Dustin Nguyen: Difference between revisions
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{{about|the actor|the comic book artist|Dustin Nguyen (comics)|the alias of the French musician|Xavier de Rosnay}} | {{about|the actor|the comic book artist|Dustin Nguyen (comics)|the alias of the French musician|Xavier de Rosnay}} | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}} | {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}} | ||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Dustin Nguyen | | name = Dustin Nguyen | ||
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| caption = Nguyen in 2007 | | caption = Nguyen in 2007 | ||
| birth_name = Nguyễn Xuân Trí | | birth_name = Nguyễn Xuân Trí | ||
| birth_date = September 17 1962 ({{age|1962|10|17}}) | | birth_date = September 17, 1962 (age {{age|1962|10|17}}) | ||
| birth_place = [[Ho Chi Minh City|Saigon]], [[South Vietnam]] | | birth_place = [[Ho Chi Minh City|Saigon]], [[South Vietnam]] | ||
| nationality = | | nationality = Vietnamese, American | ||
| death_date = | | death_date = | ||
| death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| Line 25: | Line 24: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Dustin Nguyen''' (born '''Nguyễn Xuân Trí''' | '''Dustin Nguyen''' (born '''Nguyễn Xuân Trí'''; September 17, 1962) is a Vietnamese-American actor and martial artist. He is best known for his roles as Harry Truman Aioki on ''[[21 Jump Street]]'' and as Johnny Loh on ''[[V.I.P. (American TV series)|V.I.P.]]''<ref name="losangelestimes-1994">{{cite news|title=Taking a Big Leap From 'Jump Street' After finding success in the '80s on the police show, Dustin Nguyen is moving into films and 'seaQuest' while sharpening his martial arts skills. Series: Fast Track: Up and Comers in Arts and Entertainment * One in a Series|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 24, 1994|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-24-ca-61610-story.html|access-date=March 11, 2011|first=Robert|last=Levine|archive-date=September 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917182511/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-24-ca-61610-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He starred as Zing in the [[Cinemax]]/[[Max (streaming service)|Max]] [[Martial arts film|martial arts]] [[crime drama]] series ''[[Warrior (TV series)|Warrior]]''. In film, he is known for starring in ''[[Little Fish (2005 film)|Little Fish]]'', ''[[The Doom Generation]]'' and ''[[The Rebel (2007 film)|The Rebel]]''.<ref name="dustin nguyen 21 jump street star on life in vietnam">{{cite web|work= People|title= dustin nguyen 21 jump street star on life in vietnam|url= https://people.com/tv/dustin-nguyen-21-jump-street-star-on-life-in-vietnam/|access-date= November 27, 2018|archive-date= June 18, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180618025609/https://people.com/tv/dustin-nguyen-21-jump-street-star-on-life-in-vietnam/|url-status= live}}</ref> | ||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Nguyen was born Nguyễn Xuân Trí in [[Ho Chi Minh City|Saigon]], [[South Vietnam]], and was one of two sons in his family.<ref name=":0" /> His mother, My Le, was an actress and dancer, and his father, Xuân Phát, was an actor, comedian, writer, and producer in Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news|last=Knutzen|first=Eirik|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/472841481.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+04%2C+1987&author=Eirik+Knutzen&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=One+Jump+ahead&pqatl=google|title=One Jump ahead|date=July 4, 1987|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=October 20, 2012|archive-date=July 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702000520/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/doc/435598102.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul%2004,%201987&author=Eirik%20Knutzen&pub=Toronto%20Star&edition=&startpage=&desc=One%20Jump%20ahead|url-status=dead}}</ref> The family left Vietnam in April 1975 during the [[fall of Saigon]].<ref name="losangelestimes-1992">{{cite news|last= Chen |first= Vivien Lou|title= Jobless Actor Rejects Asian Stereotypes Series|work= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 1, 1992|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-01-me-1314-story.html|access-date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> | Nguyen was born Nguyễn Xuân Trí in [[Ho Chi Minh City|Saigon]], [[South Vietnam]], and was one of two sons in his family.<ref name=":0" /> His mother, My Le, was an actress and dancer, and his father, Xuân Phát, was an actor, comedian, writer, and producer in Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news|last=Knutzen|first=Eirik|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/472841481.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+04%2C+1987&author=Eirik+Knutzen&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=One+Jump+ahead&pqatl=google|title=One Jump ahead|date=July 4, 1987|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=October 20, 2012|archive-date=July 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702000520/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/doc/435598102.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul%2004,%201987&author=Eirik%20Knutzen&pub=Toronto%20Star&edition=&startpage=&desc=One%20Jump%20ahead|url-status=dead}}</ref> The family left Vietnam in April 1975 during the [[fall of Saigon]].<ref name="losangelestimes-1992">{{cite news|last= Chen|first= Vivien Lou|title= Jobless Actor Rejects Asian Stereotypes Series|work= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date= May 1, 1992|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-01-me-1314-story.html|access-date= March 11, 2011|archive-date= June 3, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160603045530/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-05-01/local/me-1314_1_asian-character|url-status= live}}</ref> | ||
In his teens, his family arrived in [[Guam]] as refugees, and then the family was moved to a refugee camp in [[Fort Chaffee]], [[Arkansas]]. Finally with the assistance of a [[Methodist]] church they relocated to [[Des Peres, Missouri]], a suburb of [[St. Louis]].<ref name="losangelestimes-1992" /><ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Brennan |first=Patricia |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=http://cglass.vinu.edu/21js/21art5.html |title=Dustin Nguyen Out Of Saigon And into TV |date=December 13, 1987 |publisher=cglass.vinu.edu |access-date=October 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110083640/http://cglass.vinu.edu/21js/21art5.html |archive-date=January 10, 2008 }}</ref> The ''21 Jump Street'' season 2 episode "Christmas in Saigon", which first aired in December 1987, is based in his experiences escaping Vietnam and eventually arriving in the United States; Nguyen also served as a [[technical advisor]] in the episode. | In his teens, his family arrived in [[Guam]] as refugees, and then the family was moved to a refugee camp in [[Fort Chaffee]], [[Arkansas]]. Finally with the assistance of a [[Methodist]] church they relocated to [[Des Peres, Missouri]], a suburb of [[St. Louis]].<ref name="losangelestimes-1992" /><ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Brennan |first=Patricia |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=http://cglass.vinu.edu/21js/21art5.html |title=Dustin Nguyen Out Of Saigon And into TV |date=December 13, 1987 |publisher=cglass.vinu.edu |access-date=October 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110083640/http://cglass.vinu.edu/21js/21art5.html |archive-date=January 10, 2008 }}</ref> The ''21 Jump Street'' season 2 episode "Christmas in Saigon", which first aired in December 1987, is based in his experiences escaping Vietnam and eventually arriving in the United States; Nguyen also served as a [[technical advisor]] in the episode. | ||
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==Career== | ==Career== | ||
He made his acting debut on ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'', portraying a Cambodian freedom fighter in the episode "All For One." He was a series regular on both ''[[21 Jump Street]]'' and ''[[V.I.P. (American TV series)|VIP]]'', and has guest-starred on a number of other series, including ''[[General Hospital]]'', ''[[Highlander: The Series|Highlander]]'', and most notably ''[[seaQuest DSV]]'', playing the role of [[List of recurring characters on seaQuest DSV#Chief William Shan|Chief William Shan]]. Moreover, he had a cameo role in ''[[Charlie's Angels]]''. Nguyen also auditioned for the role of Liu Kang in ''Mortal Kombat'', but lost out to [[Robin Shou]].<ref>[https://mochimag.com/news/entertainment/dustin-nguyen-profile Dustin Nguyen: A Man Ahead of His Time], November 22, 2019</ref> In 1993 he played a Vietnamese man sent off to fight with the Viet Cong, in the film ''[[Heaven & Earth (1993 film)|Heaven & Earth]]''. In 2005, Nguyen starred as a former heroin addict opposite Academy Award-winner [[Cate Blanchett]] in the critically acclaimed ''[[Little Fish (2005 film)|Little Fish]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chang|first=Richard|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/vietnamese-international-film-2350080-festival-viff|title=Vietnamese film festival returns to O.C.|date=March 31, 2009|publisher=ocregister.com|access-date=October 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609231043/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/vietnamese-international-film-2350080-festival-viff|archive-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref> He starred in the 2007 films ''[[The Rebel (2007 Vietnamese film)|The Rebel]]'' and ''Saigon Eclipse''. In 2008 he starred in the Vietnamese martial art film ''Huyen Thoai Bat Tu'' (The Legend Is Alive, The Immortal Legend)<ref>{{cite web|first=Todd |last=Brown|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2008/11/dustin-nguyen-returns-in-vietnamese-action-drama-the-legend-is-alive-huyn-t.html|title=Dustin Nguyen Returns in Vietnamese Action Drama THE LEGEND IS ALIVE (HUYỀN THOẠI BẤT TỬ)|date=November 27, 2008|work=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=January 7, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001180127/http://screenanarchy.com/2008/11/dustin-nguyen-returns-in-vietnamese-action-drama-the-legend-is-alive-huyn-t.html|archive-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref> where he plays a mentally disabled martial artist. Nguyen screened in 2009 the thriller ''The Gauntlet'' directed by [[Matt Eskandari]]; he stars with Chinese actress [[Bai Ling]]. He made a small cameo in ''22 Jump Street'' as Vietnamese Jesus.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2014/06/11/21-Jump-Street-veteran-plays-Vietnamese-Jesus-Christ-in-big-screen-sequel/5201402429182/|title='21 Jump Street' veteran plays Vietnamese Jesus Christ in big-screen sequel|work=United Press International|access-date=November 30, 2016}}</ref> | He made his acting debut on ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'', portraying a Cambodian freedom fighter in the episode "All For One." He was a series regular on both ''[[21 Jump Street]]'' and ''[[V.I.P. (American TV series)|VIP]]'', and has guest-starred on a number of other series, including ''[[General Hospital]]'', ''[[Highlander: The Series|Highlander]]'', and most notably ''[[seaQuest DSV]]'', playing the role of [[List of recurring characters on seaQuest DSV#Chief William Shan|Chief William Shan]]. Moreover, he had a cameo role in ''[[Charlie's Angels]]''. Nguyen also auditioned for the role of Liu Kang in ''Mortal Kombat'', but lost out to [[Robin Shou]].<ref>[https://mochimag.com/news/entertainment/dustin-nguyen-profile Dustin Nguyen: A Man Ahead of His Time], November 22, 2019</ref> In 1993 he played a Vietnamese man sent off to fight with the Viet Cong, in the film ''[[Heaven & Earth (1993 film)|Heaven & Earth]]''. In 2005, Nguyen starred as a former heroin addict opposite Academy Award-winner [[Cate Blanchett]] in the critically acclaimed ''[[Little Fish (2005 film)|Little Fish]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chang|first=Richard|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/vietnamese-international-film-2350080-festival-viff|title=Vietnamese film festival returns to O.C.|date=March 31, 2009|publisher=ocregister.com|access-date=October 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609231043/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/vietnamese-international-film-2350080-festival-viff|archive-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref> He starred in the 2007 films ''[[The Rebel (2007 Vietnamese film)|The Rebel]]'' and ''Saigon Eclipse''. In 2008 he starred in the Vietnamese martial art film ''Huyen Thoai Bat Tu'' (The Legend Is Alive, The Immortal Legend)<ref>{{cite web|first=Todd |last=Brown|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2008/11/dustin-nguyen-returns-in-vietnamese-action-drama-the-legend-is-alive-huyn-t.html|title=Dustin Nguyen Returns in Vietnamese Action Drama THE LEGEND IS ALIVE (HUYỀN THOẠI BẤT TỬ)|date=November 27, 2008|work=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=January 7, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001180127/http://screenanarchy.com/2008/11/dustin-nguyen-returns-in-vietnamese-action-drama-the-legend-is-alive-huyn-t.html|archive-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref> where he plays a mentally disabled martial artist. Nguyen screened in 2009 the thriller ''The Gauntlet'' directed by [[Matt Eskandari]]; he stars with Chinese actress [[Bai Ling]]. He made a small cameo in ''22 Jump Street'' as Vietnamese Jesus.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2014/06/11/21-Jump-Street-veteran-plays-Vietnamese-Jesus-Christ-in-big-screen-sequel/5201402429182/|title='21 Jump Street' veteran plays Vietnamese Jesus Christ in big-screen sequel|work=United Press International|access-date=November 30, 2016|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203200252/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2014/06/11/21-Jump-Street-veteran-plays-Vietnamese-Jesus-Christ-in-big-screen-sequel/5201402429182/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
Nguyen continues to act and make films in Vietnam full-time. He made his feature directorial debut in the Vietnamese fantasy film ''[[Once Upon a Time in Vietnam]]'', in which he also starred. He then starred in the Vietnamese film ''Gentle'' that premiered at the 2015 Busan International Film Festival where he received strong reception for his performance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://screenanarchy.com/2015/01/gentle-watch-dustin-nguyen-in-vietnamese-dostoyevsky-adaptation.html|title=GENTLE: Watch Dustin Nguyen In Vietnamese Dostoyevsky Adaptation|last=Brown|first=Todd|date=January 23, 2015|newspaper=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=November 30, 2016}}</ref> | Nguyen continues to act and make films in Vietnam full-time. He made his feature directorial debut in the Vietnamese fantasy film ''[[Once Upon a Time in Vietnam]]'', in which he also starred. He then starred in the Vietnamese film ''Gentle'' that premiered at the 2015 Busan International Film Festival where he received strong reception for his performance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://screenanarchy.com/2015/01/gentle-watch-dustin-nguyen-in-vietnamese-dostoyevsky-adaptation.html|title=GENTLE: Watch Dustin Nguyen In Vietnamese Dostoyevsky Adaptation|last=Brown|first=Todd|date=January 23, 2015|newspaper=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=November 30, 2016|archive-date=November 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130111644/http://screenanarchy.com/2015/01/gentle-watch-dustin-nguyen-in-vietnamese-dostoyevsky-adaptation.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
He was cast in Cinemax's ''[[Warrior (TV series)|Warrior]]'' in a recurring role before he officially joined the main cast in season two of the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/warrior-cast-season-2-cinemax-series-dustin-nguyen-promoted-1202610818/|title='Warrior' Casts Four For Season 2 Of Cinemax Drama Series; Promotes Dustin Nguyen To Regular|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=May 9, 2019|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref> | He was cast in Cinemax's ''[[Warrior (TV series)|Warrior]]'' in a recurring role before he officially joined the main cast in season two of the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/warrior-cast-season-2-cinemax-series-dustin-nguyen-promoted-1202610818/|title='Warrior' Casts Four For Season 2 Of Cinemax Drama Series; Promotes Dustin Nguyen To Regular|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=May 9, 2019|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115200135/https://deadline.com/2019/05/warrior-cast-season-2-cinemax-series-dustin-nguyen-promoted-1202610818/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
Nguyen also was cast in ''[[The Accidental Getaway Driver]]'' which premiered at the [[2023 Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |last2=Patten |first2=Dominic |date=December 7, 2022 |title=Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/sundance-film-festival-2023-lineup-1235191713/ |access-date=January 17, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> | Nguyen also was cast in ''[[The Accidental Getaway Driver]]'' which premiered at the [[2023 Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |last2=Patten |first2=Dominic |date=December 7, 2022 |title=Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/sundance-film-festival-2023-lineup-1235191713/ |access-date=January 17, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129014458/https://deadline.com/2022/12/sundance-film-festival-2023-lineup-1235191713/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
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===Producer=== | ===Producer=== | ||
* ''[[A Tourist's Guide to Love]]'' (2023)– Consulting Producer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Netflix's "A Tourist's Guide To Love" Rounds Out Cast |url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflixs-a-tourists-guide-to-love-rounds-out-cast |access-date=February 1, 2023 |website=About Netflix |language=en}}</ref>{{ | * ''[[A Tourist's Guide to Love]]'' (2023)– Consulting Producer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Netflix's "A Tourist's Guide To Love" Rounds Out Cast |url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflixs-a-tourists-guide-to-love-rounds-out-cast |access-date=February 1, 2023 |website=About Netflix |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2022-05-06 |title=Ben Feldman, Missi Pyle & More Round Out Cast Of Netflix's Romance 'A Tourist's Guide To Love' |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/ben-feldman-missi-pyle-more-join-netflix-romance-a-tourists-guide-to-love-1235017537/ |access-date=2025-10-21 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
* ''[[The Amazing Race Vietnam 2012]]'' (2012) – Himself | * ''[[The Amazing Race Vietnam 2012]]'' (2012) – Himself | ||
* ''CinemAbility'' (2011) (filming) – Himself | * ''CinemAbility'' (2011) (filming) – Himself | ||
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==Awards== | ==Awards== | ||
In March 2009, Nguyen won the Vietnamese Cánh Diều Vàng ([[Kite Awards (Vietnam)|Golden Kite Award]]) for best actor, for his starring role in the [[Phuoc Sang Films]] vehicle ''Huyền Thoại Bất Tử'' (The Legend Is Alive).<ref>{{cite web|first=Todd|last=Brown|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2009/03/dustin-nguyen-star-vehicle-the-legend-is-alive-dominates-the-vietnamese-gol.html|title=Dustin Nguyen Star Vehicle The Legend is Alive Dominates The Vietnamese Golden Kite Awards|date=March 3, 2009|work=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Life-Style/195254/culture-vulture.html|title=culture vulture|date=December 24, 2009|work=vnagency.com|access-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref> | In March 2009, Nguyen won the Vietnamese Cánh Diều Vàng ([[Kite Awards (Vietnam)|Golden Kite Award]]) for best actor, for his starring role in the [[Phuoc Sang Films]] vehicle ''Huyền Thoại Bất Tử'' (The Legend Is Alive).<ref>{{cite web|first=Todd|last=Brown|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2009/03/dustin-nguyen-star-vehicle-the-legend-is-alive-dominates-the-vietnamese-gol.html|title=Dustin Nguyen Star Vehicle The Legend is Alive Dominates The Vietnamese Golden Kite Awards|date=March 3, 2009|work=ScreenAnarchy|access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Life-Style/195254/culture-vulture.html|title=culture vulture|date=December 24, 2009|work=vnagency.com|access-date=October 20, 2012|archive-date=April 21, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421191044/http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Life-Style/195254/culture-vulture.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
For the same role, that year he won a Golden Lotus Award (Vietnam's Oscar) for Best Actor. He also won China's [[Golden Rooster Award]] for Best International Actor at China's Golden Rooster and Thousand Flowers International Film Festival 2009. | For the same role, that year he won a Golden Lotus Award (Vietnam's Oscar) for Best Actor. He also won China's [[Golden Rooster Award]] for Best International Actor at China's Golden Rooster and Thousand Flowers International Film Festival 2009. | ||
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[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]] | [[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]] | ||
[[Category:Date of birth missing (living people)]] | [[Category:Date of birth missing (living people)]] | ||
[[Category:1962 births]] | |||
Latest revision as of 04:35, 27 December 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image
Dustin Nguyen (born Nguyễn Xuân Trí; September 17, 1962) is a Vietnamese-American actor and martial artist. He is best known for his roles as Harry Truman Aioki on 21 Jump Street and as Johnny Loh on V.I.P.[1] He starred as Zing in the Cinemax/Max martial arts crime drama series Warrior. In film, he is known for starring in Little Fish, The Doom Generation and The Rebel.[2]
Early life
Nguyen was born Nguyễn Xuân Trí in Saigon, South Vietnam, and was one of two sons in his family.[3] His mother, My Le, was an actress and dancer, and his father, Xuân Phát, was an actor, comedian, writer, and producer in Vietnam.[4] The family left Vietnam in April 1975 during the fall of Saigon.[5]
In his teens, his family arrived in Guam as refugees, and then the family was moved to a refugee camp in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Finally with the assistance of a Methodist church they relocated to Des Peres, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.[5][3] The 21 Jump Street season 2 episode "Christmas in Saigon", which first aired in December 1987, is based in his experiences escaping Vietnam and eventually arriving in the United States; Nguyen also served as a technical advisor in the episode.
Nguyen graduated from Garden Grove High School in Garden Grove, California, he attended Orange Coast College[1] and majored in communications but later dropped out to pursue acting full time.[3]
Nguyen practices several martial arts including Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, Eskrima, and Jeet Kune Do.[5]
Career
He made his acting debut on Magnum, P.I., portraying a Cambodian freedom fighter in the episode "All For One." He was a series regular on both 21 Jump Street and VIP, and has guest-starred on a number of other series, including General Hospital, Highlander, and most notably seaQuest DSV, playing the role of Chief William Shan. Moreover, he had a cameo role in Charlie's Angels. Nguyen also auditioned for the role of Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat, but lost out to Robin Shou.[6] In 1993 he played a Vietnamese man sent off to fight with the Viet Cong, in the film Heaven & Earth. In 2005, Nguyen starred as a former heroin addict opposite Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett in the critically acclaimed Little Fish.[7] He starred in the 2007 films The Rebel and Saigon Eclipse. In 2008 he starred in the Vietnamese martial art film Huyen Thoai Bat Tu (The Legend Is Alive, The Immortal Legend)[8] where he plays a mentally disabled martial artist. Nguyen screened in 2009 the thriller The Gauntlet directed by Matt Eskandari; he stars with Chinese actress Bai Ling. He made a small cameo in 22 Jump Street as Vietnamese Jesus.[9]
Nguyen continues to act and make films in Vietnam full-time. He made his feature directorial debut in the Vietnamese fantasy film Once Upon a Time in Vietnam, in which he also starred. He then starred in the Vietnamese film Gentle that premiered at the 2015 Busan International Film Festival where he received strong reception for his performance.[10]
He was cast in Cinemax's Warrior in a recurring role before he officially joined the main cast in season two of the series.[11]
Nguyen also was cast in The Accidental Getaway Driver which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.[12]
Personal life
After a car accident late at night that occurred on September 3, 2001, on California's Interstate 5 Highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles during a Labor Day weekend which left his fiancée, Angela Rockwood, a paraplegic, Nguyen and Rockwood became active in The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center. The accident also claimed the life of Vietnamese actress Thuy Trang, a member of the original cast of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as the original Yellow Ranger, Trini. He and Rockwood divorced in 2012.
Nguyen is based in Vietnam full-time. In 2012, he married Vietnamese actress-model Bebe Pham with whom he has four daughters.
He is fluent in English and Vietnamese.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Sunset Strip | Chinese Youth | |
| 1991 | Earth Angel | Peter | |
| 1992 | Rapid Fire | Paul Yang | |
| 1993 | No Escape, No Return | Tommy Cuff | |
| Heaven & Earth | Sau | ||
| 1994 | 3 Ninjas Kick Back | Glam | |
| Vanishing Son II | Hung | ||
| Vanishing Son IV | |||
| 1995 | Virtuosity | Suburban Reporter | |
| The Doom Generation | Quickiemart Clerk | ||
| 1998 | Hundred Percent | Isaac | |
| 2003 | The Break | ||
| 2005 | Little Fish | Jonny | Actor |
| 2007 | Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee | Troy Poon | |
| Saigon Eclipse | Kim | ||
| The Rebel | Sy | Actor | |
| 2009 | The Legend Is Alive | Long | Actor |
| 2010 | Fool for Love | Dung | |
| Floating Lives | Vo | Actor | |
| 2011 | The Gauntlet | Jin-Soo | |
| Popular Dysfunctions | Comandante Chitt | ||
| 2013 | Once Upon a Time in Vietnam | Dao | Director/Actor |
| 2014 | 22 Jump Street | Vietnamese Jesus/Harry Truman Ioki | Cameo |
| 2015 | The Man with the Iron Fists 2 | Li Kung | Actor |
| Jackpot | Tu Nghia | Director/Actor | |
| Zero Tolerance | Johnny | Actor | |
| Gentle | Thien | Actor | |
| 2016 | I'll Wait | Director | |
| 2017 | Voodoo Doll | Hung | Actor |
| 2022 | Blade of the 47 Ronin | Lord Nikko | Actor |
| 2023 | The Accidental Getaway Driver | Tây | Actor |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | General Hospital | Suki | |
| 1985 | Magnum, P.I. | Joe | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | The A-Team | Bobby | Episode: "Point of No Return" |
| 1987 | Shell Game | Doug | Episode: "Pai Gow" |
| 1987–1990 | 21 Jump Street | Officer Harry Truman Ioki | Main role (seasons 1–4); 82 episodes |
| 1989 | Danger Bay | Duk Chin | Episode: "Open Book" |
| 1992 | The Commish | Robert Hue | Episode: "Charlie Don't Surf" |
| Street Justice | Episode: "Bad Choices" | ||
| Highlander | Chu Lin | Episode: "The Road Not Taken" | |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | David Kuan | Episode: "A Death in Hong Kong" |
| Highlander | Jimmy Sang | Episode: "Revenge of the Sword" | |
| SeaQuest DSV | Chief William Shan | 4 episodes | |
| 1994–1996 | Phantom 2040 | Tranh | 5 episodes |
| 1995 | Vanishing Son | Hung | Episode: "Single Flame" |
| VR.5 | Ky Buchanan | Episode: "Simon's Choice" | |
| Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Lo Gee | Episode: "Flying Fists of Fury II" | |
| 1997 | Die Gang | Marc Wiessner | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 1999–2002 | VIP | Johnny Loh | Main role (seasons 3–4); 62 episodes |
| 2003 | JAG | Lt. Bao Hien | Episode: "Fortunate Son" |
| 2009 | The Unit | Transit Officer | Episode: "Chaos Theory" |
| 2011 | Gordon's Great Escape | Guest | Episode 2.2: "Vietnam" |
| 2012 | The Amazing Race Vietnam | Host | Season 1 |
| 2018 | This Is Us | Bao | Episode: "Sometimes" |
| 2019–2023 | Warrior | Zing | Recurring (season 1); main role (season 2)[13] |
| 2025 | Dope Thief | Son Pham | Upcoming miniseries |
Producer
- A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)– Consulting Producer[14][15]
- The Amazing Race Vietnam 2012 (2012) – Himself
- CinemAbility (2011) (filming) – Himself
- 2007 AZN Asian Excellence Awards (2007) – Himself
- The Slanted Screen (2006) – Himself
- E! True Hollywood Story – Himself (1 episode, 2004)
- Howard Stern – Himself (4 episodes, 1999)
- The Howard Stern Radio Show – Himself (2 episodes, 1999)
- Intimate Portrait – Himself (1 episode)
Awards
In March 2009, Nguyen won the Vietnamese Cánh Diều Vàng (Golden Kite Award) for best actor, for his starring role in the Phuoc Sang Films vehicle Huyền Thoại Bất Tử (The Legend Is Alive).[16][17] For the same role, that year he won a Golden Lotus Award (Vietnam's Oscar) for Best Actor. He also won China's Golden Rooster Award for Best International Actor at China's Golden Rooster and Thousand Flowers International Film Festival 2009.
In 2015, at the Milan International Film Festival, Dustin won the Leonardo da Vinci Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor in the Vietnamese film Gentle; an adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's A Gentle Creature.
References
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- ↑ Dustin Nguyen: A Man Ahead of His Time, November 22, 2019
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External links
- Template:Trim/ Dustin Nguyen at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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Categories:
- Pages with script errors
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Living people
- Male actors from Ho Chi Minh City
- Vietnamese expatriates in the United States
- Expatriate male actors in the United States
- American male film actors
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- Male actors from California
- American male taekwondo practitioners
- Vietnamese male taekwondo practitioners
- American Jeet Kune Do practitioners
- Male actors from St. Louis
- Vietnamese emigrants to the United States
- Vietnamese male television actors
- Vietnamese male film actors
- American actors of Vietnamese descent
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- 21st-century Vietnamese male actors
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- Date of birth missing (living people)
- 1962 births