Benedict Wong

Benedict Wong (born 3 July 1971) is a British actor who has appeared on stage, film and television. Wong is known for portraying Kublai Khan in Netflix's Marco Polo (2014–2016) and Bruce Ng in The Martian (2015).

Benedict Wong
Wong at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1971-07-03) 3 July 1971
Eccles, Lancashire, England
OccupationActor
Years active1992–present
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese黃凱旋
Simplified Chinese黄凯旋

Wong portrays Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making his first appearance in Doctor Strange (2016) and later in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Early life and education

Wong was born in Eccles, Lancashire, England, to parents who had emigrated from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom via Ireland.[1] He was brought up in Salford.[2] He attended De La Salle Sixth Form College on Weaste Lane, Salford after leaving high school. He took a two-year performing arts course at Salford City College.[3]

Career

His first role was in a 1993 BBC Radio play called Kai Mei Sauce, written by Kevin Wong. He appeared as Errol Spears alongside Sean Lock in the situation comedy 15 Storeys High, and as Franklin Fu in the second series of Look Around You.[4]

In 2007, Wong starred in the feature film Grow Your Own.[5]

Wong went on to appear in the second episode of Series 4 of the Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd, playing the character Prime, a previous Countdown contestant who had won the sixteenth Countdown teapot when he was known as Harold Tong.[6] Wong also appeared in the film Shanghai playing the character Juso Kita and the BBC series Spirit Warriors in the role of Li.[7]

In 2012, Wong appeared in the Ridley Scott film Prometheus as ship's pilot Ravel.[8]

In 2013, Wong was cast in the lead role of #aww: The Arrest of Ai WeiWei at the Hampstead Theatre.[9] Shortly after, the Almeida Theatre announced that Wong had joined the cast of the play Chimerica.[10]

Also in 2013, Wong played the role of gangster Lau in the BBC Two comedy-drama The Wrong Mans.[11]

In 2014, Wong played the role of Kublai Khan in the Netflix series Marco Polo,[11][12] which on 7 January 2015 was renewed by Netflix for a 10-episode second series.

The next year, he appeared in another Ridley Scott science fiction film, playing the director of the Jet Propulsion Lab, Bruce Ng in The Martian.[13] In 2016, he co-starred as Wong in the superhero film Doctor Strange[14] and later reprised the role in the crossover films Avengers: Infinity War[15] and Avengers: Endgame.[16]

In 2016, he appeared in "Hated in the Nation", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror, playing Shaun Li, an agent with the National Crime Agency.

In 2017, he voiced the character of Alex Yu in Arkane Studios's game, Prey. He also starred in "2036: Nexus Dawn", a promotional short film prequel to Blade Runner 2049 directed by Luke Scott and co-starring Jared Leto.

He appeared as the scientist Lomax in the 2018 science fiction horror film Annihilation.[17]

In 2019, he performed the voice of the Skeksis general skekVar in the Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. He also appeared as the voice of Bull in Lady and the Tramp in 2019.

In 2020, he appeared as a Necromancer in Taika Waititi's "What We Do in the Shadows".

Awards

In 2003, Wong was nominated at the British Independent Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Guo Yi in Dirty Pretty Things.[18]

In 2013, Wong was nominated for the West End Frame award for Best Dramatic Performance 2013, for his role as Zhang Lin in Chimerica.[19]

In 2021, Wong was nominated for an Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance as Kyo in Nine Days.[20]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang)Pat Proudence
2001WitFellow 2
Spy GameTran
2002Dirty Pretty ThingsGuo Yi
2003Code 46Medic
2005On a Clear DayChan
A Cock and Bull StoryEd
2007SunshineTrey
Grow Your OwnKung Sang
2008Largo WinchWilliam Kwan
2009MoonThompson
2010ShanghaiJuso Kita
2011The LadyKarma Phuntsho
Johnny English RebornChi Han Ly
2012PrometheusRavel
2013HummingbirdMr Choy
Kick-Ass 2Mr Kim
2015The MartianBruce Ng
2016Doctor StrangeWong
20172036: Nexus Dawnlawmakershort film
2018AnnihilationLomax
Avengers: Infinity WarWong
2019Avengers: Endgame
The Personal History of David CopperfieldMr Wickfield
Gemini ManBaron
Lady and the TrampBullVoice
2020Nine DaysKyo
2021Raya and the Last DragonTongVoice[21]
The Magician’s Elephant The Magician Voice
2022Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessWongFilming

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992ScreenplayLe Van DongEpisode: "Small Metal Jacket"
1993Last of the Summer WineChinese ManEpisode: "Aladdin Gets on Your Wick"
1994The ChiefPengEpisode 4.2
Frank Stubbs PromotesLeeEpisode: "Chinatown"
1995Cardiac ArrestRadiographerEpisode: "Shallow End"
Hearts and MindsChinese InterpreterEpisode 1.3
1996Pie in the SkyMichael CheungEpisode: "Chinese Whispers"
CrackerPeter YangEpisode: "White Ghost"
1997Supply & DemandFrankie LiTV film
The BillLi MannEpisode: "Alternative Therapies"
BreakoutJerryTV film
2000Arabian NightsHassanMiniseries
The BillMichael Wei3 episodes
2002The BillDS David Chiu5 episodes
TLCTerry Cheung6 episodes
Look Around YouChess PlayerEpisode: "The Brain"
2002–200415 Storeys HighErrol Spears12 episodes
2003State of PlayPete Cheng6 episodes
2005Look Around YouDr Franklin FuEpisode: "Health"
2006Eleventh HourDannyEpisode: "Containment"
2007FrankensteinDr. Ed GoreTV film
2008The Peter Serafinowicz ShowVarious characters4 episodes
2009Spirit WarriorsLi7 episodes
2010The IT CrowdHarold "Prime" TongEpisode: "The Final Countdown"
SpooksKaiEpisode 9.4
2010, 2011Law & Order: UKEli Smart2 episodes
2011Covert AffairsShen YueEpisode: "World Leader Pretend"
2011–2013Top BoyVincent6 episodes
2013The Wrong MansMr. Lau4 episodes
Words of EverestTenzing NorgayDocumentary
RunGaoEpisode 1.2
2014PreyDS Ashley Chan3 episodes
2014–2016Marco PoloKublai Khan20 episodes
2016Black MirrorShaun LiEpisode: "Hated in the Nation"
2017Philip K. Dick's Electric DreamsEd AndrewsEpisode: "Impossible Planet"
2019Deadly ClassMaster Lin10 episodes
The Dark Crystal: Age of ResistanceThe General (skekVar)Voice role
2020What We Do in the ShadowsWallace the NecromancerEpisode: "Resurrection"

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2017PreyAlex Yu[22]

Theatre

YearTitleRoleTheatre
1995The LetterOng Chi SengLyric Theatre
1998The Merchant of VeniceSolanioShakespeare's Globe
The Honest WhoreCastruccio
1999Julius CaesarGaius Lucilius
Antony and CleopatraMenas / Scarus
2003In Arabia We'd All Be KingsVic / CopHampstead Theatre
2009The PillowmanArielCurve
2010Hungry GhostsZhi-HuiOrange Tree Theatre
2012HamletLaertesYoung Vic
2013The Arrest of Ai WeiweiAi WeiweiHampstead Theatre
ChimericaZhang LinAlmeida Theatre

References

  1. Mesure, Susie (28 July 2013). "Benedict Wong: 'I'm the go-to guy for victims of torture'". The Independent. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  2. "Premier League Predictions". BBC. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  3. "The Greater Manchester actors who hit the big time on stage and on screen". 25 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  4. O'Neill, Phelim (9 March 2007). "First sight: Benedict Wong". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  5. Kelly, Ann (11 June 2007). "Benedict Wong – Grow Your Own interview". BBC Films. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  6. "Benedict Wong discusses playing Prime". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  7. "Press Office – Spirit Warriors press pack: introduction". BBC. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  8. K., Cameron (20 February 2012). "Actor Benedict Wong talks about Prometheus". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  9. "Casting announced for #aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei". Hampstead Theatre. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  10. "Benedict Wong People". Headlong. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  11. Aroesti, Rachel (13 December 2014). "Benedict Wong: 'Television is reflecting an era that has passed, it's wrong'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  12. Hughes, Sarah (29 November 2014). "The 'Chinese Game of Thrones': Marco Polo sets sail for Netflix". The Independent. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  13. "'The Martian' Slammed Over 'White-Washing' Asian-American Roles". Variety. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  14. Kit, Borys (21 January 2016). "'The Martian' Actor Nabs Key 'Doctor Strange' Role". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  15. "Benedict Wong Confirmed For Avengers Infinity War".
  16. "Avengers 4 Reshoots: Chris Hemsworth Headed to Set, Benedict Wong Already There". Screen Rant.
  17. "Film Review: 'Annihilation'". Variety. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  18. "Benedict Wong". BIFA. Chapter Media. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  19. "Vote: Best Dramatic Performance 2013". West End Frame Awards. West End Frame. 22 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  20. D'Alessandro, Anthony; D'Alessandro, Anthony (26 January 2021). "Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', 'Minari', 'Nomadland' & 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Lead Field". Deadline. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  21. Abell, Bailee (26 January 2021). "How to Watch 'Raya and the Last Dragon,' the New Disney Princess Movie". Inside the Magic. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  22. @wongrel (28 April 2017). "👊🏾💫🕹" (Tweet) via Twitter.
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