Jim Lau

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.