Philosophy and bio

Being a dramatic actor with a comedic flair probably best describes my life growing up. On the outside, I look Japanese, and my parents raised me with traditional Asian values of obligation, responsibility, discipline, and seriousness. However, as a small town boy, my passions were reading comic books and playing in the marching band. My two worlds would collide in interesting ways. For example, my dad would cheer for me at my pee-wee football games then tell me how I needed to have better grades than my peers; and my mom would help us decorate eggs for Easter and then take us to a Buddhist Sunday service that afternoon. Our dining room table was also an odd blend because my mom insisted on making rice for every meal – even if it was KFC.

I’d like to think that I have perfected the balance of being mainstream and ethnic, but I’m human, and I’ve learned that perfection is overrated. My hope is by walking that tightrope of opposites, I reveal raw, powerful, compelling, and sometimes humorous truths in everything that I do.

That’s why as a SAG-AFTRA actor, I embrace every opportunity to bring my unique perspective to roles, whether I’m playing the sensitive scientist on Focus Features’ “Dallas Buyers Club” or improvising a moment with Tina Fey in Paramount’s “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.“