John Lone
Encyclopedia
John "Johnny" Lone is a Hong Kong born American
actor of Chinese
and English
descent. Lone has played roles as diverse as a caveman in Iceman
(1984), the last Emperor of China in The Last Emperor
(1987), and an apparently female opera performer in M. Butterfly
(1993).
. He was raised in a Hong Kong
orphanage
. He began training at Hong Kong's Chiu Chiu Academy and at the Peking Opera. It was here, at the age of ten he was given the name Johnny. He later chose the name Lone to reflect the fact that he was an orphan and for its similarity to Leung, his Chinese name.
Sponsored by an American
family, he left the Peking Opera troupe and emigrated to Los Angeles, California
. In the United States he married fellow Santa Ana Community College student Nina Savino in 1972, gaining US citizenship. (The couple finally divorced in 1979.) John also continued his performing arts
studies at American Academy of Dramatic Arts
in Pasadena, California
. Eventually, he would move to New York City
, in order to pursue a career on stage.
recognized his talent and suggested him for a role in David Henry Hwang
’s first play F.O.B.
From his performance in this play, Lone received an Obie Award
. While in New York City he was discovered by the talent agent Jadin Wong
, who helped him to launch his career. Wong subsequently discovered Joan Chen
, Bai Ling
, Lucy Liu
, and Ken Leung
.
His first major role in films was as the title character in Iceman. He is probably best known for his portrayal of the Emperor Puyi
in The Last Emperor
and crime boss Joey Tai in Year of the Dragon
in the late 1980s, as well as an opera performer playing female roles in M. Butterfly
(with Jeremy Irons
). Further international film appearances included the role of corrupt Hong Kong cop Ricky Tan in Rush Hour 2
.
Despite his Hollywood fame, he chose to further his career in the Asian market. He played Emperor Qianlong, another Manchu emperor, in a 30 episode TV drama series Qianlongyuxiangfei 《乾隆與香妃》in 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor of Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
descent. Lone has played roles as diverse as a caveman in Iceman
Iceman (film)
Iceman is a 1984 science fiction film from Universal Studios. The screenplay was written by John Drimmer and Chip Proser, and was directed by Fred Schepisi. The cast included John Lone, Timothy Hutton, Lindsay Crouse and Danny Glover....
(1984), the last Emperor of China in The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor is a 1987 biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures...
(1987), and an apparently female opera performer in M. Butterfly
M. Butterfly (film)
M. Butterfly is a 1993 romantic drama film directed by David Cronenberg. The screenplay was written by David Henry Hwang based on his play of the same name...
(1993).
Personal life
Lone was born as Ng Kwok-leung in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He was raised in a Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
. He began training at Hong Kong's Chiu Chiu Academy and at the Peking Opera. It was here, at the age of ten he was given the name Johnny. He later chose the name Lone to reflect the fact that he was an orphan and for its similarity to Leung, his Chinese name.
Sponsored by an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
family, he left the Peking Opera troupe and emigrated to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. In the United States he married fellow Santa Ana Community College student Nina Savino in 1972, gaining US citizenship. (The couple finally divorced in 1979.) John also continued his performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
studies at American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. Eventually, he would move to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in order to pursue a career on stage.
Career
Lone struggled for a time until the actor MakoMako (actor)
, born , was an Oscar- and Tony-nominated Japanese actor. Many of his acting roles credited him simply as Mako, omitting his surname. -Early life:...
recognized his talent and suggested him for a role in David Henry Hwang
David Henry Hwang
David Henry Hwang is an American playwright who has risen to prominence as the preeminent Asian American dramatist in the U.S.He was born in Los Angeles, California and was educated at the Yale School of Drama and Stanford University...
’s first play F.O.B.
FOB (play)
FOB is a 1980 Obie Award-winning play by American playwright David Henry Hwang. Hwang's first play, it depicts the contrasts and conflicts between established Asian Americans and "fresh off the boat" newcomer immigrants...
From his performance in this play, Lone received an Obie Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
. While in New York City he was discovered by the talent agent Jadin Wong
Jadin Wong
Jadin Wong was a Chinese-American singer, dancer, comedienne, and theatrical agent and manager.- Early life :...
, who helped him to launch his career. Wong subsequently discovered Joan Chen
Joan Chen
Joan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
, Bai Ling
Bai Ling
Bai Ling is a Chinese actress known for her work in films such as The Crow, Red Corner and Wild Wild West, and in TV series such as Entourage and Lost. In 2011 she appeared in the fifth season of the VH1 reality television series Celebrity Rehab with Dr...
, Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu
Lucy Alexis Liu is an American actress and film producer. She became known for playing the role of the vicious and ill-mannered Ling Woo in the television series Ally McBeal , and has also appeared in several Hollywood films including Charlie's Angels, Chicago, Kill Bill, and Kung Fu Panda.-Early...
, and Ken Leung
Ken Leung
Kenneth "Ken" Leung is an American actor best known for his role as Miles Straume in the ABC television series Lost and roles in such films as Shanghai Kiss, Rush Hour, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Saw.-Early life:...
.
His first major role in films was as the title character in Iceman. He is probably best known for his portrayal of the Emperor Puyi
Puyi
Puyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the...
in The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor is a 1987 biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures...
and crime boss Joey Tai in Year of the Dragon
Year of the Dragon (film)
Year of the Dragon is a 1985 film directed by Michael Cimino, starring Mickey Rourke, Ariane Koizumi and John Lone. The screenplay was written by Cimino and Oliver Stone and adapted from the novel by Robert Daley....
in the late 1980s, as well as an opera performer playing female roles in M. Butterfly
M. Butterfly (film)
M. Butterfly is a 1993 romantic drama film directed by David Cronenberg. The screenplay was written by David Henry Hwang based on his play of the same name...
(with Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
). Further international film appearances included the role of corrupt Hong Kong cop Ricky Tan in Rush Hour 2
Rush Hour 2
Rush Hour 2 is a 2001 martial arts action comedy film. This is the second installment in the Rush Hour film series. A sequel to the 1998 film Rush Hour, the film stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker who respectively reprise their roles as Inspector Lee and Los Angeles police detective James Carter...
.
Despite his Hollywood fame, he chose to further his career in the Asian market. He played Emperor Qianlong, another Manchu emperor, in a 30 episode TV drama series Qianlongyuxiangfei 《乾隆與香妃》in 2004.
Filmography
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceman | 1984 | Charlie, the Iceman | |
| Year of the Dragon Year of the Dragon (film) Year of the Dragon is a 1985 film directed by Michael Cimino, starring Mickey Rourke, Ariane Koizumi and John Lone. The screenplay was written by Cimino and Oliver Stone and adapted from the novel by Robert Daley.... |
1985 | Joey Tai | |
| The Last Emperor The Last Emperor The Last Emperor is a 1987 biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures... |
1987 | Emperor Puyi Puyi Puyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the... |
|
| The Moderns The Moderns The Moderns is a 1988 film by Alan Rudolph, which takes place in 1926 Paris during the period of the Lost Generation and at the height of modernist literature... |
1988 | Bertram Stone | |
| Echoes of Paradise | 1989 | Raka | |
| Shadow of China | 1990 | Henry Wong | |
| Shanghai 1920 | 1991 | Billy Fong | |
| M. Butterfly M. Butterfly (film) M. Butterfly is a 1993 romantic drama film directed by David Cronenberg. The screenplay was written by David Henry Hwang based on his play of the same name... |
1993 | Song Liling | |
| The Shadow The Shadow (1994 film) The Shadow is a 1994 American superhero film, directed by Russell Mulcahy, and based on the character of the same name created by Walter B. Gibson in 1931. Alec Baldwin starred in the title role... |
1994 | Shiwan Khan | |
| The Hunted The Hunted (1995 film) The Hunted is a 1995 film written and directed by J. F. Lawton, starring Christopher Lambert, John Lone, and Joan Chen. The score features music by the Japanese taiko troupe Kodō.-Plot:... |
1995 | Kinjo | |
| Rush Hour 2 Rush Hour 2 Rush Hour 2 is a 2001 martial arts action comedy film. This is the second installment in the Rush Hour film series. A sequel to the 1998 film Rush Hour, the film stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker who respectively reprise their roles as Inspector Lee and Los Angeles police detective James Carter... |
2001 | Ricky Tan | |
| Qianlongyuxiangfei | 2004 | Emperor Qianlong | |
| War | 2007 | Li Chang |
Award nominations
- Golden Globe Awards
- 1986 Best Supporting Actor - Motion PictureGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion PictureThe Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 1944 for a performance in a motion picture released in the previous year....
/ Year of the DragonYear of the Dragon (film)Year of the Dragon is a 1985 film directed by Michael Cimino, starring Mickey Rourke, Ariane Koizumi and John Lone. The screenplay was written by Cimino and Oliver Stone and adapted from the novel by Robert Daley.... - 1988 Best Actor - Motion Picture DramaGolden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture DramaThe Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture - Drama was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as a separate category in 1951...
/ The Last EmperorThe Last EmperorThe Last Emperor is a 1987 biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures...
- 1986 Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
- Independent Spirit AwardsIndependent Spirit AwardsThe Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit...
- 1989 Best Supporting Male / The ModernsThe ModernsThe Moderns is a 1988 film by Alan Rudolph, which takes place in 1926 Paris during the period of the Lost Generation and at the height of modernist literature...
- 1989 Best Supporting Male / The Moderns