By choosing to be “messengers of a great writer’s work,” Asian-American actors make political statements by breaking traditional stereotypes, said Asian-American actor B.D. Wong on Tuesday evening at Harris Hall.
Sponsored by the Chinese Students Association, Wong’s speech to more than 50 students and Evanston residents chronicled his career experiences as well as the difficulties he encountered as a minority in entertainment.
“When you grow up in a place that claims to be diverse and you don’t see it on TV, that sends mixed signals,” Wong said.
Dressed casually in jeans and a red sweater, Wong recounted the teachings of his former acting coach, who said that actors are messengers for writers, and that filling a stereotypical role takes away the integrity of the craft.
As a third-generation Asian American, Wong grew up in San Francisco. He said that as a child he was very reluctant to accept his heritage because of the adversity he encountered while pursuing his lifelong goal of acting.
During high school, Wong said he auditioned for a summer play with the hope of receiving a leading role. Instead, he received a small part that ridiculed Asians.
“I was trying to be American,” he said. “It didn’t occur to me that I still had this face. I had a huge chip on my shoulder. I tried to hide from ever having such a comparison made again.”
Outside the theater, Wong encountered a major roadblock in winning his parents’ support.
“They wanted me to be a doctor or lawyer,” he said. “At first, they wouldn’t even come to my performances.”
After working in New York, he later moved to Los Angeles where he again found stereotypical roles waiting for him.
“I’m in L.A. making a living, but artistically and emotionally, it was a black hole,” Wong said.
He said a major turning point in his life was receiving a part in M. Butterfly, a Broadway play written by an Asian-American author.
“It made my head spin as I read (the script),” Wong said. “It was as if I had grown the messenger’s wings.”
By using his talents in a non-stereotypical role, Wong said he went from denying his background to appreciating his culture. For his role in M. Butterfly, he became the first Asian-American actor to win a Tony Award.
Wong currently appears on the HBO series “Oz” and on NBC’s “Law and Order: SVU.” His other credits include roles in the movies “Jurassic Park,” “Father of the Bride,” “Seven Years in Tibet” and Disney’s “Mulan.”
Wong said although he prefers stage acting, television reaches a larger crowd even though its content is often biased.
“On TV, it’s all about selling product,” he said. “(Asian Americans) don’t really have our own identities or structures that make us artists. Maybe we’re just not marketable.”
He added that Asian-American representation on TV has improved. Today there is not as much patronizing humor toward Asian Americans, such as the antics of Asian-American restaurant owner Arnold on Happy Days in the 1970s, he said.
“We just want TV to reflect the number of Asians in the population,” Wong said.
He told the audience aspiring Asian-Americans actors must appreciate their heritage and promote their best characteristics.
“You just have to understand that there are many aspects of you,” he said. “It is important to show you are not ashamed of yourself.”
Audience members said they enjoyed his new viewpoint to Asian-American influence in entertainment.
“The role of an Asian-American actor is something bigger,” said Peter Duchan, a Communication sophomore. “As a white person, we don’t think about that.”
