JAMES HONG I've Got MORE TO DO

The 93-year-old trailblazer talks to Closer about the long road he has traveled

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If you've watched movies or television anytime since the mid1950s, you have probably seen some of James Hong's work. One of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, James, 93, has amassed a whopping 672 credits, including 469 TV appearances and 149 roles in feature films. He's lent his talent to iconic films like Blade Runner and Chinatown and enjoyed roles in a vast variety of television series, from adventures like Bonanza and The Fugitive to comedies including I Dream of Jeannie and The Big Bang Theory. James even voiced a role in the recent animated Disney feature Turning Red. "I could easily retire," he tells Closer. "But I want to do more films."

This summer, James received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame - and it's about time! "It took 70 years, so it's a great prize to me," he says. "The Chamber of Commerce of Hollywood did me a great honor."

What was your childhood like?

I was born in Minnesota. I think I was about 4 or 5 when my father said, "You kids are becoming too Americanized." Even in the old days, can you imagine? He said, "Pack up and we'll go to Hong Kong and live there." So that's what we did. I stayed there about five years, through their grade school. And then the Japanese war was coming so we had to flee. At the age of about 9, I returned to America and went to back to Minnesota where I was born.

That must have been a culture shock!

I couldn't speak any English. As a child, I was speaking Chinese in Kowloon, Hong Kong. So I started life all over again at 9.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Actually, I wanted to be an engineer who would build beautiful buildings and bridges. I graduated from college as a civil engineer. Also, I dreamt that I could be a famous actor.