Peter Kwong, best known for his role as Rain in the 1986 cult classic Big Trouble in Little China, has died at the age of 73. According to a representative, Kwong passed away in his sleep on Tuesday night. No additional details were provided.
Born in Sacramento, California, Kwong launched his acting career in the late 1970s, appearing in popular television shows such as The A-Team, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, Miami Vice, Cagney & Lacey, Dynasty, MacGyver, and 227.
His most iconic role came in director John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China, where he played Rain—one of the three supernatural martial artists known as the Three Storms. He starred alongside Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall. Though the film underperformed at the box office, earning just $11 million against a $20 million budget, it has since gained a devoted following.
Also in 1986, Kwong appeared in Never Too Young to Die with John Stamos and Vanity, and The Golden Child, starring Eddie Murphy and Charles Dance.
Beyond acting, Kwong was an active figure in the entertainment industry’s leadership. He served on the SAG National Board of Directors for more than a decade and was also a member of the AFTRA National Board. He held positions on the Television Academy’s Board of Governors and the Actors Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Kwong is remembered not only for his screen presence but also for his contributions to the industry behind the scenes.
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