WONG, B.D. (b.1960). An acclaimed American actor, author, and advocate. Renowned for his versatility across stage, screen, and television, Wong achieved landmark success early in his career.
His performance as Song Liling in the Broadway production of M. Butterfly (1988) earned him the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, making him the only actor to win all three major awards for a Broadway debut role. This triumph cemented his status as a significant figure in American theater.
Wong is also widely recognized for his long-running role as Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. George Huang on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2001-2011, recurring 2011-2015, 2021).
An openly gay actor, Wong has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and diversity in entertainment. His personal journey, including fathering twins via gestational surrogacy chronicled in his memoir Following Foo: (the electronic adventures of the Chestnut Man), further informs his advocacy and public speaking.
Born in San Francisco, California, Bradley Darryl Wong developed an interest in acting during high school. After studying at San Francisco State University, he moved to New York City to pursue his career.
Following the phenomenal success of M. Butterfly, Wong successfully transitioned into film and television.
His notable film credits include Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), Jurassic Park (1993), Seven Years in Tibet (1997), The Salton Sea (2002), Focus (2015), and Jurassic World (2015) and its sequels.
On television, beyond his defining role on Law & Order: SVU, Wong has had significant roles in series such as Oz (1997-2003) as Father Ray Mukada, Awake (2012) as Dr. John Lee, Gotham (2015-2019) as Hugo Strange, and Mr. Robot (2015-2019) as Whiterose.
He has also lent his distinctive voice to numerous animated series and video games, including Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and Disney’s Mulan franchise as Captain Li Shang.
Wong frequently returns to the stage, appearing in productions like You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (revival, 1999), Pacific Overtures (revival, 2004-2005), and The Great Leap (2018).
His work consistently demonstrates a commitment to complex characters and nuanced storytelling.
As an advocate, Wong speaks openly about his experiences as a gay Asian American in the entertainment industry, addressing issues of representation, inclusion, and equality. He serves on the board of Equality California and actively supports AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) causes and HIV/AIDS charities.
His memoir details the profound loss of one twin shortly after birth and the subsequent journey with his surviving son, offering insights into resilience and family.
B.D. Wong remains a respected and multifaceted talent whose contributions extend beyond performance to impactful advocacy and representation.