc.
46. Lance Lim
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
December 16, 2000
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Height
1.62 m
Debut year
2011
Debut Movie/ TV series
Jin
Lance Lim is an American actor of Korean descent. He participated in a Korean Star Search and also earned roles in films and television series.
He appeared in recurring roles in TV series like Fresh Off The Boat, Speechless, Splitting Up Together, etc. The other prominent roles that Lance Lim portrayed include School Of Rock, Magnum PI, Hubie Halloween, Independence Day: Resurgence, Duck Duck Goose, etc.
45. Forrest Wheeler
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
March 21, 2004
Place of Birth
Santa Monica, California, USA
Height
1.75 m
Debut year
2013
Debut Movie/ TV series
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Forrest Wheeler is an actor and martial artist. He earned his black belt in Karate in 2015 and his second black belt in mixed martial arts in 2016.
Wheeler comes from a mixed Chinese Caucasian family, and learned Cantonese and Mandarin. Forrest Wheeler started acting from the age of seven when he appeared in the film The Incredible Burt Wonderstone with Steve Buscemi.
Later, he worked in guest roles, television ads, etc. His next big role was in Fresh Off The Boat.
44. Aramis Knight
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
October 3, 1999
Place of Birth
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
Height
1.73 m
Debut year
2005
Debut Movie/ TV series
Invasion
Aramis Knight is an actor of Pakistani descent. He started acting as a child actor and appeared in various film and television roles.
Knight played guest roles in series like Scorpion, The Middle, Psych, NCIS, Lost, Dexter, Boston Legal, etc. Aramis Knight’s film roles included Crossing Over, Rendition, Ender’s Game, Dark Knight Rises, Runt, etc.
He played prominent roles in TV series like Into The Badlands and Ms. Marvel.
43. Tenzing Norgay Trainor
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
September 4, 2001
Place of Birth
Plantation, Florida, USA
Height
1.71 m
Debut year
2012
Debut Movie/ TV series
Stevie TV
Tenzing Norgay Trainor is an American actor of Nepalese origin. He is the grandson of Tenzing Norgay, the second person to reach the peak of Mount Everest.
He is trained in Taekwondo and worked in Disney shows as a child actor. Tenzing Norgay worked in films and television shows like Liv and Maddie, Boo, Bitch, Abominable, American Housewife, Knight Squad, The Stranded, etc.
42. Jason Scott Lee
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
November 19, 1966
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Height
1.75 m
Debut year
1978
Debut Movie/ TV series
The A-Team
Jason Scott Lee is an American actor of Chinese-Hawaiian descent. He grew up in Hawaii and learned martial arts from a young age.
He came to prominence when he portrayed the martial arts legend, Bruce Lee, in the biopic about his life.
The most memorable performances of Jason Scott Lee have been in Jungle Book, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, the Lilo and Stitch franchise, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Mulan, Balls of Fury, Doogie Kameāloha, M. D., etc.
41. Lou Diamond Phillips
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
February 17, 1962
Place of Birth
Subic Bay Naval Base, Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines
Height
1.81 m
Debut year
1984
Debut Movie/ TV series
Time Bomb
Lou Diamond Phillips is an American actor of Filipino descent. He was born in the Philippines but raised in Texas by his stepfather and mother.
He is an actor and film director nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards, Daytime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe awards, Blockbuster Entertainment awards, etc.
The most notable roles of Lou Diamond Phillips were in La Bamba, Stand and Deliver, Young Guns, Young Guns II, Courage Under Fire, The Big Hit, Brokedown Palace, Che, The 33, Longmire, Prodigal Son, etc.
40. Iko Uwais
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
February 12, 1983
Place of Birth
Jakarta, Indonesia
Height
1.68 m
Debut year
2009
Debut Movie/ TV series
Merantau
Iko Uwais is an Indonesian actor famous in America for his work in the Raid series of films. He is a martial artist who practices the Silat.
He was discovered by Gareth Evans when he was training in the Silat school. Iko Uwais starred in films like Merantau, The Raid, The Raid 2, Headshot, Mile 22, The Night Comes for Us, Stuber, Wu Assassins, Snake Eyes, Fistful of Vengeance, The Expendables 4, etc.
39. Karan Soni
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
January 8, 1989
Place of Birth
New Delhi, India
Height
1.74 m
Debut year
2003
Debut Movie/ TV series
Crime Patrol
Karan Soni is an Indian American actor and comedian. He was born in New Delhi and went to the USA to study business at the University of Southern California.
However, he became interested in drama and theatre, so he graduated in Dramatic Arts. After graduating, Karan Soni began his acting career with short films and guest roles in TV series.
He was noted for his performance in Safety Not Guaranteed, followed by Betas, Other Space, Deadpool, Deadpool 2, Ghostbusters, Office Christmas Party, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, Blunt Talk, Miracle Workers, etc.
38. Avan Jogia
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
February 9, 1992
Place of Birth
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height
1.78 m
Debut year
2006
Debut Movie/ TV series
A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story
Avan Tudor Jogia is a Canadian actor of Indian descent. He is known for his role in the drama series A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story.
Later, he starred in the Disney series Victorious, Tut, Ghost Wars, Twisted, Now Apocalypse, etc. Avan Jogia is also known for his activism for the LGBT community, where he co-founded the non-profit organization Straight But Not Narrow.
He also worked in series like Spectacular!, Finding Hope Now, Rags, Ten Thousand Saints, I Am Michael, Zombieland: Double Tap, Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City, etc.
37. Ryan Potter
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
September 12, 1995
Place of Birth
Portland, Oregon, USA
Height
1.71 m
Debut year
2012
Debut Movie/ TV series
Fred: The Show
Ryan Potter is an American actor of Japanese descent. He grew up in Japan for seven years but adopted the maiden name of his mother after moving back to America.
He is a martial artist who practices White Tiger kung fu. Ryan Potter gained popularity with his roles in Supah Ninjas, Big Hero 6, Baymax!, Titans, Lab Rats: Elite Force, Kingdom Hearts III, Where’s Waldo?, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, etc.
36. Chris Pang
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
December 29, 1984
Place of Birth
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Height
1.8 m
Debut year
2006
Debut Movie/ TV series
Em 4 Jay
Chris Pang is an Australian actor and producer of Taiwanese descent. His parents were WingChun instructors in Melbourne, and Pang is a distant relative of Bruce Lee.
He became an actor by accident when he went to a casting company to sell cell phones. After this lucky accident, Chris Pang attended the TAFTA in Melbourne to study.
He starred in Crazy Rich Asians, Palm Springs, Tomorrow When The War Began, Charlie’s Angels, As We See it, Empty by Design, Marco Polo, etc.
35. Brandon Soo Hoo
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
November 2, 1995
Place of Birth
Pasadena, California, USA
Height
1.73m
Debut year
2007
Debut Movie/ TV series
Sesame Street
Brandon Soo Hoo is an American actor of Chinese descent. He is an actor and a martial artist. He practices taekwondo.
Brandon Soo Hoo began acting from the age of 10 and appeared in television commercials for Toys “R” Us, Land Rover, Exxon Mobil, etc.
Brandon Soo Hoo debuted with a minor role in Sesame Street, and followed it up with Tropic Thunder, G. I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, Ender’s Game, Teen Titans, Incredible Crew, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu, A Magical Summer, etc.
34. Daniel Henney
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
November 28, 1979
Place of Birth
Carson City, Michigan, USA
Height
1.88 m
Debut year
2005
Debut Movie/ TV series
Hello Franceska
Daniel Henney is an American actor and model who was born in South Korea. He was adopted by an American nurse and grew up in the USA.
While doing college, Henney began a successful modeling career and also appeared in multiple television commercials.
Daniel Henney gained acclaim with South Korean films and very popular television series, some of which were Seducing Mr. Perfect, My Lovely Sam Soon, My Father, Spring Waltz, Fugitive Plan B, etc.
His American credits include Criminal Minds, The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wheel of Time, etc.
33. Lewis Tan
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
February 4, 1987
Place of Birth
Manchester, England, UK
Height
1.87 m
Debut year
1990
Debut Movie/ TV series
China Cry: A True Story
Lewis Tan is a British actor of Chinese origin. His father is a martial artist and a stunt coordinator who worked in Tim Burton’s Batman.
His father taught Lewis Tan martial arts from a young age and also trained in theatre. Lewis Tan worked in acclaimed TV series like Wu Assassins, Into The Badlands, Shadow, and Bone, Iron Fist, CSI: NY, CSI Miami, etc.
His film credits include Fistful of Vengeance, Deadpool 2, Mortal Kombat, Den of Thieves, Hangover Part III, etc.
32. Daniel Wu
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
September 30, 1974
Place of Birth
Berkeley, California, USA
Height
1.82 m
Debut year
1998
Debut Movie/ TV series
Young & Dangerous: The Prequel
Daniel Wu is an American actor of Chinese descent. He is an actor, director, and producer who is currently based in Hong Kong.
After watching martial arts films by Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, and Jet Li, he learned Wushu kung fu and went to Hong kong.
He took up modeling assignments, and a Hong Kong director viewed his work and offered him a role in Bishonen.
After that, he continued to get Hong Kong film offers. He starred in films like New Police Story, One Night in Mongkok, Warcraft, Into the Badlands, Westworld, Caught in Time, etc.
31. Harry Shum Jr.
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
April 28, 1982
Place of Birth
Puerto Limón, Costa Rica
Height
1.8 m
Debut year
2003
Debut Movie/ TV series
Boston Public
Harry Shum Jr. is a Costa Rica-born Chinese-American actor, dancer, and producer. He was born in Costa Rica but moved to the USA at six years of age.
He dropped out of college to pursue a career as a dancer. He worked in Step Up: The Streets, Step Up 3D, etc.
The most popular roles of Harry Shum Jr. include Crazy Rich Asians, Glee, Shadownhunters, White Frog, Revenge of the Green Dragons, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Single by 30, All My Life, The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, etc.
30. Kal Penn
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
April 23, 1977
Place of Birth
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Height
1.78 m
Debut year
1998
Debut Movie/ TV series
Express: Aisle to Glory
Kal Penn was born Kalpen Suresh Modi, and he is an American actor of Indian origin. He worked as an actor, author, academic lecturer, and a white House staff member during the Barack Obama administration.
Kal Penn has starred in many successful films and TV series like the Harold and Kumar series of films, Designated Survivor, House MD, The Namesake, How I Met Your Mother, Deadbeat, Battle Creek, The Ashram, Sunnyside, etc.
29. Ki Hong Lee
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
September 30, 1986
Place of Birth
Seoul, South Korea
Height
1.8 m
Debut year
2010
Debut Movie/ TV series
Victorious
Ki Hong Lee is an American actor of South Korean origin. When Lee was six years old, his family moved to New Zealand and later to America.
He graduated from the University of California in Berkeley with a degree in Psychology. Ki Hong Lee starred in minor roles in his early days as an actor, like Victorious, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, New Girl, Modern Family, etc.
He gained prominence with his roles in The Nine Lives of Chloe King, the Maze Runner series, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Wish Upon, etc.
28. Ian Chen
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
September 7, 2006
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Height
1.7 m
Debut year
2013
Debut Movie/ TV series
Modern Family
Ian Chen is an American actor of Taiwanese origin. He started as a child actor and appeared in minor roles in TV series like Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, etc.
Ian Chen is also a guitar player and sings in a band. The role that shot Ian Chen to stardom was in Fresh Off the Boat, Shazam, Shazam: Fury of The Gods, Fancy Nancy, Yasuke, Wish Dragon, etc.
27. Aziz Ansari
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
February 23, 1983
Place of Birth
Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Height
1.68 m
Debut year
2004
Debut Movie/ TV series
Uncle Morty’s Dub Shack
Aziz Ansari is an American stand-up comic, actor, writer, and filmmaker. He is an Indian-origin actor who started his career as a stand-up comic.
He worked with the Upright Citizens Brigade and did sketch comedy. Parks and Recreation, Scrubs, Observe and Report, Human Giant, Get Him to The Greek, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Shutterbugs, Master of None, Bob’s Burgers, Ice Age: Avalanche, etc., are some of the notable roles of Ansari.
Aziz Ansari: Right Now was a stand-up comedy special that earned a Grammy nomination.
26. Jacob Batalon
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
October 9, 1996
Place of Birth
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Height
1.65 m
Debut year
2016
Debut Movie/ TV series
North Woods
Jacob Batalon is an American actor of Filipino origin. He was born and brought up in Hawaii, where he enrolled at Kapiolani Community College to study music theory.
However, he dropped out to study drama at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. The role that shot Batalon to fame was as Ned Leeds in the Spider-Man series and the Web Series: the Avengers series and The Daily Bugle.
He also starred in North Woods, 50 States of Fight, Reginald: The Vampire, Every Day, etc.
25. Jimmy O. Yang
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
June 11, 1987
Place of Birth
Hong Kong, China
Height
1.68 m
Debut year
2012
Debut Movie/ TV series
2 Broke Girls
Jimmy O. Yang is an American stand-up comic, actor, and writer of Chinese origin. He moved to the USA at the age of thirteen for further education and earned his degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego.
Jimmy O. Yang did stand-up routines for free before he got his break. He started to act for a steady income and appeared in TV series like 2 Broke Girls, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Criminal Minds, etc.
Yang wrote a book titled, How to American: An Immigrant’s Guide to Disappointing Your Parents.
24. Will Yun Lee
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
March 22, 1971
Place of Birth
Arlington, Virginia, USA
Height
1.75 m
Debut year
1997
Debut Movie/ TV series
Nash Bridges
William Yun Lee is an American actor of South Korean descent. Lee started learning Taekwondo from his father who was a Taekwondo grandmaster.
He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Political Studies. William Yun Lee starred in Witchblade, Bionic Woman, Die Another Day, Elektra, The Wolverine, Hawaii Five-O, Altered Carbon, Guardians of Justice, Sleeping Dogs, The Good Doctor, San Andreas, Rampage, Wish Dragon, etc.
23. Leonardo Nam
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
November 5, 1979
Place of Birth
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height
1.78 m
Debut year
2001
Debut Movie/ TV series
Educated
Leonardo Nam is an Argentine-Australian actor of South Korean origin. He moved from Buenos Aires to Sydney at the age of six to finish his schooling.
Nam earned a degree in architecture at the University of New South Wales. Later, he arrived in New York to pursue acting and trained at the HB Studio.
Leonardo Nam appeared in multiple acclaimed shows and films like The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants 2, The Perfect score, Westworld, Maggie, Pacific Rim: The Black, MacGyver, etc.
22. Nico Santos
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
April 7, 1979
Place of Birth
Manila, Philippines
Height
1.65 m
Debut year
2011
Debut Movie/ TV series
Jonny McGovern: Sexy Nerd
Nico Santos is a Filipino-American actor. He moved to America when he turned sixteen and became interested in theatre.
He moved to costume designing after discouraging remarks from his acting teacher. However, he still continued to do stand-up comedy at open mics while working in luxury departmental stores.
Nico Santos got a career boost when he began working in CBS Diversity Showcase as a writer and substitute actor.
Later, Santos starred in the NBC series Superstore, Crazy Rich Asians, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, The Clapper, etc.
21. Simu Liu
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
April 19, 1989
Place of Birth
Harbin, China
Height
1.8 m
Debut year
2012
Debut Movie/ TV series
Nikita
Simu Liu is a Chinese Canadian actor, stuntman, and author. He was born in China to academically inclined engineers who wanted Simu Liu to join a similar work field.
They moved to Canada, and Liu graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in MBA. After being laid off from work at Deloitte, Simu Liu took up work as an actor and stuntman.
He was the star of the MCU’s Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings. He also starred in Kim’s Convenience, Taken, Blood and Water, Star Wars: Visions, etc.
20. James Hong
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
February 22, 1929
Place of Birth
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Height
1.78 m
Debut year
1954
Debut Movie/ TV series
Dragonfly Squadron
James Hong is an American of Chinese origin. His parents immigrated to the USA from Hong Kong and owned a restaurant.
He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Civil Engineering and was drafted into the Army to serve in the Korean War.
James Hong is one of the most prolific actors who appeared in over 600 film and television roles. His most memorable appearances have been in Big Trouble in Little China, RIPD, Chinatown, The Two Jakes, Perry Mason, The Man From The U. N. C. L. E. Bonanza, Sleeping Dogs, etc.
Hong also voiced animated characters in Mulan, the Kung Fu Panda franchise, Jackie Chan Adventures, Call Of Duty: Black Ops II, Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans, etc.
19. Karan Brar
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
January 18, 1999
Place of Birth
Redmond, Washington, USA
Height
1.75 m
Debut year
2010
Debut Movie/ TV series
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Karan Brar is an American actor born to Indian parents. He began acting at the young age of eleven years.
His role in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and its sequels got him noticed. He also appeared in commercials for Shell Gasoline, Committee for Children, etc.
Impressed with Brar’s audition, the director of Disney’s Jessie decided to change the Latino character Javier into Ravi Ross, an Indian adoptee character.
He also starred in the spin-off Bunk’d, Mira, Royal Detective, Pacific Rim: Uprising, Stargirl, etc.
18. BD Wong
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
October 24, 1960
Place of Birth
San Francisco, California, USA
Height
1.64 m
Debut year
1983
Debut Movie/ TV series
No Big Deal
BD Wong or Bradley Darryl Wong is an American actor of Chinese descent. He is an acclaimed performer on Broadway, film, and television.
His performance in M Butterfly earned him a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, OuterCritics Circle Award, etc. Apart from Broadway, Wong is also well-known for his performance in the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Oz, Awake, the Jurassic Park franchise, Gotham, Seven Years in Tibet, Mulan, etc.
For his performance in the TV series Mr. Robot, BD Wong has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Critics Choice Television Award.
17. Sung Kang
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
April 8, 1972
Place of Birth
Gainesville, Georgia, USA
Height
1.83 m
Debut year
1999
Debut Movie/ TV series
Mystery Men
Sung-ho Kang is an American actor of South Korean descent. He is most famous for his role as Han Lue in the Fast and The Furious franchise.
The role was originally created in the movie Better Luck Tomorrow. Sung Kang joined the university to become a lawyer, but he was more interested in acting, so he switched lanes.
He starred in Pearl Harbour, The Forbidden Warrior, The Motel, the Fast and Furious franchise, Bullet To The Head, Raya and The Last Dragon, Snakehead, MADtv, Easy To Assemble, Gang Related, Power, Obi-Wan Kenobi, etc.
16. Daniel Dae Kim
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
August 4, 1968
Place of Birth
Pusan, South Korea
Height
1.72 m
Debut year
1991
Debut Movie/ TV series
American Shaolin
Daniel Dae Kim is an American actor of South Korean origin. He was born in Busan and moved to America with his family as a one-year-old.
Kim earned his bachelor’s degree in Theater and political science and an MFA from NYU. Daniel Dae Kim rose to instant fame with his role as Jin-Soo Kwon in Lost.
His other notable roles were in Hawaii Five-O, Saints Row, The Good Doctor, Hellboy, Raya and The Last Dragon, The Divergent series, Love of the Game, etc.
15. Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
June 27, 1962
Place of Birth
Hong Kong
Height
1.72 m
Debut year
1978
Debut Movie/ TV series
Game of Death
Tony Chiu-wai Leung is a Hong Kong based actor and singer. He is popularly known as one of the Five Tiger Generals of TVB.
He appeared in several popular and acclaimed TV dramas and films in Hong Kong and Hollywood. Tony Leung’s most popular roles have been Chungking Express, Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, 2046, The Grandmaster, A City of Sadness, Cyclo, Lust, Caution, Hard Boiled, Infernal Affairs, Red Cliff, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, etc.
14. Dev Patel
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
April 23, 1990
Place of Birth
Harrow, London, England, UK
Height
1.88 m
Debut year
2007
Debut Movie/ TV series
Skins: Secret Party
Dev Patel is a British actor of Indian origin. He has starred in multiple award-winning and nominated films and TV series.
His performance in the film Lion earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Dev Patel shot to international stardom with his role in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
He followed it up with The Last Airbender, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Newsroom, The Man Who Knew Infinity, Lion, Hotel Mumbai, The Personal History of David Copperfield, Green Knight, etc.
13. Booboo Stewart
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
January 21, 1994
Place of Birth
Beverly Hills, California, USA
Height
1.74 m
Debut year
2003
Debut Movie/ TV series
Steve Harvey’s Big Time Challenge
Booboo Stewart was born Nil Allen Stewart Jr. He is an American actor, singer, and stuntman of Japanese, Chinese and Korean ancestry.
He and his sisters, Fivel and Maegan performed as a music band, The Stewart Clan. Booboo Stewart is most famous for his role in the Twilight saga, X-Men: Days of the Future Past, White Frog, Julie and the Phantom, Descendants and its sequels, etc.
Booboo Stewart has performed with other music bands like the T-Squad and Disney performers.
12. Ken Watanabe
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
October 21, 1959
Place of Birth
Uonuma, Japan
Height
1.85 m
Debut year
1983
Debut Movie/ TV series
Mibu no koiuta
Ken Watanabe is a Japanese actor who has worked in many Hollywood films, TV series, and Broadway plays. He is an acclaimed actor who was nominated for an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe, etc.
He also won multiple Awards from the Japanese Academy, Blue Ribbon Awards, etc. The most notable performances of Watanabe have been in Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Samurai, Inception, Batman Begins, Letters From Iwo Jima, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, Memories of Tomorrow, Shizumanu Taiyō, Transformers: The Last Knight, Godzilla: King of Monsters, Tokyo Vice, etc.
11. Jet Li
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
April 26, 1963
Place of Birth
Beijing, China
Height
1.68 m
Debut year
1982
Debut Movie/ TV series
Shaolin Temple
Jet Li is the stage name of the Chinese actor Lianjie Li. He is an actor, producer, former Wushu champion, and Martial artist.
He is a naturalized Singapore citizen, who started as a Wushu trainee to escape poverty. Slowly, he started to win medals and championships across the globe for his Wushu talent.
After an injury, his Wushu sporting career ended, but he was given an opportunity in films like Shaolin Temple, The Master, Once Upon a Time in China, its sequel, Legend of the Red Dragon, etc.
He entered Hollywood with the film Lethal Weapon 4 and starred in Romeo Must Die, Hero, Cradle 2 The Grave, War, The Expendables franchise, Mulan, etc.
10. Henry Golding
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
February 5, 1987
Place of Birth
Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia
Height
1.86 m
Debut year
2009
Debut Movie/ TV series
Gold Diggers
Henry Golding is a Malaysian-born British actor and TV presenter. He gained fame for hosting The Travel Show on BBC in 2014.
Golding was born in Malaysia and moved to England when he was eight. He moved to Kuala Lumpur for acting opportunities at 21 years.
In 2018, he got the role in Crazy Rich Asians after a global casting call, and he hasn’t turned back since.
He starred in The Gentlemen, Snake Eyes, A Simple Favor, Last Christmas, Persuasion, Star Wars: Visions, The Assassin Club, etc.
9. Donnie Yen
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
July 27, 1963
Place of Birth
Canton, China
Height
1.73 m
Debut year
1984
Debut Movie/ TV series
Siu Tai Gik
Donnie Yen is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director, and producer. He is famous across Asia and the USA for his role in popularizing Wing Chun martial art across the globe.
Donnie Yen starred in all four Ip Man movies and directed and produced the later sequels. He starred in Hollywood films like XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Mulan, Highlander: Endgame, etc.
His popular Chinese films are Kung Fu Jungle, The Monkey King, Special ID, The Lost Bladesman, Dragon, Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen, etc.
8. John Cho
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
June 16, 1972
Place of Birth
Seoul, South Korea
Height
1.78 m
Debut year
1999
Debut Movie/ TV series
American Pie
John Cho is an American actor of South Korean descent. He was born Cho Yo-han in Seoul but moved to the US at the age of six.
Cho first caught eyeballs with his small role in the comedy American Pie in 1999. He reprised the role in the sequels of the film.
Cho’s most famous role to date was as Harold Lee in the Harold & Kumar franchise. His other credits include Better Luck Tomorrow, Big Fat Liar, Star Trek, Columbus, Cowboy Bebop, The Afterparty, Selfie and Searching.
His performance in Searching won him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.
7. Ronny Chieng
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
November 21, 1985
Place of Birth
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Height
1.78 m
Debut year
2015
Debut Movie/ TV series
The Daily Show
Ronny Chieng is a comedian and actor who was born into a Malaysian Chinese family in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. He grew up in Singapore and the US, and graduated from university in Australia.
Chieng began his career performing with fellow comedian Trevor Noah in Melbourne. He bagged a recurring segment on Noah’s The Daily Show and went viral with his interviews with residents of New York City’s Chinatown.
He also won many awards for his stand-up specials and his roles in films like Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
6. Benedict Wong
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
July 3, 1971
Place of Birth
Eccles, UK
Height
1.78 m
Debut year
1993
Debut Movie/ TV series
Kai Mei Sauce
Benedict Wong is a British actor who was born to Hong Kong immigrant parents in Eccles, England. He built his career up playing roles in 15 Storeys High, Look Around You, Grow Your Own, and the IT Crowd.
He began gaining recognition when he starred in the Ridley Scott films Prometheus, and The Martian, and the Netflix series Marco Polo.
His biggest role came as Wong in the MCU franchise, where he had over six appearances. He has lent his voice to many video games and animated projects.
Wong has also been nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor.
5. Ken Jeong
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
July 13, 1969
Place of Birth
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Height
1.64 m
Debut year
2002
Debut Movie/ TV series
Comic Groove
Kendrick Jeong or Ken Jeong is an American actor, writer, stand-up comedian, and licensed physician. Born to South Korean parents in Detroit, Michigan, Jeong practiced as a physician of internal medicine for several years before pursuing his passion for comedy and acting.
He started by performing at comedy clubs and improv sessions before landing a spot on Comedy Central. He later began starring in films like Knocked Up, The Hangover series, Zookeeper, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Community.
Dr. Ken Jeong has been nominated for several awards, including Teen Choice Awards, MTV Movie Awards, and has won a Streamy Award and a Visionary Award.
4. Steven Yeun
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
December 21, 1983
Place of Birth
Seoul, South Korea
Height
1.75 m
Debut year
2010
Debut Movie/ TV series
The Walking Dead
Steven Yeun, born Yeun Sang-yeop, is an American actor and producer of South Korean origin. Yeun’s family first moved to Canada from South Korea before settling in Michigan, US.
His parents were initially unhappy with his decision to pursue acting but later gave in. Yeun broke out with his role as Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead series in 2010.
The series became the highest-rated series in cable TV history, and Yeun continued his role until season 7 in 2016.
He later starred in Mayhem, Okja, Burning, Minari, Sorry to Bother You, and Nope. He has been included in Time’s 2021 list of the 100 Most Influential People, won awards for Best Supporting Actor at several film critics awards, and has been nominated for an Oscar.
3. Randall Park
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
March 23, 1974
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Height
1.75 m
Debut year
2003
Debut Movie/ TV series
Dragon of Love
Randall Park is an American actor, writer, and comedian who was born to Korean immigrant parents in Los Angeles, California.
He studied at UCLA and graduated with a master’s degree in Asian American studies. Park slowly began doing stand-up comedy with other comedians like Ali Wong, Samantha Quan, and Vivian Bang.
He then starred in small films and comedy productions here and there. In 2014, he bagged the role of the recurring character Danny Chung on the HBO series Veep and that of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un for the film The Interview.
He also starred in Fresh Off The Boat, Always Be My Maybe, Aquaman, Ant-Man & the Wasp, and WandaVision.
2. Kumail Nanjiani
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
February 21, 1978
Place of Birth
Karachi, Pakistan
Height
1.74 m
Debut year
2013
Debut Movie/ TV series
The Kings of Summer
Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani-born American actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He was born and raised in Karachi but moved to Chicago at the age of 18 for graduation.
He later moved to New York, where he wrote and performed stand-up comedy. He began acting with small roles in The Kings of Summer, Portlandia, Franklin & Bash, Adventure Time, Veep, and Silicon Valley.
Nanjiani gained major success with his role in the film The Big Sick. It became one of the most acclaimed films of the year and gave him an Oscar nomination for screenplay.
He also starred in Men In Black: International, Dolittle, The Lovebirds, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the MCU’s Eternals.
1. Jackie Chan
Entity
Detail
Date of Birth
April 7, 1954
Place of Birth
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
Height
1.74 m
Debut year
1962
Debut Movie/ TV series
Big and Little Wong Tin Bar
Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, singer, stuntman, and filmmaker who is one of the most iconic action stars of all time.
Chan was born in British Hong Kong to parents who were refugees from the Chinese Civil War. He trained rigorously in martial arts and acrobatics in his early years.
Jackie Chan began acting as a child artist but gained his first major roles in Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon.
His biggest hits came with Drunken Master, The Big Brawl, The Young Master, Armour of God, the Police Story franchise, Rumble in The Bronx, the Rush Hour franchise, and the Karate Kid among many others.
Chan is one of the most influential stars globally and has received many awards and accolades for his acting and stunt work.
He has a Lifetime Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and honorary orders from the British Empire, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
