Actor Peter Kwong Passes Away Aged 73
Peter Kwong, a veteran actor, martial artist, and dancer, has died in his sleep at the age of 73. According to his IMDb page, Kwong appeared in nearly 90 film and television roles throughout his career. As reported by Forbes, Kwong’s death was confirmed on Tuesday.
Kwong was born on April 9, 1952, and began his acting career in 1976 with a guest appearance on the anthology drama series Visions. He went on to land roles in various TV shows, including Black Sheep Squadron, Wonder Woman, The Man From Atlantis, Sword of Justice, Bret Maverick, and Cagney & Lacey. His first film role was in the 1977 drama Panic in Echo Park. Forbes reported that Kwong was active in the 1980s, appearing in TV shows such as Little House on the Prairie, 227, Amazing Stories, MacGyver, St. Elsewhere, Dynasty, The A-Team, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and Full House.
One of Kwong’s most notable roles was as Tommy Tong in the 1986 comedy-adventure film The Golden Child, starring Eddie Murphy. The same year, he appeared as Rain, an elemental master and expert martial artist, in the John Carpenter-directed fantasy action-comedy film Big Trouble in Little China. These roles cemented Kwong’s status as a talented and versatile actor, as noted by Forbes.
Throughout his career, Kwong continued to appear in a range of TV shows and films, including Renegade, Malcolm & Eddie, The District, My Wife and Kids, JAG, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. His film roles included The Presidio (1988), Gleaming the Cube (1989), I’ll Do Anything (1994), Paper Dragons (1996), and Cooties (2014). Forbes highlighted Kwong’s impressive martial arts skills, which included expertise in Northern Shaolin kung fu, Chinese kata, and various weapons.
In addition to his acting career, Kwong was also a professional dancer and served on various industry boards, including the SAG National Board of Directors and the AFTRA National Board of Directors. He was also a member of the Television Academy Board of Governors and the Actors Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. According to Forbes, Kwong’s final credited role was as the voice of Mike in the 2023-24 comedy vignette web-series Pepito’s Mamadas.
The entertainment industry has paid tribute to Kwong’s life and career, highlighting his contributions as an actor, martial artist, and advocate for greater representation and diversity in Hollywood. As Forbes noted, Kwong’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of actors and entertainers.
