Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Jim Lau(I)

  • Actor
  • Additional Crew
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Jim Lau
Watch Jim Lau 2023 Demo Reel
Play demo reel2:59
Jim Lau 2023 Demo Reel
12 Videos
14 Photos
In a film career spanning over four decades, Jim Lau has appeared in well over 100 films and television shows, working with some of the world's most celebrated actors and directors in Hollywood - such as Alan Alda, Michael Landon, Burt Reynolds, Kurt Russell, John Carpenter, Jon Turteltaub and Kevin Costner among others.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Jim immigrated to the United States with his family in the early 70s, landing in San Francisco. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Film. He began his career as a Kung Fu instructor in Los Angeles, teaching martial arts at the Hollywood Stuntman Association while taking acting lessons from Jack Kosslyn, his mentor and acting coach, the person who inspired him to become an actor.

Jim's television and film career started in the early 80s with credits that include the finale of M*A*S*H, Little House On The Prairie, St. Elsewhere, Big Trouble In Little China, in which he also served as an associate producer and martial arts consultant. His other screen credits since then through the present day include Mad About You, The Practice, House, Everybody Hates Chris, Grey's Anatomy, The Hangover Part III, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Fear The Walking Dead, Yellowstone, S.W.A.T., Good Trouble, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Jack Ryan, and Horizon : An American Saga.

As much as Jim enjoys working regularly in Hollywood, participating in film, television, and commercials, he is also a firm believer in supporting Indie films as well as student projects, particularly those involving the Asian-American experience. Over the years Jim has supported and participated in numerous Indie films, such as Ping Pong Playa, Paper Lotus, Yes, and...and the critically acclaimed award-winning film, For Izzy, which won numerous major awards from various film festivals, including the Atlanta Out On Film Festival's Best Ensemble Jury Award 2018.

Once himself a film student, Jim realizes the importance and responsibility of assisting the new generation by giving back. Each year Jim donates his time to work and participate in student projects. He has a special bond with film students from the American Film Institute and USC film schools since the new millennium. In 2018 he collaborated with student director Hao Zheng from AFI in The Chef, in which he played the title role Chef Pu and won him the Best Actor Award from South Dakota Film Festival 2019 and Best Lead Performer Award from DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival 2020.
BornApril 11, 1952
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornApril 11, 1952
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 3 nominations total

    Photos14

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 7
    View Poster

    Known for

    Shemar Moore in S.W.A.T. (2017)
    S.W.A.T.
    7.2
    TV Series
    • Uncle Yang
    Kim Dickens and Lennie James in Fear the Walking Dead (2015)
    Fear the Walking Dead
    6.7
    TV Series
    • Patrick Tran
    Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, and James Hong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Big Trouble in Little China
    7.2
    • Chang Sing #2
    • 1986
    Michelle Ang and Jennifer Soo in For Izzy (2018)
    For Izzy
    6.8
    • Peter
    • 2018

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • Old Man's Blues
      • Kang
      • Post-production
      • Short
    • Wei Baba
      • Post-production
      • Short
    • Unsavory Elements
      • Policeman
      • Post-production
    • The Fly
      • Chan
      • Post-production
      • Short
    • Swallowtail & Dragonfly
      • Master Jiang
      • Post-production



    • After That (2024)
      After That
      Short
      • Xinhao
      • 2024
    • A Faded Yellow (2024)
      A Faded Yellow
      Short
      • Owen 'Baba' Geung
      • 2024
    • Angela Bassett, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kenneth Choi, Peter Krause, Aisha Hinds, Oliver Stark, and Ryan Guzman in 9-1-1 (2018)
      9-1-1
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Edward
      • 2024
    • Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)
      Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
      7.2
      • Mr. Hong
      • 2024
    • Neither Donkey Nor Horse (2024)
      Neither Donkey Nor Horse
      6.7
      Short
      • Master Yao Shi-jie
      • 2024
    • Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)
      Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
      6.6
      • Mr. Hong
      • 2024
    • Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks in Magnum P.I. (2018)
      Magnum P.I.
      6.2
      TV Series
      • Moku
      • 2024
    • The Qingming Kid (2023)
      The Qingming Kid
      Short
      • Yiwen
      • 2023
    • Jim Lau, Cici Lau, Leonard Wu, Wei-San Hsu, Cindy Chu, Daphne Qin Wu, Blythe Howard, Roxy Shih, Evita Yuepu Zhou, and Theresa Chiu in Hui Jia: Homecoming (2023)
      Hui Jia: Homecoming
      Short
      • Baba
      • 2023
    • Paeonia (2023)
      Paeonia
      Short
      • Wing
      • 2023
    • Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018)
      Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
      8.0
      TV Series
      • Tin Tun
      • 2023
    • Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)
      The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
      8.7
      TV Series
      • Mei's Father
      • Older Man
      • 2022–2023
    • Shelter (2023)
      Shelter
      Short
      • Alexander Pan
      • 2023
    • 52Hz (2023)
      52Hz
      Short
      • Zorina's Father
      • 2023
    • Jim Lau and Cici Lau in Tequila Sunset (2022)
      Tequila Sunset
      Short
      • Ren
      • 2022

    Additional Crew



    • Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
      News of the World
      6.8
      • voice actor
      • 2020
    • The Meg (2018)
      The Meg
      5.7
      • voiceover performer
      • 2018
    • Constance Wu and Henry Golding in Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
      Crazy Rich Asians
      6.9
      • technical consultant
      • 2018
    • Scott Bakula in NCIS: New Orleans (2014)
      NCIS: New Orleans
      6.8
      TV Series
      • technical consultant
      • 2018
    • Martin Starr, Zach Woods, T.J. Miller, Thomas Middleditch, and Kumail Nanjiani in Silicon Valley (2014)
      Silicon Valley
      8.5
      TV Series
      • voice actor
      • 2017
    • Hannah Nordberg and Nina Lu in An American Girl Story: Ivy & Julie 1976 - A Happy Balance (2017)
      An American Girl Story: Ivy & Julie 1976 - A Happy Balance
      6.5
      TV Movie
      • adr voice actor
      • 2017
    • Matt Damon in The Great Wall (2016)
      The Great Wall
      5.9
      • adr voice
      • 2016
    • Berlin Station (2016)
      Berlin Station
      7.6
      TV Series
      • adr voice
      • 2016
    • Birth of the Dragon (2016)
      Birth of the Dragon
      5.7
      • voice actor
      • 2016
    • Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)
      Independence Day: Resurgence
      5.2
      • additional voices
      • 2016
    • Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Woody Harrelson, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Eisenberg, Daniel Radcliffe, Mark Ruffalo, Jay Chou, and Dave Franco in Now You See Me 2 (2016)
      Now You See Me 2
      6.4
      • adr cast: voice
      • 2016
    • Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Sacha Baron Cohen, Matt Lucas, and Mia Wasikowska in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
      Alice Through the Looking Glass
      6.2
      • adr voice
      • 2016
    • Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool (2016)
      Deadpool
      8.0
      • voice actor
      • 2016
    • Chris Pratt in Jurassic World (2015)
      Jurassic World
      6.9
      • adr voice
      • 2015
    • Diogo Morgado in The Messengers (2015)
      The Messengers
      6.3
      TV Series
      • voice actor
      • 2015

    Producer



    • Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, and James Hong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
      Big Trouble in Little China
      7.2
      • associate producer
      • 1986
    • Mad Mission 3: Our Man from Bond Street (1984)
      Mad Mission 3: Our Man from Bond Street
      5.8
      • assistant producer
      • 1984

    Videos12

    Jim Lau 2023 Demo Reel
    Demo Reel 2:59
    Jim Lau 2023 Demo Reel
    2023 DEMO REEL
    Demo Reel 3:43
    2023 DEMO REEL
    2023 DEMO REEL
    Demo Reel 3:43
    2023 DEMO REEL
    The Shelter
    Demo Reel 3:45
    The Shelter
    Comedy Reel
    Demo Reel 6:15
    Comedy Reel
    Jim Lau
    Demo Reel 5:14
    Jim Lau
    Fear The Walking Dead
    Demo Reel 1:28
    Fear The Walking Dead

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Height
      • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
    • Born
      • April 11, 1952
      • USA
    • Spouse
      • Joan Chen1985 - 1990 (divorced)
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Print Biography
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Self-verified on IMDbPro

    • Gender / Gender identity
      • Male

    FAQ8

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is Jim Lau?
    • When was Jim Lau born?
    • Where was Jim Lau born?

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.