Daniel Dae Kim hits $50,000 crowdfund target for James Hong's Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Lost actor Daniel Dae Kim has raised more than $50,000 (nearly £40,000) towards a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for prolific Asian-American actor James Hong.
Hong, now 91, has appeared in well over 600 credited roles in a career spanning nearly 70 years.
Most famously, he's starred in movies like Chinatown, Big Trouble In Little China, Blade Runner and Airplane!
He's also had prominent voice roles in the likes of the Kung Fu Panda movies (playing Po's father Mr. Ping), as well as Mulan and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
“This man epitomises the term 'working actor', and that's not even taking into account all he's done to help further representation for actors of colour,” said Kim in his appeal.
“Not only was he one of the few who worked steadily when there were even fewer roles than there are now, but he also served the Asian American community by co-creating the legendary East West Players theater company with fellow pioneers like Mako and Nobu McCarthy, just to name a few.
“Let's show this man the respect and love his career has merited by getting him a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame!”
The fundraiser hit its target in only four days, and Kim will nominate Hong's application for a star in the spring, and provide the money raised for the star's installation and maintenance.
Should his nomination not be accepted for any reason, Kim has said that the money raised will be donated to a charity of Mr. Hong's choosing instead.
“We are happy to consider Mr. Hong if he agrees on the nomination in writing,” Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez told Variety.
