RIP Aki Aleong

 

My Indie Productions

June 22, 2025

 

Legendary actor Aki Aleong was born in Trinidad and Tobago on December 19, 1934. His distinguished career spanned more than 60 years as an actor, singer, writer, producer, activist and martial arts and action film star.  Aki starred in features with the best martial artists in the world, including Cung Le in “Blizniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter” (2007) and “Savage Dog” (2017); Bolo Yeoung in Blizniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter”; and with Sammo Hung in “Martial Law” (1998).  He worked with world-class female martial artists Cynthia Rothrock, in “Sci-Fighter” (2004). and Juju Chan, in “Savage Dog” (2017) and “Road to Hell” 2017.  He worked with Scott Adkins in “Savage Dog” (2017); Darren Shahlavi in “Pound of Flesh” (2015); Gary Daniels, Al Leong and Ron Yuan in “Deadly Target” (1994); and with Gary Hudson, Jason Gedrick and Kim Delaney in “The Force” (1994).  Aki also worked with top martial arts choreographers.

Although he was a heroic rights activist in real life, Aki often played villains in martial arts and action films. In “Braddock: Missing in Action III” (1988), Chuck Norris’ character of Braddock, his wife and son are captured by soldiers of the sadistic Vietnamese General Quoc, played by Aki. Quoc kills Braddock’s wife on the spot, and tortures Braddock and his son until he meets his death at the end of the film. In Chuck Norris’ “Walker, Texas Ranger”, Aki played Yoshi Sakaii, a powerful member of the Yakuza in the episode titled “A Shadow in the Night” (1993).

Aki starred as the trainer Khao with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Roger Moore in “The Quest” (1996), in which Van Damme competes in the fabled Ghang-gheng, the ancient winner-take-all competition in which the deadliest fighters from around the world employ the most spectacular feats of martial arts skills ever displayed in order to win the prized Golden Dragon. Aki again starred with Jean-Claude Van Damme in the action-packed “Pound of Flesh” (2015), which is available on Amazon.

Aki played Kwai Chang in The First Temple episode of “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues”, which starred David Carradine and featured Sandra Oh.  He and Bruce Lee were finalists for the role of Kato in the 1967 series “The Green Hornet”, with the role finally going to Lee. Aki went on to play Principal Elder in “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story” (1993).  He also starred with Don the Dragon Wilson in the martial arts movies “Out for Blood” (1992) and “X-treme Fighter” (1980).

Aki’s numerous memorable roles include Senator Hidoshi during the first season of “Babylon 5”; Mr. Chiang in the weekly series of “V: The Series”; the Dalai Lama in “Superhero Movie” (2008); and the character of Colonel Mitamura in “Farewell to the King” with Nick Nolte.

Aki’s illustrious career started on Broadway in "Teahouse of the August Moon" and "The Interview." He went on to star in more than 50 movies and 150 television shows and has worked with Academy Award-winners Frank Sinatra Jr., Marlon Brando, Faye Dunaway, Joanne Woodward, Steve McQueen, Ben Kingsley, John Mills, Ernest Borgnine, Jennifer Connelly and Martin Landau. Aki has worked with directors William Wyler {3 time Oscar winner}, John Sturges and Martin Ritt. Aki's career also included working with prominent writer/directors, including John Milius, Lionel Chetwynd, Philip Yordan, Mark Rydell and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Pearl S. Buck.

Aki also had experience as a record executive producer/artist. He was Chairman of FORE (The Fraternity of Recording Executives), an organization dedicated to bringing Executives of Color into the Music Industry. His other affiliations include President of Pan World Records and Golden Dragon Publishing companies. He was the National Director of Black Promotion for Polydor/Polygram Records and also worked with Liberty/UA Records and Capitol Records. He also produced records for Columbia Records, Capitol, Liberty/UA, Artista and other prominent labels. Aki was the first Asian American to have a Top 100 record, which he wrote and co-produced, on the National Charts in the US.

Aki served on the National Board of the Screen Actors Guild; appointed National Chair of SAG'S EEOC and was a member of the President's Diversity/Affirmative Action Task Force. He was also Executive Director of AIM (Asians in Media), Vice President of The Media Coalition of Los Angeles and President of MANAA (Media Action Network for Asian-Americans). Among Aki’s numerous awards is an Honorary Doctorate from New Dimensions University in 2013.  Aki was the President and CEO of Mustard Seed Media Group

(http://www.mustardseedmediagroup) and the Senior Advisor to Ace Studios in Hong Kong. Aki won the Trailblazer Award at the 2019 Hollywood Silver Screen Network Film Festival and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Universe Multicultural Film Festival. Aki passed away on June 22, 2025.

ALEONG, Aki (Aki Leonard Gonzales Aleong)

Born: 12/19/1934, · Port of Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies

Died: 6/22/2025, Brooklyn New York, U.S.A.

 

Aki Aleong’s westerns – actor:

The Californians (TV) -1957 (Lee Sing)

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV) – 1960 (Li Kung)

The Virginian (TV) – 1967 (Ah Sing)

Buckskin (TV) – 1968 (Sung Li)

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 1993 (Yoshi Sakaii)

Kung Fu (TV) – 1996 (Kwai Chang)

Chinaman’s Chance: America’s Other Slaves – 2008 (Leongsing, Akong) [producer, director, writer]