# Peter Kwong (actor)
**Peter Kwong** (1952 – May 27, 2025) was an American film, television, and stage actor and martial arts expert best known for playing Rain in [John Carpenter](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-carpenter)'s *Big Trouble in Little China* (1986) and Tommy Tong in [Eddie Murphy](https://www.edgepedia.org/eddie-murphy)'s *The Golden Child* (1986).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0477286) He died peacefully in his sleep at age 73, according to his representative.[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1952; May 27, 2025, in his sleep, at age 73[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0477286) • [2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73) |
| Signature roles | Rain in *Big Trouble in Little China* (1986); Tommy Tong in *The Golden Child* (1986)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0477286) |
| Career start | Mid-1970s guest spots on *Wonder Woman* and *Black Sheep Squadron*[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73) |
| Output | Nearly 90 film and television credits[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73) |
| Advocacy | Among roughly two dozen signatories of a letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decrying jokes made at the expense of Asians at the 2016 Oscars[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73) |
| Other work | Played the King of Korea in the screen adaptation of Pearl Buck's epic *The Living Reed*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0477286) |
## Career
Kwong was a California native whose career began in the mid-1970s with guest spots on hit television shows such as *Wonder Woman* and *Black Sheep Squadron*. These progressed into acting roles on *Bret Maverick*, *Cagney & Lacey*, *The A-Team*, *Miami Vice*, and *227*.[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73)
**1986.** The year brought his two best-remembered film roles. In *Big Trouble in Little China*, Kwong played Rain alongside [Kurt Russell](https://www.edgepedia.org/kurt-russell), Kim Cattrall, and [James Hong](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-hong); per *The Daily Beast*, the John Carpenter film made him a star within that ensemble.[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73) He followed with *The Golden Child* opposite Eddie Murphy and *Never Too Young to Die* with [John Stamos](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-stamos).[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73)
He worked steadily through the 1980s and 1990s. His screen credits include *Steele Justice* (1987), *Angel Town* (1990), *Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up* (1993), and *Row Your Boat* (1998), and he was credited as a producer on the 2009 documentary *China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province*.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/peter_kwong) Later television appearances included *Curb Your Enthusiasm* and the 2016 series *Lethal Weapon*; in total he amassed nearly 90 film and TV credits.[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73) His voice credits include *King of the Hill*, and he appeared on the series *Sullivan & Son* (2012–2014) as a Korean Man.[4](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/60565/) His later film roles include *[Cooties](https://www.edgepedia.org/cooties-film)* (2014), the [Elijah Wood](https://www.edgepedia.org/elijah-wood) horror film, in which he played Mr. Hatachi, and *Clarissa's Gift* (2014), in which he played Mr. Fong.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/peter_kwong)
## Advocacy for Asian representation
Off screen, Kwong was active around Asian representation in Hollywood. In 2016, Kwong joined roughly two dozen other people in signing a letter to the [Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences](https://www.edgepedia.org/academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences) objecting to jokes that mocked Asians during that year's Oscars ceremony. "Some people have the attitude, 'Why can't you have a sense of humor?' and 'in humor there are no boundaries.' It's because it gives people permission to not only continue it but to escalate it as well," Kwong told *Deadline* at the time.[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73)
His longtime friend, the actor and producer Peter R.J. Deyell, remembered him from their shared work at the Television Academy: "He was always a gentleman and willing to help."[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73)
## References
1. [Peter Kwong, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0477286)
2. ['Big Trouble in Little China' Star Dies in His Sleep at 73, The Daily Beast (May 29, 2025)](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/big-trouble-in-little-china-star-dies-in-his-sleep-at-73)
3. [Peter Kwong Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/peter_kwong)
4. [Питер Квон (Peter Kwong): фильмография, Кинопоиск](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/60565/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Ki to La*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license