Ric Young


Ric Young is a British character actor. He was born in Kuala Lumpur in 1944 as Wing-Wah Yung. He trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and then moved to Los Angeles to study method acting under Shelley Winters and Lee Strasberg. He is best known for his role as Dr. Zhang Lee in the TV series Alias and as the henchman Kao Kan in the Steven Spielberg film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Career

Actor

At 12 years old, Young took part in radio sketches in Kuala Lumpur. When he moved to the UK in 1958, he was introduced to US theater and film producer Mike Todd, landing him a small part in the film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. He moved to Italy for five months, where he played roles in movies and television. On his return to the UK, he performed under the name Eric Young, appearing on TV shows in the 1960s and 1970s such as The Saint, The Avengers, Blake's 7, The Tomorrow People, Somerset Maugham Hour, The Champions, Danger Man, The Chinese Puzzle, Are You Being Served? and Room Service.
Some of his best-known roles include: Kao Kan in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Bruce Lee's father in , Mao Tse-tung in Nixon, General Chang Jing Wu in Seven Years in Tibet, Mr. Kwai in The Transporter and Henry Lee in The Corruptor. He is one of the few individuals who performed in both the original versions of the TV series The Saint, Hawaii Five-O and their reboots in Return of the Saint and Hawaii Five-O.

Producer

Young has produced two projects, Paranormal Whactivity and the short Oy Vey!.

Personal life

Young currently teaches acting alongside his other projects.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleEpisode
1959The Voodoo FactorThe MalayanThe Malayan
1960Somerset Maugham HourKongFlotsam and Jetsam
1960The Odd ManChinese waiterEpisode 3
1960Danger ManMingThe Journey Ends Halfway
1960Danger ManPolice LieutenantThe Honeymooners
1961Danger ManMr. ToyThe Actor
1961The AvengersSuchongKill the King
1961Ghost SquadRobert E LeeHong Kong Story
1962The River Flows EastChinaman2 episodes
1962Man of the WorldChouThe Frontier
1963Zero OneJerryDeadly Angels
1963Ghost SquadBarmanEast of Mandalay
1963EspionageCaptain LiThe Dragon Slayer
1964The SaintLo YungJeannine
1966Out of the UnknownMunderThe Eye
1968The ChampionsHo LingThe Beginning
1968The ChampionsBurmese Police CaptainThe Gun-Runners
1969Strange ReportSung-LeeReport 2641: Hostage – If You Won't Learn, Die!
1969Doctor in the HouseChinese studentGetting the Bird
1969W. Somerset MaughamOng Chi SengThe Letter
1970W. Somerset MaughamOakleyThe Door of Opportunity
1970The TroubleshootersNivilakWho Did You Say Inherits the Earth?
1972Jason KingAirport BarmanEvery Picture Tells a Story
1972Doctor in ChargeFirst InterpreterYellow Fever
1972The Onedin LineJohnny Heave-HoFetch and Carry
1972The Onedin LineLiu ChanRace for Power
1974Bless This HouseSi AnnThe Bells Are Ringing
1974The Tomorrow PeopleLee WanThe Doomsday Men
1974ITV PlayhouseMr. YamadaLove Affair
1974Microbes and MenShigaThe Search for the Magic Bullet
1974The Chinese PuzzleChina6 episodes
1975Are You Being Served?Mr. KatoThe Hands of Fate
1976The XYY ManLi TshienThe Resolution & The Execution
1976Hawaii Five-OChinese travel agentNine Dragons
1977Crown CourtSherpa Solo KhombuAn Upward Fall
1978GangstersDouble PetalDouble Peril & Enter the White Devil
1978The Doombolt ChaseStatesmanDeath Beacon
1978Return of the SaintSurinitAssault Force
1978The Upchat ConnectionTouristMystery Tour
1979Room ServiceTin Tin6 episodes
1980Blake's 7GinkaChildren of Auron
1980SpearheadSergeant WengThe Macau Connection
1981TenkoFather Lim2 episodes
1983SergeantPrelude to War
1984The BriefMr. SunNo Questions
1988Noble HouseTsu-Yan4 episodes
1989BookerJapanese BossHigh Rise
1995Signs and WondersFather Mercy4 episodes
1997–1998NightManMr. Chang3 episodes
2001–2004AliasDr. Zhang LeeRecurring role
2005Commander in ChiefReporter No. 4Pilot
2010Hawaii Five-0General PakPo'ipu