B.D Wong Biography

Birth Name : Bradley Darryl Wong

Date of Birth : 24 October 1960, San Francisco, California, USA

Height : 5' 5" (1.65 m)

Profession: Actor

Born on October 24, 1960, Wong studied at Lincoln High School before enrolling at San Francisco State University. He made his movie debut in 1983 in No Big Deal, which was followed by minor roles in The Karate Kid, Part II, Double Switch and Crash Course. Gradually, he started to play more meatier roles and was cast Howard Weinstein in Father of the Bride and as Henry Wu on Jurassic Park.

Proving equally adept onscreen, Wong's memorable early roles in The Freshman (1990) and Father of the Bride (1991) found him simultaneously attempting to break out of the Asian-American cinema stereotype while seeking out roles that would expand his dramatic capabilities. A native of San Francisco whose musical experimentation during his childhood eventually lead to the discovery of acting, Wong's parents were consistently supportive in nurturing his creative energy. Wong worked his way into Bay Area community theater while still a student at Lincoln High School, and his association with the San Francisco Unified School District proved an essential component in developing his skills as an actor. Following his subsequent graduation from San Francisco State University Wong moved to New York City, where he performed in dinner theater and off-Broadway productions. After making his professional bow in a New York Town Hall production of Androcles and the Lion, Wong began to essay small television roles on such series as Simon & Simon and Sesame Street about the time of his feature debut in The Karate Kid II (1986). Soon thereafter, Wong received coaching from Donald Hotton to prepare for his role in M. Butterfly, and following much critical acclaim, Wong slowly gained onscreen momentum with roles in Jurassic Park (1993) and the HBO AIDS-drama And the Band Played On (both 1993). In his constant search to portray original and diverse characters, Wong had a recurring role as Father Ray Makuda on the HBO series Oz. Subsequent performances included roles in Seven Years in Tibet (1997), voice work in the animated Disney film Mulan (1998), and the crime thriller The Salton Sea (2002). Television viewers became acquainted with Wong through his role on Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi.

Awards :

1988 Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Male – M. Butterfly

1988 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play – M. Butterfly

1988 Theatre World Award – M. Butterfly

1988 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play – M. Butterfly

2003 GLAAD Davidson/Valentini Award