One person who was not surprised that “The Farewell” bid goodbye to any chance of an Oscar earlier this week was actor Tzi Ma, who played Awkwafina’s father in the film.

“I didn’t expect it. There were exactly zero dollars promoting the film in any way,” Ma tells Variety. “Awards are a beauty pageant. People campaign for it. The fact that we made such an audience impact is what made it so important – the recognition that we don’t have to campaign for.” (more…)

Tzi Ma (The Man In the High Castle, The Farewell) and Kheng Hua Tan (Marco Polo, Crazy Rich Asians) have been cast as series regulars in the CW pilot Kung Fu, a reimagining with a female lead of the 1970s David Carradine-starring TV series. Ma and Kheng will play the parents of the protagonist in the project, from Christina M. Kim, Martin Gero, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Warner Bros. TV, where Kim, Gero and Berlanti Prods. (more…)

Tzi Ma is a familiar face to TV fans, who will recognize him for his memorable performances in 24, Hell on Wheels, and other series—but he’s playing a different part in Netflix‘s martial arts drama Wu Assassins.

He plays the supporting but important role of Mr. Young, who is a friend and ally to Kai Jin (played by Iko Uwais) as his life changes in ways he could never anticipate. Young is Kai’s neighbour and he also owns the local grocery; he’s a grounding force in this fantastic series. (more…)

“The fact that we made such an audience impact is what made it so important”

Rush Hour star Tzi Ma has discussed two of his most recent and biggest films to date: The Farewell and Mulan.

Despite Awkwafina winning a historical Golden Globe for her captivating performance in Lulu Wang’s touching drama, The Farewell failed to receive any Oscar nominations. (more…)

Tzi Ma
Asian American Cinema Gala
The cast and crew of The Farewell received the event’s annual Vanguard Award, an honor presented to Crazy Rich Asians in 2018. Tzi Ma, who plays Awkwafina’s stoic father in the film, told THR that the momentum behind successful Asian American projects has the power to diversify the stories onscreen. (more…)