Will Asian actors/actress ever be able to make it big in Hollywood?

Question

15-20 years ago Black people never even got a role other than being a ghetto or gangster or poor people. Now it seems that Asians are still struggling with Hollywood. Seriously other than Harold and Kumar I have yet to seen an Asian with a lead role that doesn't involve the character having an asian background or a martial arts expert.

I'm not saying Asians should be playing as James Bond or Captain America (hell even Black people shouldn't) but why can't they have a leading role in movies like 21 Jump Street, Zombieland, etc

Answer 1

Although Asians are underrepresented there are still some out there. Keanu Reeves is Chinese Hawaiian Caucasian and he's a legitimate leading man. Maggie Q, Tia Carrere, Kelly Hu, Bai Ling, and lots of others as well. Let's not also forget that Asians do better than average economically and academically, so who's to say they even want to branch off and be successful in Hollywood. Being an actor's not all that awesome.

Answer 2

I am noticing more opportunities for Asians still not that many. We've got more opportunities than the 70's and 80's. But compared to other minority groups our numbers are pretty pathetic. But to be honest with you, I have no idea whether or not there will be more Asian opportunities in Hollywood. And as for your question about Lucy Lui, there are definitely more actresses who are better looking and can act just as well if not better than her. But Hollywood and the media being what it is, this is just a run of the mill kind of thing.

Answer 3

I see TONS of Asian Hollywood actors. To list a few off the top of my head, there's, Lucy liu Ken Jeong, Janel Parrish, Sandra Oh, Jenna Ushkowitz, Brenda Song, Kristin Kreuk, Anna Perez De Tagle, Jamie Chung and Masi Oka. I don't think any of them play stereotype Asians..

Answer 4

There are some Asian Actors/actresses. Look how big Bruce Lee was before he passed.

Answer 5

Have you not seen any Jackie chan or jet li movies? Also Lucy Liu is a pretty big name actress... You just aren't looking

Answer 6

Bai Ling made it but I think its because she's hot

Answer 7

Race, Rights and the Asian American Experience by Angelo Ancheta. Professor Ancheta, an Asian-American himself, was the legal director of the Harvard Civil Rights Project in 2000. This book covers the legislation, social and discriminatory policies against Asian-Americans in American history. These aren't complaints these are the facts. This book is carried by major universities including UCLA in their Asian-American studies departments. It wasn't until the 1950's that if your parents were of Asian descent could they marry a white person. Previously, we were only allowed to marry people of other color. Being the "model minority" and also within the Asian saying "the nail that sticks out gets nailed down", we kept silent to authority and did not complain about racism out loud for fear of getting "nailed down". Education would be our key.



There have been pioneers of the Asian-American Civil Rights movement for decades playing in the background working on policy and legislation. I myself took on the role of trying to be a soldier through the performing arts. It was a way of getting in America's face without lecturing but rather through the tears and laughter of entertainment millions at a time. If I could be in only 1 work that stood the test of time, my part of the mission would be accomplished in creating any positive influence.



I'm sure many of you were raised like this by your Asian parents. Education will be the way out for our family. The sacrifices that were made leaving the home country will not be wasted on frivolous career choices. Your choice of careers: doctor, lawyer, engineer. No choice. Though our parents never asked us--- what will make you happy? Despite being turned down for housing, stones thrown at us, women being sexually abused in the workplace, ignored and shunned in social situations, WE MUST "save face" and keep our nose to the grindstone to insure our "success".



How many Asian parents encourage their children to be up and front as an artist. In fact, that could be considered a shame right? Because in the home country, actresses were renowned for sleeping their way to the top. Therefore in the power structure of Hollywood at least back in the 90's, out of the millions of people who pursue the Olympics of Entertainment in Hollywood, there were only a handful of Asian-American writers and screenwriters and therefore ROLES. No Asian PRODUCER in sight. Who would stand up and create inventive lead roles for a sexy Asian male like Daniel Dae Kim or a well rounded Asian-American human being? Did any of them know of such thing in their real life? How could they cast that? Was that in fact realistic in their eyes?



In 1992, the first National Tour of Miss Saigon was cast. This show was created by the makers of Les Miserables; Cameron MacIntosh, Alain Boubil, and Claude-Michel. Off the success of MISS SAIGON on Broadway, this cast of Asian-Americans along with the non-Asian faction of the cast, city after city, we crossed picket lines of Asian Americans to get to our dressing rooms before the show. These Asian-American brothers and sisters carried signs declaring that we were bringing SHAME on Asian Americans. Little did they know that when we exited the stage doors after the show, white Americans would ask for our autograph and be shocked that we spoke English. Many thought that we were "taught English for the show". No we exist. People who have my face can speak English and in fact almost all of us were born here in the United States. In the 1990's, the white majority didn't even know that Asian-Americans EXIST. When your ignored or not introduced as a person in a circle of acquiantances, isn't that a humiliating experience? Unless you completely assimilated or came in as an MD, it was like that for all of us in America



In the 1990's, there was a still huge divide between Asian American nationalities. Chinese against Japanese, Koreans against everyone, and Filipinos and Vietnamese were on the bottom of the scale. Asian nations such as Burma, Bhutan, and Indonesia weren't even part of the discussion. Power had to be accumulated by bridging gaps and attaining mass in numbers between the nationalities. I believe this is happening now in the 2010's.



Though you complain about the roles that were portrayed and that we had turned our backs to our community is a judgement without context. Brick by Brick the wall will be taken down. If you are not actively part of the solution, try to support those who are. Repeated real-life struggles and experiences create the leadership that you are seeking from your community. If you tear down those who are striving to make their first attempts, you are breaking down your future leaders. Our students from VIVACE Conservatory for the Performing Arts located in LA's Chinatown include Melissa R (Pussycat Dolls), Nikki SooHoo (Stick it, Lovely Bones) and Monica Parales (School Gyrls on Nickelodeon). All Asian-Americans. These are our protegees to continue the work.



Perspective is key and President Obama gives us a landmark in terms of social change. Be happy with the progress that has been made and keep moving forward.



We are all one in the eyes of God no matter what shade your skin or the shape of your body. Love rules all.--Marie Matiko star of the original "The Art of War"



sorry about any grammar stuff writing this at 5 am.

Answer 8

i looked on line there are a lot http://thats-all-folks.com/hottest-asian-actresses-in-hollywood/

here is a huge list

Actors and filmmakersKirk Acevedo, actor, Oz



Kayla Blake, Karin Anna Cheung, actress

Kelly Hu, actress

Vanessa Anne Hudgens, actress and singer

David Henry Hwang, Tony winning playwright

Ken Jeong, comedian, actor, physician, "The Hangover" and "Community"

Malese Jow actress and singer

Rodney Kageyama, actor

Mindy Kaling, actress, writer, producer, "The Office"



Sung Kang, actor

Ravi Kapoor, actor, Crossing Jordan

Archie Kao, actor, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy and CSI

Janice Kawaye, voice actress

Daniel Dae Kim, actor, Lost and Hawaii Five-0

Randall Duk Kim, actor

Yunjin Kim, actress, Lost



Ang Lee, filmmaker & director, "Brokeback Mountain", "Hulk", "Eat Drink Man Woman", "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"



C.S. Lee, actor, Dexter

James Kyson Lee, actor, Heroes

Jason Scott Lee, actor



Ken Leung, actor, Lost

Bai Ling, actress

Julia Ling, actress, Chuck

Lucy Liu Chinese American actress[1]

Mako (1933–2006) Academy Award and Tony Award nominated actor, founder of East West Players

Aasif Mandvi, actor and comedian, The Daily Show

Marie Matiko, actress

Nobu McCarthy (1934–2002), actress

Mei Melancon, actress, writer and producer

Kumail Nanjiani, comedian and actor, Franklin & Bash

Minae Noji, actress, General Hospital

Ming-Na, actress ER, Stargate Universe, and As the World Turns

Vanessa Minnillo

Paolo Montalban, actor of Filipino descent

Pat Morita (1932–2005) comedian and Academy Award nominated actor best known for work on Happy Days and The Karate Kid

Robert A. Nakamura, pioneering filmmaker, teacher, co-founder of Visual Communications (VC)

Dr. Haing S. Ngor (1940–1996) won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1985.

Dustin Nguyen, actor, 21 Jump Street and V.I.P.

Johnny Tri Nguyen, actor, martial artist, and stunt double

Steve Nguyen, film producer

Julia Nickson, actress

Masi Oka, actor

Yuji Okumoto, actor, The Karate Kid II (1986 Film) and Johnny Tsunami, writer and producer

Lisa Onodera, film producer

Maulik Pancholy, actor, Weeds and 30 Rock

Grace Park, actress, Battlestar Galactica, Edgemont, and Hawaii Five-0

Linda Park, actress, Star Trek: Enterprise

Steve Park, actor and comedian

Janel Parrish, actress and singer

Kal Penn, actor

Dat Phan comedian, winner of the first season of Last Comic Standing

Danny Pudi, actor, Community

Lou Diamond Philips actor

Lindsay Price, actress

Maggie Q, actress

Jonathan Ke Quan, actor

Sendhil Ramamurthy, actor, Heroes

Navi Rawat, actress, Numb3rs and The O.C.

Rob Schneider, actor and comedian

Parry Shen, actor

Sheetal Sheth, actress

James Shigeta, actor

Sab Shimono, actor

Harry Shum, Jr., actor

Shannyn Sossamon, actress

Brenda Song, actress

Sonja Sohn, actress, The Wire

Pat Suzuki, actress and singer

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa actor

Faran Tahir, actor

George Takei actor of Star Trek fame

Chris Tashima, actor, Academy Award winning filmmaker

Jennifer Tilly - actress (born in California)

Meg Tilly - actress

Chuti Tiu - actress, Desire, 24, Dragnet, Beautiful, The Specials, former America's Junior Miss (first non-White winner)

Tamlyn Tomita, actress

Lauren Tom, voice actress

Thuy Trang, actress, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1973–2001)

Miyoshi Umeki, Oscar winning actress and singer

Jenna Ushkowitz, actress

Dilshad Vadsaria, actress, Greek

Daya Vaidya, actress

Kelly Vitz- actress on Sky High and Nancy Drew

Garrett Wang (王以瞻) - actor in Star Trek: Voyager

Wayne Wang, film director, "The Joy Luck Club"

B.D. Wong, Tony Award winning actor, Oz and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Anna May Wong (1905–1961), actress

Helen Wong - model and actress

Russell Wong (王盛德) - actor

Victor Wong (黃自強) - Hollywood actor

Aaron Yoo, actor

[edit] MusicToshiko Akiyoshi, jazz

Answer 9

they won't