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Philip Moon (actor)
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Philip Moon (born November 5, 1961) is an American actor of Asian descent who has appeared primarily in television. He is best known for playing Keemo Volien Abbott in the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 1996, Mr. Lee in the TV series Deadwood (2005), and the thug Woo in the 1998 Coen brothers film The Big Lebowski. In 2007, he played the leading role in Allen Blumberg's drama film Ghosts of the Heartland. In 2011, he appeared in the "Dead Ringer" episode of CSI: Miami.
Key Information
Education
[edit]Moon graduated from Hunter College and the Institute for Advanced Theater Training[1] at Harvard University.
Career
[edit]Moon made his screen debut in the 1988 Catlin Adams comedy Sticky Fingers. This was followed by minor roles in the TV series As the World Turns and in Peter Wang's Hong Kong crime comedy The Laser Man in which he played a soldier.[2] In 1991, he appeared in the series L. A. Law, and had minor roles in blockbuster movies such as Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) in which he played a squad member, and Batman Forever (1995) in which he played a newsreader.[3]
In 1994, Moon appeared in the PBS miniseries Tales of the City as Lionel, the father of DeDe Halycon Day's illegitimate twins. He later portrayed Keemo Volien Abbott on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 1996, which won him a Soap Opera Digest nomination for Outstanding Male Newcomer in 1995.[4] Transatlantic magazine described Moon as a 6'3", muscular "soap stud" with a "soft voice" during this stint playing Abbott.[5]
In 1997, he had a role opposite David Duchovny and Angelina Jolie in Andy Wilson's Playing God.[6] Moon appeared alongside Jeff Bridges in 1998, as the thug who urinates on The Dude's rug in The Big Lebowski.[7][8] He is referred to in the film by Bridges as "the Chinaman who peed on my rug",[9] in which John Goodman prompts him that he's "Asian-American". In the late 1990s and early 2000s he had a string of roles playing police officers, including the 1998 TV movie Tempting Fate, the 1998 film Love Kills, and portraying detective Steven Nimh in the series Walker, Texas Ranger opposite Chuck Norris in 2000.
In 2004, Moon had a role as Lieutenant Jim Wong in the popular series 24, followed by a stint as Lee in the series Deadwood in which he appeared in five episodes.[10] In 2007 he had a leading role in Allen Blumberg's drama film Ghosts of the Heartland opposite Michael Santoro and David Midthunder. In 2011 he appeared in the "Dead Ringer" episode of season 10 of CSI: Miami as Don Tillman.[10]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Sticky Fingers | Ike | |
| 1988 | The Laser Man | Soldier | |
| 1989 | Longtime Companion | Restaurant Bartender | |
| 1990 | A Shock to the System | Henry Park | |
| 1990 | Cadillac Man | Nightclub Selector | |
| 1992 | Lethal Weapon 3 | Squad Member #5 | |
| 1993 | The Joy Luck Club | Ken | |
| 1994 | S.F.W. | Reporter | |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Male Newscaster | |
| 1997 | Playing God | Casey | |
| 1998 | The Big Lebowski | Treehorn Thug #1 | |
| 1998 | Love Kills | The Rookie Cop | |
| 1998 | No Salida | Jian | |
| 2004 | Close Call | David Kim | |
| 2006 | The Genius Club | Professor Lee | |
| 2007 | 88 Minutes | The Prosecutor | |
| 2007 | Ghosts of the Heartland | Roland | |
| 2009 | Company Retreat | Terry Yian | |
| 2015 | The Networker | David Finkelstein |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Guiding Light | Tanaka | Episode #1.9453 |
| 1988 | As the World Turns | Tuan Ly | Episode: "Hank Comes Out" |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | A.D.A. John Stephans | Episode: "Good to the Last Drop" |
| 1991 | Blood Ties | Jury Foreman | Television film |
| 1992 | Nightmare in the Daylight | San Francisco Detective | |
| 1993 | Running Delilah | Technician #2 | |
| 1993 | Tales of the City | Lionel Wong | Episode #1.2 |
| 1994 | Time Trax | Sessue Hiroshi | Episode: "Return of the Yakuza" |
| 1994 | Models Inc. | John Woo | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1994 | Renegade | Paul Hajimoto | Episode: "Black Wind" |
| 1994–1996 | The Young and the Restless | Keemo | 8 episodes |
| 1996 | NYPD Blue | Eddie Wong | Episode: "Sorry, Wong Suspect" |
| 1996 | Babylon 5 | Ashi | Episode: "Dust to Dust" |
| 1998 | The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy | Valois | Television film |
| 1998 | Tempting Fate | Police Official | |
| 1998 | A Wing and a Prayer | Beastmaster | |
| 2000 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Detective Steven Nimh | Episode: "The General's Return" |
| 2001 | Passions | T.V. Reporter | Episode #1.388 |
| 2001 | The Division | Benny Chow | Episode: "Absolution" |
| 2004 | 24 | Lieutenant Jim Wong | Episode: "Day 3: 3:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m." |
| 2005 | Deadwood | Lee | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | Numbers | Munson's Trainer | Episode: "Contenders" |
| 2008 | Pretty/Handsome | William Wang | Television film |
| 2009 | Hydra | Dr. Kim | |
| 2011 | CSI: Miami | Don Tillman | Episode: "Dead Ringer" |
| 2015 | Hawaii Five-0 | Makai Akana | Episode: "Mo'o 'olelo Pu" |
| 2015 | True Detective | Ashley Daison | Episode: "Maybe Tomorrow" |
References
[edit]- ^ "ODD MAN IN". Chicago Tribune. 27 April 1995. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ Milne, Jeff (20 July 2009). Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon: The Complete Guide to the Movie Trivia Game. Jeff Milne. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-615-28521-4.
- ^ Reinhart, Mark S. (24 November 2004). The Batman Filmography, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-7864-6891-1.
- ^ "Actor bios". Ghostsoftheheartland.com. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ^ Transpacific. AsiAm Pub. 1995. p. 30.
- ^ Fhaner, Beth A. (1998). Magill's Cinema Annual: A Retrospective of the Films of 1997. Visible Ink Press. p. 440. ISBN 978-1-57859-056-8.
- ^ Rowell, Erica (30 May 2007). The Brothers Grim: The Films of Ethan and Joel Coen. Scarecrow Press. p. 368. ISBN 978-1-4616-6408-6.
- ^ Russell, Carolyn R. (23 May 2001). The Films of Joel and Ethan Coen. McFarland. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7864-0973-0.
- ^ Coen, Joel; Coen, Ethan (8 January 2009). The Big Lebowski. Faber & Faber. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-571-24932-9.
- ^ a b "Philip Moon". Tv.com. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
External links
[edit]- Philip Moon at IMDb
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
Philip Moon (actor)
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Early life
Philip Moon was born on November 5, 1961, in the United States as an individual of Asian descent.[1] He grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, where his parents, both physicians, emphasized practical professions over artistic pursuits.[2] Moon's passion for acting emerged in childhood, ignited by his first visit to a movie theater and subsequent admiration for actors like Marlon Brando and Dustin Hoffman, whom he viewed as transformative figures in film.[2]Education
Moon earned a bachelor's degree from Hunter College in New York City.[3][2] Prior to pursuing graduate studies, he participated in a summer program focused on Shakespeare at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[2] Moon subsequently obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama, graduating in 1987.[3][2][7] During his time at Yale, he performed in the Yale Repertory Theatre's production of The Memento by Wakako Yamauchi, which premiered as part of Winterfest in 1987 and helped hone his skills in ensemble theater and character-driven roles.[7][8]Career
Early career
Moon's acting career began with minor television appearances in the mid-1980s, including a role on the soap opera Guiding Light in 1984.[3] He followed this with a small part on As the World Turns in 1988.[3] That same year marked his film debut in the comedy Sticky Fingers, where he portrayed Ike, a music salesman entangled in a comedic drug mix-up.[6] Throughout the early 1990s, Moon secured supporting roles in several films, often navigating limited opportunities for Asian-American actors. In Cadillac Man (1990), he played a nightclub selector amid Robin Williams' chaotic car salesman narrative.[3] He appeared as a squad member in the action sequel Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), contributing to the high-stakes pursuit scenes.[2] Other credits included The Joy Luck Club (1993) as Ken, the fiancé in a story exploring intergenerational immigrant experiences.[3] In 1995, he had a brief role as a newscaster in Batman Forever, delivering reports on Gotham's chaos.[2] Moon's breakthrough arrived in 1994 with his casting as Keemo Volien Abbott on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, a role he held until 1996.[9] Introduced as Jack Abbott's son from a Vietnam War-era affair, Keemo's storyline centered on his resentment toward his parents after discovering his heritage, followed by reconciliation with Jack and a tumultuous romance with Mari Jo Mason, who manipulated him into schemes against the Abbotts.[9] After his mother Luan's death from a terminal illness, Keemo returned to Vietnam but later reappeared to warn Jack of dangers, enhancing his visibility and providing a nuanced portrayal of an Asian-American character in daytime television.[9] This opportunity marked a significant step in his career, as soaps offered steady work amid sporadic film roles. As an Asian-American actor during this period, Moon faced challenges in evading typecasting into stereotypical parts. In a 1994 interview, he emphasized portraying ethnic characters authentically, stating, "It’s my firm belief that Asian or any ethnic people have always been looked at through other people’s eyes... I want to play it in a human way as opposed to a stereotypical way."[3] He similarly noted in 1995, "I am a fighter and I would like to play a romantic lead. But I’m not the kind of actor who’s going to shove it in people’s faces," reflecting his determination to prioritize substantive roles over confrontation with industry biases.[2]Later career
In the early 2000s, Philip Moon expanded his television portfolio with recurring and guest roles in acclaimed series, showcasing his versatility in dramatic and action-oriented narratives. He appeared as Mr. Lee, a Chinese laundry owner, in five episodes of HBO's Deadwood in 2005 and 2006, contributing to the show's gritty portrayal of frontier life.[10] That same year, Moon portrayed Lieutenant Jim Wong, a CTU SWAT agent, in an episode of Fox's 24 during its third season, highlighting his ability to handle high-stakes thriller dynamics. Moon's film work during this period included a lead role as Roland, a haunted truck driver, in the independent drama Ghosts of the Heartland (2007), where he delivered a central performance exploring themes of loss and redemption. He also played Myles in the ensemble thriller The Genius Club (2006), a film centered on a secret meeting of intellectuals debating global issues.[11] These projects reflected Moon's shift toward more substantial character-driven roles in cinema, building on his late-1990s capstone as Treehorn Thug #1 in The Big Lebowski (1998).[12] Entering the 2010s, Moon continued with notable guest spots on procedural and prestige dramas. In 2010, he guest-starred as Dr. Tang in the episode "Die by the Code" of CBS's CSI: Miami, embodying a complex figure in a forensic investigation.[13] Later, he appeared as Makai Akana in the 2015 episode "Mo'o 'olelo Pu" of CBS's Hawaii Five-0, portraying a character tied to Hawaiian cultural elements.[14] Moon's most prominent later television role came as Detective Ashley Daison in the first season (2014) of HBO's anthology series True Detective, where he supported the ensemble in unraveling intricate crime stories.[15] In film, Moon starred as David Finkelstein in the 2015 drama The Networker, a role that examined professional networking and personal ambition in a modern setting. Although listed as both an actor and director on professional databases, no major directing credits for Moon have been documented in feature films or series during this era.[1] His career trajectory post-2015 shows a slowdown in high-profile projects, with selective appearances suggesting a focus on targeted opportunities amid a quieter phase. This evolution underscores Moon's enduring presence in ensemble casts, often challenging stereotypes through nuanced Asian American characters, while his 1995 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Male Newcomer remains a key early milestone recognized throughout his professional journey.[16]Filmography
Film
Philip Moon's film career began in the late 1980s with supporting roles in independent and studio productions, often portraying characters of Asian descent in ensemble casts. His credits include both theatrical releases and direct-to-video features, spanning genres from comedy to action and drama.| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Sticky Fingers | Ike, a friend of the protagonists[17] |
| 1988 | The Laser Man | Soldier[18] |
| 1989 | Longtime Companion | Restaurant Bartender[19] |
| 1990 | A Shock to the System | Henry Park, an office colleague[6] |
| 1990 | Cadillac Man | Nightclub Selector[20] |
| 1992 | Lethal Weapon 3 | Squad Member #5, a police officer[21] |
| 1993 | The Joy Luck Club | Ken, a suitor[22] |
| 1994 | S.F.W. | Reporter[23] |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Male Newscaster[24] |
| 1997 | Playing God | Casey, a triad enforcer[25] |
| 1998 | The Big Lebowski | Treehorn Thug #1, an enforcer for Jackie Treehorn[26] |
| 1998 | Love Kills | Rookie Cop[27] |
| 2004 | Close Call | David Kim, Jenny's father[28] |
| 2006 | The Genius Club | Professor Lee, a scientist attendee[29] |
| 2007 | 88 Minutes | The Prosecutor[30] |
| 2007 | Ghosts of the Heartland | Roland Lu, a Chinese-American reporter[31] |
| 2009 | Company Retreat | Terry Yian, a corporate executive[32] |
| 2015 | The Networker | David Finkelstein, a networking contact[33] |
Television
Philip Moon began his television career with a guest appearance in the soap opera Guiding Light in 1984, playing the role of Tanaka in episode #1.9453.[35] He had a recurring role as Keemo Volien Abbott in the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 1996, appearing in approximately 20 episodes as Jack Abbott's son.[9]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Guiding Light | Tanaka | Episode #1.9453[35] |
| 1988 | As the World Turns | Tuan Ly | Unknown episodes[1] |
| 1993 | Tales of the City | Lionel Wong | Miniseries[36] |
| 1993 | Running Delilah | Technician #2 | TV movie[37] |
| 1994–1996 | The Young and the Restless | Keemo Volien Abbott | ~20 episodes[9] |
| 1996 | NYPD Blue | Eddie Wong | Episode: "Sorry, Wong Suspect"[38] |
| 2000 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Detective Steven Nimh | Episode: "The General's Return"[39] |
| 2004 | 24 | Lieutenant Jim Wong | Episode: "Day 3: 3:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m."[5] |
| 2004–2006 | Deadwood | Mr. Lee | 6 episodes, ally to Mr. Wu[34] |
| 2009 | Hydra | Dr. Kim | TV movie, archaeologist[40] |
| 2011 | CSI: Miami | Don Tillman | Episode: "Dead Ringer" (Season 10, Episode 8)[41] |
| 2014 | True Detective | Ashley Daison | Episode: "Maybe Tomorrow" (Season 1, Episode 7)[42] |
| 2015 | Hawaii Five-0 | Makai Akana | Episode: "Mo'o 'olelo Pu" (Season 5, Episode 23)[43] |
| 1998 | A Wing and a Prayer | Beastmaster | TV movie, spiritual guide[44] |
| 1998 | The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy | Valois | TV movie, galactic operative[45] |