Hollywood Icon James Hong Honored at the Chinese Theatre in Celebration of His Groundbreaking Career and Release of DreamWorks Animation’s Film Kung Fu Panda 4
The honor comes on the celebrated actor's 95th birthday in recognition of his seven-decade acting career
February 23, 2024
James Hong, trailblazing actor and tireless advocate for Asian American artists, had his hands and feet immortalized in cement at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on Hollywood Blvd. The Hands and Feet ceremony celebrated James Hong and his latest film, DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda 4, while recognizing his unparalleled contributions to the entertainment industry over his astounding seven-decade career. Now, at the age of 95, Hong has a career that boasts more than 600 credits, a testament to his remarkable versatility and talent showcased across myriad roles.
Hong continues to charm audiences with his endearing portrayal of Mr. Ping, the adoptive father of Dragon Warrior Po (Jack Black), in DreamWorks Animation's beloved Kung Fu Panda franchise, which has earned almost $2 billion worldwide, with three films spanning almost 16 years. Hong returns to the role of Mr. Ping, a devoted father goose and proud owner of a thriving noodle shop, for the first time in almost a decade in Kung Fu Panda 4 which hits theaters March 8.
The TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX® handprints-footprints tribute is the most selective of all Hollywood honors. Over the course of 96 years, only 250-plus such honors have been presented. Movie exhibitor Sid Grauman opened The Chinese Theater in 1927 and launched the handprints-footprints ceremony a year later as a promotion to advertise his many premieres and first-run films. Among the first handprints and footprints were those of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.
Notably, it wasn't until 1991 that an Asian American actor first made a historic addition to the esteemed roster of Hollywood icons who have imprinted their hands and feet at the TCL Chinese IMAX®, when George Takei joined the list alongside his Star Trek co-stars. Since then, a select group of Asian and Asian-American actors and filmmakers have been honored, including actor Jackie Chan and directors John Woo and Justin Lin.
Hong now joins a list of Hollywood acting luminaries that includes Clark Gable, Fred Astaire, Humphry Bogart, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Paul Newman, Kirk Douglas, Steve McQueen, Whoopie Goldberg, Sophia Loren, Rita Moreno and Hong's Chinatown co-star Jack Nicholson.
In addition to his on-screen accomplishments, Hong has actively addressed the challenges faced by Asian actors by advocating for better representation in the industry. In 1965, he co-founded the East West Players, the nation's longest-running Asian American theater, with a commitment to raising the visibility of the Asian American experience. Since then, East West Players continues to build platforms for artists of color while advocating for multi-faceted representations in the performing arts.
