Hoon Lee Explained

Hoon Lee
Birth Name:Tong Hoon Lee
Birth Date:18 July 1973
Birth Place:Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma Mater:Harvard University
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:2001 - present

Tong Hoon Lee (born July 18, 1973) is an American stage, film and television actor, known for playing Job in the Cinemax original series Banshee and the King in the Broadway revival of The King and I, and voicing Hamato Yoshi/Splinter in the 2012 version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Shredder in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Early life and career

Lee graduated from Harvard University in 1994. He appeared in 2001 in the Broadway production of Urinetown.[1] He played many roles over the years until he was cast as Rosencrantz in a musical version of Hamlet.[2] In 2008, Lee won a Theatre World Award[3] for Distinguished Performance in Yellow Face.[4]

In television, Lee got his first role as Dr. Mao in an episode of Sex and the City in 2003. He also made guest appearances in Law & Order, Fringe, Royal Pains, White Collar, and other series. He also had small roles in movies such as Saving Face, We Own the Night, Premium Rush, and The Oranges.

In March 2012, he was cast in a starring role as Job, a crossdressing ultra-level computer hacker, in the television series Banshee.[5]

On June 18, 2015, it was announced that Lee would succeed Jose Llana in the role of the King of Siam in Lincoln Center's Tony-winning revival of The King and I. Lee formally joined the cast on September 29, 2015, playing the King until April 2016.

Personal life

Lee's parents are Jung Ja Lee and Moon Soo Lee, and his brother is Tony Lee, the renowned club volleyball coach at MIT (winning the 2014 nationals competition). Lee was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts.[6] He married Sekiya Lavone Billman in October 2008. They met in 2001 while performing in a production of Making Tracks at a benefit in Taipei, Taiwan, for Second Generation, an Asian-American theater company in Manhattan.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004Saving FaceRaymond Wong
2007We Own the NightEmergency Services Driver
2011The OrangesHenry
2012ExposedTaki
Premium RushFloor Manager
2016Identity CrisisAssassinShort film
2020MulanVillage Magistrate
2023The Monkey KingJade Emperor, Monk (voice)[7] [8]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003Sex and the CityDr. MaoEpisode: "The Domino Effect"
2006Law & OrderHuot MamEpisode: "Hindsight"
2008FringeRichardEpisode: "Power Hungry"
2009The UnusualsOfficer ChungEpisode: "Crime Slut"
Royal PainsStuEpisode: "The Honeymoon's Over"
White CollarLao ShenEpisode: "All In"
2010Blue BloodsDetective Tuan Episode: "Chinatown"
2012NYC 22Detective Lee Episode: "Crossing the Rubicon"
2012–17Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesHamato Yoshi / Splinter, additional voicesSeries regular, 77 episodes
2013ArcherKorean Agent (voice)Episode: "The Honeymooners"
2013–16BansheeJobMain role, 31 episodes
Banshee OriginsJob3 episodes
2014The BlacklistMako TanidaEpisode: "Mako Tanida"
2015Hawaii Five-0Kee MunEpisode: "E 'Imi pono"
2015–18BoschReggie Woo6 episodes
2017OutcastKenneth ParkSeries regular, 7 episodes[9]
2017–18Iron FistLei Kung2 episodes
2019Norman WongEpisode: "Crab Mentality"
2019–23WarriorWang ChaoMain role[10]
2019–20Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesAncestor, Oroku Saki / Shredder (voice)4 episodes
2021SeeToadMain role (season 2)[11]
2022DMZWilson LinMiniseries[12]
TBAYour Friends and NeighborsUpcoming series[13]

Video games

YearTitleVoice role
2004Gangster
2009The Crowd of Liberty City
2011HomefrontColonel Jeong, Commander Park
2013Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesHamato Yoshi / Splinter
2014
2023Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Urinetown Original Broadway Cast - 2001 Broadway - BroadwayWorld . September 28, 2013 . Broadway World.
  2. News: Whips and Scorns of Time, Stinging All They Touch. NY Times. 28 September 2013. Ben. Brantley. 18 June 2008.
  3. Web site: Lortel Archives--The Internet Off-Broadway Database . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150407030655/http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show . April 7, 2015 . September 28, 2013 . Lortel.
  4. News: Verini . Bob . May 21, 2007 . Yellow Face - Variety . September 28, 2013.
  5. News: Andreeva. Nellie. Ivana Milicevic To Star In 'Banshee', Derek Richardson Joins 'Anger Management'. 28 September 2013. Deadline Hollywood. 14 March 2012.
  6. News: Sekiya Billman and Hoon Lee. New York Times. 28 September 2013. 26 October 2008.
  7. Web site: Milligan . Mercedes . May 20, 2021 . Netflix Slates 3 New Animated Projects from Asian-American Creators . August 21, 2024 . Animation Magazine.
  8. Web site: Hoon Lee (visual voices guide) . August 21, 2024 . Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  9. Web site: Anop . Nirat . August 11, 2016 . Outcast - Season 2 - M.C. Gainey, Madelyn Deutch & Hoon Lee Join Cast . August 21, 2024 . Spoiler TV.
  10. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . October 11, 2017 . Warrior: Cinemax Sets Cast & Director For Bruce Lee-Inspired Martial Arts Series . August 21, 2024 . Deadline . en-US.
  11. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . June 11, 2021 . See Gets Season 3 Renewal By Apple, Unveils Season 2 Premiere Date, Trailer & Cast Additions . August 21, 2024 . Deadline . en-US.
  12. Web site: White . Peter . November 19, 2020 . DMZ: HBO Max Hands Series Order To Ava DuVernay & Roberto Patino’s Futuristic Civil War Drama, Based On DC Comic . August 21, 2024 . Deadline . en-US.
  13. Web site: Cordero . Rosy . April 2, 2024 . Aimee Carrero Joins Jon Hamm In Apple's Your Friends And Neighbors . August 21, 2024 . Deadline . en-US.