Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he began his career as a civil engineer before pursuing acting. With a career spanning over seven decades, he's appeared in more than 600 film and television roles. Known for his versatility, he has portrayed a wide range of characters in movies such as "Big Trouble in Little China" and "Blade Runner." A prominent figure in Asian-American cinema, he co-founded the East West Players, an Asian American theater group, and continues to be a prolific actor into his 90s.