Thong Nguyen(I)
- Actor
Thong Nguyen was born in Vietnam and raised in Paris, France. Thong is a professional dancer, photographer, athlete, martial artist, and the founder of KaizenTao: The Path to Continual Growth.
It was serendipitous that Thong was able to meet Hollywood's acting coach to the Stars, Mr. Charlie Laughton. After a photo-shoot in Santa Monica with an actor who was Mr. Laughton's personal assistant, Thong was invited to meet Charlie and his Oscar award winning pupil, Mr. Al Pacino for breakfast at the Beanery coffee shop the next day.
At breakfast, Mr. Laughton extended an invitation to Thong to audit his class to experience the real craft of acting. Thong was honored and accepted this rare invitation. Apparently, to be accepted into Mr. Laughton's class, one had to be introduced by someone he trusted.
Thong was fascinated by the similarities between acting and the martial arts, and recognized shared principles in both disciplines. He asked Mr. the legendary acting coach if he'd ever trained in any martial arts prior to acting. Mr. Laughton replied, "Never. I've only studied Method Acting with Mr. Lee Strasberg at the Actor's Studio in NYC." That was an illuminating moment for Thong as he realized universal truths could be gleaned from a multitude of disciplines. This became his inspiration to revamp his martial arts perspective in perfecting KaizenTao.
After the training, Charlie urged Thong to continue practicing what he had been taught. Upon his return to Washington, DC. Thong informed his modeling/casting agencies where he had previously worked as the photographer, that he'd like to be sent out on auditions.
Shortly thereafter, Thong received a call from Ms. Betsey Royall of Taylor Royall Casting for some "Special Extra Category" work for a movie Runaway Bride scheduled to shoot in Baltimore, MD. Thong wasn't keen on doing extra work but when he learned the man directing the movie was the none other than his favorite director Garry Marshall, creator of his favorite shows like- I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, he quickly accepted.
On the first day of shooting at the Baltimore Sun newspaper plant, Thong and Garry Marshall quickly hit it off. Garry opted to Taft-Hartley him into returning the following day to play a principal role in his movie.
Unfortunately, due to continuity issues, Thong's close up scenes and lines with Richard Gere and Hector Elizondo were edited. Mr. Marshall uncharacteristically wrote Thong to personally apologize and invite him to come out and work at his new Falcon Theater in Burbank, CA. Thong respectfully declined the gracious offer as he didn't have time to pursue acting, but appreciated Garry's sincerity and consideration.
Garry, as he preferred to be called on the set, was the classiest, most down to earth Hollywood director you will ever meet. RIP Garry! No doubt you will make heaven burst with laughter!
It was serendipitous that Thong was able to meet Hollywood's acting coach to the Stars, Mr. Charlie Laughton. After a photo-shoot in Santa Monica with an actor who was Mr. Laughton's personal assistant, Thong was invited to meet Charlie and his Oscar award winning pupil, Mr. Al Pacino for breakfast at the Beanery coffee shop the next day.
At breakfast, Mr. Laughton extended an invitation to Thong to audit his class to experience the real craft of acting. Thong was honored and accepted this rare invitation. Apparently, to be accepted into Mr. Laughton's class, one had to be introduced by someone he trusted.
Thong was fascinated by the similarities between acting and the martial arts, and recognized shared principles in both disciplines. He asked Mr. the legendary acting coach if he'd ever trained in any martial arts prior to acting. Mr. Laughton replied, "Never. I've only studied Method Acting with Mr. Lee Strasberg at the Actor's Studio in NYC." That was an illuminating moment for Thong as he realized universal truths could be gleaned from a multitude of disciplines. This became his inspiration to revamp his martial arts perspective in perfecting KaizenTao.
After the training, Charlie urged Thong to continue practicing what he had been taught. Upon his return to Washington, DC. Thong informed his modeling/casting agencies where he had previously worked as the photographer, that he'd like to be sent out on auditions.
Shortly thereafter, Thong received a call from Ms. Betsey Royall of Taylor Royall Casting for some "Special Extra Category" work for a movie Runaway Bride scheduled to shoot in Baltimore, MD. Thong wasn't keen on doing extra work but when he learned the man directing the movie was the none other than his favorite director Garry Marshall, creator of his favorite shows like- I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, he quickly accepted.
On the first day of shooting at the Baltimore Sun newspaper plant, Thong and Garry Marshall quickly hit it off. Garry opted to Taft-Hartley him into returning the following day to play a principal role in his movie.
Unfortunately, due to continuity issues, Thong's close up scenes and lines with Richard Gere and Hector Elizondo were edited. Mr. Marshall uncharacteristically wrote Thong to personally apologize and invite him to come out and work at his new Falcon Theater in Burbank, CA. Thong respectfully declined the gracious offer as he didn't have time to pursue acting, but appreciated Garry's sincerity and consideration.
Garry, as he preferred to be called on the set, was the classiest, most down to earth Hollywood director you will ever meet. RIP Garry! No doubt you will make heaven burst with laughter!