Tzi Ma
Encyclopedia
Tzi Ma is a Chinese American
actor who has made numerous appearances in American films and TV series.
. His film career includes major roles in the films The Quiet American
and the remake of The Ladykillers
as well as appearances in Asian American
independent film
s The Sensei
, Red Doors
, Catfish in Black Bean Sauce
and Baby
. He is recognized for his role as Consul Han in Rush Hour and in the third installment, Rush Hour 3
, as Ambassador Han.
Tzi speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
He is also known for his role as Cheng Zhi
, the head of security for the Chinese Consulate (Los Angeles), on the TV series 24
. He appeared in two episodes of season 4
and made an uncredited surprise return at the end of the final episode of season 5
. He reprised his role again in the season premiere and the last eight episodes of season 6
. He also voiced Bàba Ling, Francine's adoptive father, in the animated TV series American Dad!
.
He has appeared in Akeelah and the Bee
and thriller Dante's Peak
. He also had a role in the first season of Martial Law
as Lee "Nemesis" Hei, first major antagonist
and Sammo Law's arch-nemesis.
Ma's other TV credits include guest appearances on Walker, Texas Ranger
, Law & Order
, ER
, Boomtown, Commander in Chief
, Chicago Hope
, The Unit
, Star Trek: The Next Generation
, L.A. Law
, NYPD Blue
, Millennium
, Fringe
, NCIS: Los Angeles, Lie to Me
and The Cosby Show
. Ma has received awards for his acting roles including the Cine Golden Eagle Award for being the Best Actor in "The Dance and The Railroad" and Garland Award for his acting in the "Flower Drum Song".
Ma is among the actors, producers, and directors interviewed in the documentary The Slanted Screen
(2006), directed by Jeff Adachi
, about the representation of Asian and Asian American
men in Hollywood.
Ma is married to actress Christina Ma.
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
actor who has made numerous appearances in American films and TV series.
Life and career
Ma was born 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...
. His film career includes major roles in the films The Quiet American
The Quiet American (2002 film)
The Quiet American is a 2002 film adaptation of Graham Greene's bestselling novel of the same name. It was directed by Phillip Noyce and starred Michael Caine, George Henry Hsu, Brendan Fraser, and Do Thi Hai Yen....
and the remake of The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers (2004 film)
The Ladykillers is a 2004 dark comedy film directed, written and produced by the Coen brothers and stars Tom Hanks, with a supporting cast that includes J. K. Simmons, Marlon Wayans, Tzi Ma, Ryan Hurst and Irma P. Hall...
as well as appearances in Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
s The Sensei
The Sensei
The Sensei is an independent feature film, written, produced and directed by Diana Lee Inosanto .-Synopsis:...
, Red Doors
Red Doors
Red Doors is a 2005 American film directed by Georgia Lee. The independent film features a Chinese American family.-Plot:Red Doors tells the story of the Wongs, a bizarrely dysfunctional Chinese-American family living in the New York suburbs. Ed Wong has just retired and plots to escape his...
, Catfish in Black Bean Sauce
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce is a 1999 comedy-drama film about a Vietnamese brother and sister raised by an African American couple. The film stars Chi Muoi Lo, Paul Winfield, Sanaa Lathan, and Mary Alice.-Plot:...
and Baby
Baby (2008 film)
Baby is a 2008 independent film, considered part of the hood film genre. The film tells the story of an Asian-American youth's gang life in East Los Angeles, set during the mid '80s to the early '90s...
. He is recognized for his role as Consul Han in Rush Hour and in the third installment, Rush Hour 3
Rush Hour 3
Rush Hour 3 is a 2007 martial arts/action-comedy film, and the third installment in the Rush Hour film series, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, that began with the 1998 film Rush Hour and continued with the first sequel Rush Hour 2 in 2001. The film was officially announced on May 7, 2006,...
, as Ambassador Han.
Tzi speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
He is also known for his role as Cheng Zhi
Cheng Zhi
Cheng Zhi is a fictional character played by Tzi Ma on the television series 24. He is a Chinese official and an enemy of Jack Bauer. At the end of Day 6, Bauer badly scars Cheng during an assault and captures him.-24: Season 4:...
, the head of security for the Chinese Consulate (Los Angeles), on the TV series 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
. He appeared in two episodes of season 4
24 (season 4)
Season Four, also known as Day 4 of the television series 24 premiered on January 9, 2005 and aired its season finale on May 23, 2005.The Season Four storyline starts and ends at 7:00 am....
and made an uncredited surprise return at the end of the final episode of season 5
24 (season 5)
Season Five, also known as Day 5 of the television series 24 premiered on January 15, 2006 and aired its season finale on May 22, 2006.The Season Five storyline starts and ends at 7:00 a.m. It is the same time frame as the previous season....
. He reprised his role again in the season premiere and the last eight episodes of season 6
24 (season 6)
Season Six, also known as Day 6, of the television series 24 premiered in the United States on Sunday, January 14, 2007, the UK on January 21, 2007 and in Australia on January 30, 2007.The season's storyline began and ended at 6:00 a.m...
. He also voiced Bàba Ling, Francine's adoptive father, in the animated TV series American Dad!
American Dad!
American Dad! is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane and owned by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions. It is produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television...
.
He has appeared in Akeelah and the Bee
Akeelah and the Bee
Akeelah and the Bee is a 2006 American drama film written and directed by Doug Atchison. It tells the story of Akeelah Anderson, portrayed by Keke Palmer, an 11-year-old girl who participates in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, her mother, portrayed by Angela Bassett, schoolmates, and also her...
and thriller Dante's Peak
Dante's Peak
Dante's Peak is a 1997 disaster film directed by Roger Donaldson, written by Leslie Bohem, and starring Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton and Charles Hallahan. The film portrays the effect of a volcano erupting near a small town in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The film is loosely...
. He also had a role in the first season of Martial Law
Martial Law (TV series)
Martial Law was a TV crime drama that ran on CBS from 1998 to 2000, and was created by Carlton Cuse. The title character, Sammo Law, portrayed by Sammo Hung, was a Chinese law officer and martial arts expert who came to Los Angeles in search of a colleague and remains in the US.The show was a...
as Lee "Nemesis" Hei, first major antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
and Sammo Law's arch-nemesis.
Ma's other TV credits include guest appearances on Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger is an American television action crime drama series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis, and starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texas Ranger Division. The show aired on CBS in the spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of three pilot episodes. Eight full...
, Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, Boomtown, Commander in Chief
Commander in Chief (TV series)
Commander in Chief is an American drama television series that focused on the fictional administration and family of Mackenzie Allen , the first female President of the United States, who ascends to the role from the Vice Presidency after the death of the sitting President from a sudden cerebral...
, Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope is an American medical drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994, to May 5, 2000. It takes place in a fictional private charity hospital.-Premise:The show stars Mandy Patinkin as Dr...
, The Unit
The Unit
The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force...
, Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
, L.A. Law
L.A. Law
L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...
, NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
, Millennium
Millennium (TV series)
Millennium is an American television series created by Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files. Millennium aired on the Fox Network from 1996 to 1999. The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, though most episodes were ostensibly set in or around Seattle, Washington...
, Fringe
Fringe (TV series)
Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
, NCIS: Los Angeles, Lie to Me
Lie to Me
Lie to Me is a 2009-2011 American television series.Lie to Me may also refer to:* Lie to Me , a South Korean drama series* "Lie to Me" , an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
and The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
. Ma has received awards for his acting roles including the Cine Golden Eagle Award for being the Best Actor in "The Dance and The Railroad" and Garland Award for his acting in the "Flower Drum Song".
Ma is among the actors, producers, and directors interviewed in the documentary The Slanted Screen
The Slanted Screen
The Slanted Screen is a 2006 documentary film written, produced, and directed by Jeff Adachi about the stereotypical depictions and absence of Asian males in American cinema and other media from the silent era to the present day.-Interviewees:* Eric Byler* Gene Cajayon* Terence Chang* Frank Chin*...
(2006), directed by Jeff Adachi
Jeff Adachi
Jeff Adachi is the elected Public Defender of San Francisco, pension reform advocate, and a former candidate for Mayor of San Francisco.-Early life and education:...
, about the representation of Asian and Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
men in Hollywood.
Ma is married to actress Christina Ma.
External links
- Tzi Ma - Official Web Site