Don Duong
Encyclopedia
Đơn Dương is a film actor originally from Vietnam
, who now lives and works in the United States
.
. He began acting in 1982 and has appeared in over 50 feature films. He won the Best Vietnamese Actor award for his role in the 1992 Vietnamese film Dấu Ấn của Quỷ ("Devil's Mark"). The 1996 film Cỏ Lau, in which he also acted, won Best Picture at the Vietnamese National Film Festival.
His first appearance in a U.S.
film was in 1999, with the release of Three Seasons
, an award-winning film directed by his nephew Tony Bui
and shot in Vietnam.
In 2001, Duong traveled to the U.S. to film two films. In Green Dragon
(2001), a film directed by Tony Bui
's brother Timothy Linh Bui
and starring Patrick Swayze
and Forest Whitaker
, Duong played a Vietnamese refugee who assisted Swayze
's character. In We Were Soldiers
(2002), Duong played Nguyễn Hữu An, a PAVN
lieutenant colonel
who led Vietnamese forces against the soldiers led by Mel Gibson
's character.
Upon his return to Vietnam
in 2002, Duong was subjected to severe criticism by some Vietnamese citizens and government officials for his involvement in these two projects, particularly for his portrayal as Colonel An in We Were Soldiers where he orders his Viet Minh
troops to kill captured and wounded French soldiers, and another scene later in the movie where he orders a fellow North Vietnamese soldier to shoot a captured American soldier in the back. Within a few months, the Vietnamese Actors' Association expelled him, he was banned from working in Vietnam
, and his passport was confiscated. Duong wrote a letter to his sons, reflecting upon his ordeal and stating that they "can know the truth, to affirm that I am always and forever not a traitor." The letter was released to the public and published in the Los Angeles Times
.
As the filmmaking community in the U.S.
and elsewhere spoke out against the government's negative treatment of Duong, the government of Vietnam relented and allowed him and his family to emigrate to the United States
.
He has also acted in the South Korean film Farewell the River. As of 2006, Don Duong lives in the San Francisco Bay Area
.
... aka Mê Thao - Il fut un temps (France)
... aka Mê Thao: There Was a Time When (International: English title)
... aka Wir waren Helden (Germany)
... aka Immeuble, L' (France)
... aka The Building (Europe: English title)
... aka Ba mua (Vietnam)
... aka Sandy Lives (International: English title)
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, who now lives and works in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Life & career
Don Duong was born in Da Lat, South VietnamSouth Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
. He began acting in 1982 and has appeared in over 50 feature films. He won the Best Vietnamese Actor award for his role in the 1992 Vietnamese film Dấu Ấn của Quỷ ("Devil's Mark"). The 1996 film Cỏ Lau, in which he also acted, won Best Picture at the Vietnamese National Film Festival.
His first appearance in a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film was in 1999, with the release of Three Seasons
Three Seasons
Three Seasons is an American Vietnamese language movie filmed in Vietnam about the past, present, and future of Ho Chi Minh City in the early days of New Vietnam. It is a poetic film that tries to paint a picture of the urban culture undergoing westernization. The movie takes place in Ho Chi...
, an award-winning film directed by his nephew Tony Bui
Tony Bui
Tony Bui is a Vietnamese independent film director in the U.S., most famous for his 1999 film Three Seasons, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and became the only film ever to win both the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize there...
and shot in Vietnam.
In 2001, Duong traveled to the U.S. to film two films. In Green Dragon
Green Dragon (film)
Green Dragon is a 2001 American film directed by Timothy Linh Bui and starring Patrick Swayze, Forest Whitaker and Duong Don.-Plot:The film follows the experience of Vietnamese refugees in the United States immediately following the Fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. Tai Tran has been...
(2001), a film directed by Tony Bui
Tony Bui
Tony Bui is a Vietnamese independent film director in the U.S., most famous for his 1999 film Three Seasons, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and became the only film ever to win both the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize there...
's brother Timothy Linh Bui
Timothy Linh Bui
Timothy Linh Bui is a Vietnamese-born American filmmaker, film producer, and screenwriter. He directed Green Dragon, and co-wrote and produced Three Seasons.-Early life:...
and starring Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
and Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and for his recurring role as ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the gritty, award-winning television...
, Duong played a Vietnamese refugee who assisted Swayze
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
's character. In We Were Soldiers
We Were Soldiers
We Were Soldiers is a 2002 American war film that dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965. The film was directed by Randall Wallace and stars Mel Gibson. It is based on the book We Were Soldiers Once… And Young by Lieutenant General Hal Moore and reporter Joseph L...
(2002), Duong played Nguyễn Hữu An, a PAVN
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
who led Vietnamese forces against the soldiers led by Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
's character.
Upon his return to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in 2002, Duong was subjected to severe criticism by some Vietnamese citizens and government officials for his involvement in these two projects, particularly for his portrayal as Colonel An in We Were Soldiers where he orders his Viet Minh
Viet Minh
Việt Minh was a national independence coalition formed at Pac Bo on May 19, 1941. The Việt Minh initially formed to seek independence for Vietnam from the French Empire. When the Japanese occupation began, the Việt Minh opposed Japan with support from the United States and the Republic of China...
troops to kill captured and wounded French soldiers, and another scene later in the movie where he orders a fellow North Vietnamese soldier to shoot a captured American soldier in the back. Within a few months, the Vietnamese Actors' Association expelled him, he was banned from working in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and his passport was confiscated. Duong wrote a letter to his sons, reflecting upon his ordeal and stating that they "can know the truth, to affirm that I am always and forever not a traitor." The letter was released to the public and published in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
.
As the filmmaking community in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and elsewhere spoke out against the government's negative treatment of Duong, the government of Vietnam relented and allowed him and his family to emigrate to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He has also acted in the South Korean film Farewell the River. As of 2006, Don Duong lives in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
.
Filmography
- The Anniversary (2003) .... Father
- Mê thao - Thoi vang bong (2002) .... Tam
... aka Mê Thao - Il fut un temps (France)
... aka Mê Thao: There Was a Time When (International: English title)
- We Were SoldiersWe Were SoldiersWe Were Soldiers is a 2002 American war film that dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965. The film was directed by Randall Wallace and stars Mel Gibson. It is based on the book We Were Soldiers Once… And Young by Lieutenant General Hal Moore and reporter Joseph L...
(2002) .... Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An
... aka Wir waren Helden (Germany)
- Green Dragon (2001) .... Tai Tran
- Chung cu (1999)
... aka Immeuble, L' (France)
... aka The Building (Europe: English title)
- Three Seasons (1999) .... Hai, Cyclo Driver
... aka Ba mua (Vietnam)
- Doi cat (1999)
... aka Sandy Lives (International: English title)
- Yellow Lotus (1995; short film) .... Tran
- Canh bac (1991)