John Lone: Movies, Awards & Box Office

John Lone (Chinese: 尊龍; Jyutping: zyun1 lung4; pinyin: Zūn Lóng; born October 13, 1952) is a Chinese-American retired actor, best known for starring as Puyi in the Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor (1987). For his captivating portrayal, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. Lone showcased his acting prowess by appearing in numerous high-profile screen and stage roles throughout the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s with iconic films like Iceman, Year of the Dragon, M. Butterfly, The Shadow, and Rush Hour 2. For his remarkable performance in The Moderns, he was further nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. Born as Ng Kwok-leung in British Hong Kong, Lone spent his formative years in an orphanage. He acquired vocal abilities, graceful dance steps, and mastered classical Chinese theater techniques at Hong Kong's Chin Chiu Academy. Lone chose his surname as 'Lone', an echo of his orphanage experiences and a nod to his given name. He got an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and polish his English while studying at Santa Ana College. After his graduation from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California, he started navigating the entertainment world. Despite the limited roles in Hollywood for people of East Asian descent during that time, Lone was determined to leave an indelible mark on the industry. He was a part of the East West Players, an Asian-American theatre organization, for 10 years, where he played significant roles that earned him accolades like the Obie Award in 1981. His roles varied from a cook in King Kong to the gang leader Joey Tai in Year of the Dragon, for which he secured a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. After a fruitful career in Hollywood, Lone shifted his focus to the Chinese market, playing prominent roles in television drama series. His last film role was in 2007's War, co-starring Jet Li and Jason Statham.