Peter Kwong, a martial artist and actor who was known for movies such asBig Trouble in Little China, andThe Golden Childdied in his sleep overnight Tuesday. He was 73. His agent, Theo Caesar, confirmed the death toEntertainment Weeklyand noted his client was "a great guy." InBig Trouble in Little China, the 1986 action comedy costarringKurt RussellandKim Cattrall, Kwong portrayed Rain, one of the Three Storms (the others are Carter Wong's Thunder and James Pax's Lightning) that Russell faces in his mission in what has become a cult classic. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Also in 1986, Kwong appeared inThe Golden Child, which costarredEddie Murphyas a private detective looking for a special missing child. The actor's professional acting career began in the mid-ʼ70s, with appearances on popular TV series such asWonder Woman,Little House on the Prairie,Dynasty,227, andMiami Vice. In his big year for film roles, Kwong was also cast in 1986'sNever Too Young to Die, which starred a pre-Full HouseJohn Stamosas an action hero and costarredGene Simmonsand Vanity. (Kwong himself appeared onFull Housein 1988.) He costarred alongsideChristian Slaterin the 1989 action dramaGleaming the Cube. Kwong's work in the late ʼ80s and beyond was often on TV. He appeared on series such asThe Wayans Brothers,Malcolm & Eddie,General Hospital,My Wife and Kids,JAG, andDrake & Josh. One of his final appearances was a 2020 episode ofCurb Your Enthusiasm. In addition to acting, Kwong was "a true champion of union rights," his agent noted. The actor served on various boards, including the SAG National Board of Directors for more than 10 years and for four years on the Television Academy Board of Governors, according toDeadline. In 2016, Kwong was one of the dozens of people whosigned a letterprotesting jokes made about Asians during the Oscars broadcast. Paramount Pictures "I was there at the Academy Awards, and I was shocked because [Academy President] Cheryl Boone-Isaacs went up and talked about diversity and then right after that comes the jokes fromChris RockandSacha Baron Cohen," Kwong told Deadline of the offending incidents. "Some people have the attitude, 'Why can't you have a sense of humor?' and 'in humor there are no boundaries.' It's because it gives people permission to not only continue it but to escalate it as well." The Academy of Motion Pictures, the organization behind the annual awards show,later apologizedfor the "tone-deaf approach to its portrayal of Asians." In 2023, Kwong wasgiven the Snow Leopard Awardfor Outstanding Cinematic Achievement at the Asian World Film Festival. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
