Ken Leung

Infobox actor

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birthname = Kenneth Leung
birthdate = birth date and age|1970|1|21
birthplace = New York City, New York
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
yearsactive = 1995 — present
spouse =
homepage =
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards =

Ken Leung (born January 21, 1970) is an American actor. Who is best known for his roles in popular movies such as "Shanghai Kiss", "Saw" and "". Most recently Leung became known for his recurring role as Miles Straume in the popular ABC drama television series "Lost".

Biography

Early life

Leung was born in New York City and initially raised in the Two Bridges section of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. His family moved to Midwood, Brooklyn where he grew up before finishing high school in Old Bridge, New Jersey.

Leung later attended New York University (NYU) as a University Scholar and discovered acting in his junior year, where he studied acting with Catherine Russell and Nan Smithner, then briefly with Anne Jackson at HB Studio. During this time he also acted mostly in downtown spaces and black boxes, finding artistic homes with groups such as Ma-Yi, New Perspectives, and STAR, a traveling group of actors-educators based in Mount Sinai Hospital.

Career

In 1997, Leung made his debut in Brett Ratner's "Rush Hour". Edward Norton cast him in his directorial debut, "Keeping the Faith" in 2000. Since then Leung has appeared in several independent and television films, as well as features, including four films with Brett Ratner and two with Spike Lee. In 1998, he played James the Less and God in Terrence McNally's passion play, "Corpus Christi", and in 2002 made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical, "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (and appears on the cast recording).

In 2007, he starred in the independent film "Shanghai Kiss" with Hayden Panettiere, and earned a Special Mention at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival for his breakthrough performance. That same year he guest-starred in an episode of the final season of the HBO drama series "The Sopranos". This memorable guest role inspired the producers of the ABC drama "Lost" to cast him in a regular role as Miles Straume in the series' fourth season. [cite web|url=http://www.mahalo.com/Ken_Leung|title=Ken Leung - Guide Note|publisher=Mahalo|accessdate=2008-08-24] [cite news|url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Sopranos-Scenestealer/800020628|title=Exclusive: Sopranos Scene-stealer Gets Lost!|publisher=The Ausiello Report, TV Guide|last=Ausiello|first=Michael|date=2007-08-19|accessdate=2008-08-24]

Filmography

Television

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0504962|name=Ken Leung
*ibdb name|id=90336|name=Ken Leung
* [http://lostpedia.com/wiki/Ken_Leung Ken Leung] at Lostpedia

;Interviews
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/23/AR2008052300743.html Washington Post] May 25, 2008
* [http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/080530/article.asp?parentID=92874 Asia Pacific Arts - UCLA Asia Institute] May 30, 2008
* [http://www.ifc.com/film/film-news/2008/08/ken-leung-on-year-of-the-fish.php - IFC] August 27, 2008