John Lone
![]() | This article needs to be updated.(June 2020) |
![]() | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2020) |
John Lone | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() John Lone in 1985 | |||
Born | Ng Kwok-leung (吳國良) October 13, 1952 | ||
Occupation | Actor | ||
Years active | 1976–2007 | ||
Chinese name | |||
Traditional Chinese | 尊龍 | ||
Simplified Chinese | 尊龙 | ||
| |||
John Lone (Chinese: 尊龙; pinyin: Zūn Lóng; jyutping: zyun1 lung4; born October 13, 1952) is a Hong Kong-born American actor. He starred as Pu Yi in the Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor (1987), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
A veteran of the East West Players, he appeared in numerous high-profile screen and stage roles throughout the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s, in films like Iceman, Year of the Dragon, M. Butterfly, The Shadow, and Rush Hour 2. He was also nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in The Moderns.
Personal life[]
Lone was born in 1952 as Ng Kwok-leung (Chinese: 吳國良; pinyin: Wú Guóliáng) in British Hong Kong.[1]
He was raised in an orphanage and later adopted by a Shanghainese woman. He began training in Beijing opera at Hong Kong's Chiu Chiu Academy. It was here, at the age of ten, where he was given the name "Johnny". He later chose the name Lone to reflect the fact that he was an orphan and for its similarity to Leung, part of his given name.
Sponsored by an American family, he left the Beijing opera troupe and emigrated to Los Angeles, California. In the United States, he married fellow Santa Ana Community College student Nina Savino in 1972, and gained American citizenship. The couple divorced in 1979.
Lone took night classes to improve his English at Santa Ana College. He later graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California, in 1978.[1]
Career[]
Due to the lack of available roles for Asians at the time, Lone was often left to play minor parts on television.[1] Lone was with the Asian American theatre organization East West Players for ten years[2] before Mako offered him a role as an Asian emigrant trying to assimilate in David Henry Hwang's first play FOB.[1] Lone starred alongside Tzi Ma[3] and his performance garnered him an Obie Award in 1981.[4]
While in New York City he was discovered by the talent agent Jadin Wong, who helped him to launch his career.[citation needed]
One of his earliest roles is as the cook in the film King Kong.
His first major role in films was as the title character in Iceman. He is also known for his portrayal of Puyi in The Last Emperor and crime boss Joey Tai in Year of the Dragon in the mid-1980s,[5] as well as an opera performer playing female roles in M. Butterfly (with Jeremy Irons).
Lone was selected to portray the title character of Puyi in Bernardo Bertolucci's epic historical drama, The Last Emperor (1987), after Tony Leung Ka-fai declined the role due to prior commitments.[6] Both Lone and lead actress Joan Chen were considered relative unknowns internationally up until the release of the film.[7] He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture at the 45th Golden Globe Awards in 1988 for his performance.[5] He and Joan Chen presented the Academy award for best documentary short at the 1988 Academy Awards.[8]
Lone lobbied for the role of Cheng Dieyie in Farewell My Concubine (1993) but did not proceed past contractural negotiations with producer Hsu Feng. Leslie Cheung was later cast for the part.[9]
In the 1995 film The Hunted, he played dangerous assassin Kinjo alongside Christopher Lambert. Further international film appearances included the role of corrupt Hong Kong cop Ricky Tan in Rush Hour 2 (2001) and the antagonist Shiwan Khan in The Shadow (1994).
Lone's focus shifted to the Asian market later in his career.[1] He played the Qianlong Emperor, another Chinese emperor, in the 30-episode television drama series Qianlong and the Fragrant Concubine (乾隆与香妃) in 2004. Lone appeared in the fifth season, in the title role of Kangxi Emperor, in Records of Kangxi's Travel Incognito (1998–2007), a Chinese television series about the Manchu-ruling Qing Empire monarch.
After his appearance in War (2007), Lone has not made an appearance in any projects.
Filmography[]
Film[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | King Kong | Andy the Cook | |
1979 | Americathon | Chinese Man | |
1984 | Iceman | Charlie | |
1985 | Year of the Dragon | Joey Tai | Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1987 | Echoes of Paradise | Raka | |
1987 | The Last Emperor | Emperor Puyi (adult) | Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor |
1988 | The Moderns | Bertram Stone | Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Performance |
1989 | Dead Calm | Balinese dancer | [10] |
1989 | Shadow of China | Henry Wong | |
1991 | Billy Fong | [11][12] | |
1993 | M. Butterfly | Song Liling | |
1994 | The Shadow | Shiwan Khan | |
1995 | The Hunted | Kinjo | |
1997 | Task Force | Thug | Cameo appearance |
2001 | Rush Hour 2 | Ricky Tan | |
2004 | Master Of Everything | [13] | |
2007 | War | Li Chang |
Television[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid | Houseman | Television film |
1979 | Eight Is Enough | Member of the Chinese Trade Mission | [1] |
? | Hill Street Blues | ? | [1] |
2004 | Qianlong and the Fragrant Imperial Concubine | Qianlong Emperor | |
2005 | Paper Moon Affair | Keiko's Husband | Television film |
2007 | Records of Kangxi's Travel Incognito | Kangxi Emperor |
Awards & nominations[]
Year | Award | Category | Film | Role | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Year of the Dragon | Joey Tai | Nominated |
1988 | Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | The Last Emperor | Puyi | Nominated | |
1989 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Male | The Moderns | Bertram Stone | Nominated |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Academy Trailblazers: John Lone". The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. December 9, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ Breslauer, Jan (March 8, 1998). "Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ Yamato, Jen (April 12, 2020). "Tzi Ma is already everyone's go-to Asian dad. Netflix's 'Tigertail' makes him the star". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "1981 – Winners". Obie Award. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Briggs, Tracey Wong (January 7, 1988). "John Lone, earnest 'Emperor'". USA Today. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- ^ "Don't call me sexy, says Lover man". South China Morning Post. April 18, 1993. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Bertolucci's signature films to be shown". South China Morning Post. June 23, 2006. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Academy Awards (1988). Young at Heart Wins Documentary Short: 1988 Oscars (YouTube video).
- ^ "Cheung, the concubine, tiptoes past the censors". South China Morning Post. January 1, 1993. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Wilmington, Michael (April 14, 1989). "Movie Reviews : 'Paradise' Echoes Noyce's Softer, Gentler Touch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Broeske, Pat H. (December 2, 1990). "Shanghai Surprise". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (May 5, 2016). "Gino Grimaldi, Producer on TV's 'Emergency!' and 'Knight Rider,' Dies at 74". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Wu, Flora (July 7, 2004). "Last emperor wants to be first". South China Morning Post. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
External links[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Lone. |
- 1952 births
- 20th-century Hong Kong male actors
- 21st-century Hong Kong male actors
- American male actors of Hong Kong descent
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- Hong Kong emigrants to the United States
- Hong Kong male film actors
- Hong Kong male television actors
- Living people