Hurrah For Hollywood? by Frank Y Pak Agostinelli
The lack of a leading Asian actor or actress in Hollywood isn’t something that has just occurred. It has been happening for a very long time in movies as well as television. So much so when Pat Morita passed away, Laurence Downes wrote a tribute in the New York Times to Pat entitled, "Best Supporting Asian." Pat will always be best known as Arnold in Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid. Although Morita was nominated for best supporting actor, who do you believe was the "real" lead?
Bruce Lee was ½ Chinese and ½ German. He always considered himself Chinese. Lee stated in "The Lost Interview" (The Pierre Berton Show), made famous for his be water my friend what Hollywood looked for in an Asian actor:
Lee: "In the United States I think something about the Oriental, I mean the true Oriental should be shown."
Berton: "Hollywood sure as heck hasn't."
Lee: "You better believe it man. I mean it’s always the pigtail and bouncing around, chop-chop, you know with the eyes slanted and all that." This is exactly how America identified "Oriental." As you and I know could it be any further from what a true Oriental is?
In 1966, The Green Hornet (1966-67) starred Van Williams as Britt Reid aka The Green Hornet. Lee co-starred as Kato, Reid’s trusty valet. I doubt many watched this show to see Britt Reid fight crime.
What should have catapulted Lee into the spotlight (and it did but not the way Lee would of preferred) and at the same time give some credibility to Asian actors, did not happen. Lee also decided he wouldn't play roles that would denigrate Chinese. In the words of Socrates, he saw himself as a citizen of the world. He goes back to China to star in The Big Boss (1971) and Fists Of Fury (1972). In 1972 a new show appeared with a wandering Shaolin monk. Bruce Lee's idea The Warrior was stolen. The thieves cast a Caucasian actor with no knowledge of martial arts by the name of David Carradine. Hence the birth of the series,
Kung Fu. The same year Lee wrote, directed and starred in Way Of The Dragon. All three movies were box office hits. He becomes China’s biggest star. Only then does Hollywood truly want him.
People will probably say, "What about Jackie Chan and his Rush Hour movies?" I have one name for you, Chris Tucker. There have been opportunities for a Hollywood producer to use an Asian for a role but the idea an Asian actor or actress cannot carry a lead role has been ingrained in the movie business in America since the beginning of time. Look no further than Warner Oland, Sidney Toler and Roland Winters playing Charlie Chan.
A parallel of Thomas Rice mainstreaming Lewis Hallam's blackface character. I could say at least African-Americans have Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington who seem to garner the most attention and better lead roles. But what about Laurence Fishburne, Don Cheadle, Queen Latifah, and Angela Basset? They're pretty damn good too! Who sticks out most in one's mind when it comes to Mixed Asian and Asian actors and actresses who have consistently played a prominent lead character in Hollywood? Don't say Lucy Liu. Don't say John Cho. Don't say Kelly Hu. Take a trip to China and you could definitely fire off Jet Li, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li, Ti Lung, just to name a few. Hollywood pundits would state an Asian lead would lack appeal. Lee said it himself. But that was in the early 70s. We are a few months away from 2007.
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What About Mixed Asians?
Mixed Asians/Hapas seemed to be grouped with Asians. The lack of Mixed Asians and Asians as the lead is quite ridiculous. In addition, at times they are made to be interchangeable. Mixed Asians playing Asians (Russell Wong in Romeo Must Die), Asians playing Mixed Asians (Gong Li in Miami Vice). Those of us who have perfected our Hapa Radar can see for example: Dean Cain (Superman), Kristen Kreuk (Smallville), and Stacy Kamano (Baywatch). Let us not myopically toast each other because there are some Mixed Asians in Hollywood. Prominent roles are needed and not just one every so many years. When Mixed Asians are cast into movies or television, they are usually a role involving some kind of martial arts, supporting roles, stupid roles or as Caucasian (i.e. Kristen Kreuk’s Lana Lang).
Some movies beg to have a different flavor. In other words, take a chance! I can point to the movie The Principal. Jim Belushi, the brother of late John Belushi did a good job as the lead. He is not a great actor by any stretch. I could state the obvious, his last name got him the gig. Would a Hapa or Asian do a better job? I cannot say. Acting skill should be an important component but we have seen movies where the acting skill is nil and this movie was no exception. At least Rae Dawn Chong was a co-star.
If Sean Penn can be the partying surfer dude Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High then a mentally retarded Sam Dawson fighting for custody of his daughter in I Am Sam, why can’t Hollywood cast Keanu Reeves who played high school slacker Ted Logan in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, a serious role instead of Johnny Mnemonic, or Neo.
Jet Li's movie debut in America Romeo Must Die starred Mixed Asians Francois Yip (who starred in Black Mask with Li as well as Rumble In The Bronx with Jackie Chan) who had a bit part and Russell Wong who played a prominent role throughout the movie along with Li.
A funny exchange between the late Aaliyah and Li is pretty much a fact. Aaliyah's character Trish asked Li's character Han if he knew martial arts. He replied, "It's state law." Although Li received top billing, he wasn't the true lead actor. It seemed to be spread evenly among the actors and actresses most notable Wong, Aaliyah, Isaiah Washington, Delroy Lindo, Jiang Xi Ren (Henry O.) and Anthony Anderson.
Marc Dacascos played a supporting role as Mani, an Iroquois Indian in Brotherhood Of The Wolf. He is probably better known nowadays as the guest host on the Food Network’s Iron Chef. He took over the role of Eric Draven in the television series based on Brandon Lee's character in the cult classic The Crow. He did have a lead role in the movie Only The Strong . Dacascos was not cast as a Mixed Asian in the aforementioned roles.
I could go overboard and list every movie an Asian or Mixed Asian played a supporting role or phantom lead but it would only serve those trivial pursuit fanatics. I just wanted to show the reader what an objective eye can see. Taking the eye quickly to another level, what if these actors and actresses employ the Robert K. Merton’s self-fulfilling prophecy? In other words, the individual takes all the necessary steps to become an actor or actress but perceives the big picture as a no win situation regardless how good their acting skill is. They already lost race before they shot out of the blocks! This is always a possibility among other factors that transpire behind the scenes in Hollywood.
There really is not a clear-cut solution nor am I saying it is a problem. I know what you just read induced a double take. My sentiments on this are simple. It has been going on for decades. There hasn't been any true progression or an overwhelming call for more Mixed Asian actors and actresses to step up to the plate and demand better roles. There is a necessity to have it brought to everyone's attention. It is up to the reader decide if there is an issue. If there is an issue, what would be a feasible solution to solve this? Should more Mixed Asians in Hollywood speak up? Or are they afraid to be shunned by Hollywood brass? You and I cannot dictate what Hollywood believes is in. I do not understand the genre of Hollywood and most likely never will. But as a Mixed Asian, I would like to see some fellow Mixed Asians have a true opportunity to play characters with depth as the leading Mixed Asian man or woman. Just as Lee wanted to see the true Oriental shown, I'd like to see the true Hapa shown. I won't lose sleep over it but until this happens, I'll have to settle for watching Japanese/Finnish Amy Hill play the Korean neighbor of Day-Day Jones, Mrs. Ho-Kym, in Next Friday.
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