Al Leong
American actor, martial artist, stuntman, stunt co-ordinator
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Albert Leong (born September 30, 1952) is an American retired actor, martial artist, stuntman, and stunt co-ordinator.[1][2] Often credited as "Asian Bad Guy", Leong was Hollywood's henchman of choice throughout the 1980s and 1990s.[3] Characterised by his martial arts skills, long wavy hair, and a prominent Fu Manchu moustache, he has had a number of small but memorable roles in many popular action films, including Lethal Weapon (1987) with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover; Die Hard (1988) with Bruce Willis; Death Warrant (1990) with Jean-Claude Van Damme; and Rapid Fire (1992) with Brandon Lee. He is also notable for his role as Genghis Khan in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). He collaborated with director John Carpenter in Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and They Live (1988). Such appearances have garnered him a cult following.[4][5]
In television, he appeared in series such as T. J. Hooker, The Fall Guy, Knight Rider, and 24, among others.[6] Leong's martial art foundation is steeped within the 5 Animal Styles taught by Grandmaster Ark Yuey Wong in Chinatown, Los Angeles.[7] In 2014, he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.[8]
Early life
Leong was born in St. Louis, Missouri.[9][10] The youngest of three children born to Chinese American parents, he grew up behind the Chinese laundry that they owned. In 1962, when he was ten years old, they moved to Los Angeles. Leong attended Hollywood High School.[11]
Career
His credits include Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Joshua Tree, Big Trouble in Little China, The Scorpion King, and They Live.[1] and a recurring role on the first season of the TV series 24. He also portrayed an out-of-time Genghis Khan in the comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. In 2003, Leong lampooned himself as well as the Hollywood tradition of actor and director 'reels' by starring in screenwriter David Callaham's "Writer's Reel."[12] In the five-minute short film, Leong portrayed Callaham going through a typical day in the life of a writer. The 'reel' was accepted into a number of short film festivals.[13]
As a stuntman, Leong was involved with the production of numerous films including The Golden Child, Last Action Hero, Roland Emmerich's Godzilla, Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, and Daredevil. He also has made appearances on several television shows such as The A-Team, Knight Rider, Magnum, P.I., The Twilight Zone, T. J. Hooker, MacGyver, That '70s Show, and HBO's Deadwood. He wrote and directed the low-budget film Daddy Tell Me a Story....
Personal life
Health
Leong had brain cancer in 1993 and suffered a stroke in 2005.[14]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Twilight Zone: The Movie | Vietnamese Villager | (Segment #1) |
| 1983 | Off the Wall | Mount Joy Cheerleader | |
| 1984 | Protocol | The Chef | |
| 1985 | My Science Project | Vietnamese Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1986 | Big Trouble | Chinese Laborer #2 | |
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China | Wing Kong Hatchet Man | |
| 1986 | Running Scared | Henchman | Uncredited |
| 1987 | Lethal Weapon | Endo | |
| 1988 | She's Having a Baby | The Photographer | |
| 1988 | Action Jackson | Dellaplane’s Chauffeur | |
| 1988 | Die Hard | Uli | |
| 1988 | They Live | Resistance Member | Uncredited |
| 1989 | Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure | Genghis Khan | |
| 1989 | Cage | Joe "Tiger Joe" Lowell | |
| 1989 | Black Rain | Sato's Assassin | Uncredited |
| 1989 | Savage Beach | Fu | |
| 1990 | I Come in Peace | Luggage Salesman | |
| 1990 | Aftershock | Fighter | Uncredited |
| 1990 | Death Warrant | Bruce | |
| 1991 | The Perfect Weapon | Man In Croc-Pit Bar | Also stunts, Uncredited |
| 1991 | Showdown in Little Tokyo | Thug | Also stunts, Uncredited |
| 1992 | Steel Justice | Guard #2 | |
| 1992 | Rapid Fire | Minh | |
| 1992 | Hard Hunted | Raven | |
| 1993 | Joshua Tree | Chinese Gunman #9 | |
| 1993 | Last Action Hero | Thug | Uncredited |
| 1993 | Hot Shots! Part Deux | Pit-Fighting Fan | Also stunts |
| 1994 | Beverly Hills Cop III | Car Mechanic | Also stunts, Uncredited |
| 1994 | The Shadow | Tibetan Driver | |
| 1994 | Double Dragon | Lewis | Also stunts |
| 1994 | Deadly Target | Guard | |
| 1996 | Escape from L.A. | Saigon Shadow Warrior | Also stunts |
| 1997 | Tuff Luk Klub | Cousin Ming | |
| 1998 | The Replacement Killers | Wei's Gunmen | Uncredited |
| 1998 | Godzilla | Japanese Fisherman | Also stunts, Uncredited |
| 1998 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Wah Sing Ku Triad Member | Uncredited |
| 1998 | Limo | Hack | |
| 2000 | Daddy Tell Me a Story... | Al Ka Bong | |
| 2001 | The Ghost | Wu's Thug #2 | |
| 2002 | The Scorpion King | Asian Training Master | |
| 2005 | Confessions of an Action Star | Evil Doctor | |
| 2005 | Forbidden Warrior | Yang Sze | |
| 2014 | Awesome Asian Bad Guys | Al | (2013) |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The A-Team | Thug At Boat | Episode: "The Maltese Falcon" (S2.E13) | 1984-01-03 |
| 1985 | The A-Team | Asian-Looking Thug | Episode: "Lease with an Option to Die" (S4.E4) | 1985-10-22 |
| 1985–1986 | The A-Team | (various) | 3 episodes | |
| 1983 | The Greatest American Hero | Uncredited Extra | Episode: "Thirty Seconds Over Little Tokyo" (#39) | 1983-02-03 |
| 1983 | Hart to Hart | Tai-Chi Man | Episode: "Year of the Dog" (S5.E10) | 1983-12-13 |
| 1984 | Knight Rider | Fong's Bouncer (uncredited) | Episode: "Knight of the Drones" (S3.E1) | |
| 1984 | Magnum P.I. | Bodyguard #2 | 1 episode | |
| 1984 | The Fall Guy | Johnny | Episode: "Sandcastles" (S4.E8) | 1984-11-07 |
| 1985 | Airwolf | General Rangavara Bandit Soldier | 1 episode | |
| 1985 | MacGyver | Wayne H. Lim | Episode: "Murderers' Sky" (S3.E20) | 1988-05-09 |
| 1986 | The Twilight Zone | Proprietor | Segment: "The Misfortune Cookie" | |
| 1986 | The Fall Guy | Quon | Episode: "Trial by Fire" (S5.E12) | 1986-01-24 |
| 1986 | Riptide | Mr. Yeem | Episode: "The Frankie Kahana Show" (S3.E13) | 1986-02-11 |
| 1986 | Renegade | The Yakuza Boss |
Episode: "Samurai" (S1.E14) | |
| 1986 | T. J. Hooker | Nabutsu Hood #1 (uncredited) | Episode: "Blood Sport" (S5.E88) | 1986-05-21 |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | "Joe Boy" Chinese gangster (uncredited) | Episode: "China Rain" (S1.E2) | 1985-09-25 |
| 1987 | Steele Justice | Long Hair | TV movie | |
| 1994 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Unknown / Stunt Coordinator | Episode: "The Warlord" | |
| 1994 | Vanishing Son III | Triad Lieutenant #1 | TV movie | |
| 2000 | That '70s Show | Kung-Fu Master / Ninja Warrior | Episode: "Jackie Moves On" (S2.E22) | 2000-04-03 |
| 2002 | 24 | Neill | 4 episodes (season 1) | |
Music videos
- 2003 Poppin' Them Thangs by G-Unit
Further reading
- Leong, Al (August 1, 2011). The Eight Lives of Al Ka-Bong Leong. Al Leong. ISBN 978-0-615-38499-3.[15]