View source for Tim Dang

{{short description|American actor}}
{{Infobox actor
| name         = Timothy Dang
| image        =
| image_size   = 250px
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1958|08|04}}
| birth_place  = [[Hawaii]], [[United States]]
| death_date   =
| death_place  =
| occupation   = Actor, theatrical director
| years_active = 1986-present
| awards       =
| known_for    =
| relatives    =
| spouse       = Darrel Cummings
| children     =
| website      =
}}
'''Timothy G. Dang''' (born August 4, 1958) is an American actor and theatre director originally from Hawaii of Asian origin. He served as the [[artistic director]] at the [[Asian American theatre]] company, [[East West Players]] (EWP), in [[Little Tokyo, Los Angeles|Little Tokyo]], [[Los Angeles]], California until 2016.
==Early life and education==
Dang was born on August 4, 1958, in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]] to Peter You Fu and Eloise Yuk ({{nee}} Ung) Dang.<ref name=kim>{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Eddie|title=How East West Players Head Tim Dang Turned the Tiananmen Square Crackdown Into a Musical|work=Los Angeles Downtown News|date=May 19, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2023|url=http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/how-east-west-players-head-tim-dang-turned-the-tiananmen-square-crackdown-into-a-musical/article_5ed25fb6-dd37-11e3-a6d7-0019bb2963f4.html}}</ref> Of [[Chinese American]] descent,<ref>{{cite news|last=Tran|first=Diep|title=The Long View: A Look at Tim Dang's Legacy|work=American Theatre|date=October 2013|accessdate=June 17, 2023|url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2013/10/01/the-long-view-a-look-at-tim-dangs-legacy/}}</ref> his father was an accountant at [[Shell plc|Shell Oil]],<ref name=dangobit>{{cite news|title=Funeral Notice|work=The Honolulu Advertiser|date=January 6, 1971|page=42}}</ref> and his mother was a clerk for the local District Court of Honolulu.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituaries|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date=December 15, 1991|page=29}}</ref> Dang had four older siblings:<ref name=kim /> Peter, Stephen, Edwin, and Kathleen.<ref name=dangobit /> Peter Dang died in January 1971 when Tim was 12.<ref name=dangobit />
Tim Dang attended St. Patrick School, a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[parochial school]] in Honolulu. Music and theatre were a large part of student life, and helped Dang to express himself. He then attended [[Saint Louis School]], a college preparatory institution for boys.<ref name=kim /> He was an excellent student, and took classes at the [[University of Hawaii]] while still in high school.<ref name=quan>{{cite web|last=Quan|first=Kenneth|title=Interview with Tim Dang|website=UCLA International Institute|date=July 29, 2003|accessdate=June 17, 2023|url=https://international.ucla.edu/institute/article/5895}}</ref> Although he intended to major in math or science in college, Dang was more attracted to theatre. Although the expense was significant, his mother paid for him to take dancing, piano, and singing lessons so he could advance his dreams of being on stage.<ref name=kim />
Encouraged by his oldest brother, Peter, to attend a mainland college, Dang enrolled at the [[University of Southern California]] in the fall of 1976. A financial aid package covered most of his expenses. His first role in college was as a dancer in a production of ''[[Follies]]'', and he was frequently cast in leading roles in plays at USC.<ref name=kim />
When he was a senior, Jack Rowe, a professor (and later associate dean and director of the BFA Acting program) at the [[USC School of Dramatic Arts]],<ref name=kim /> warned him that mainland film, television, and theatrical productions were not inclusive, and he would have a tough time making a living as an actor. Rowe encouraged him to find work with the East West Players.<ref name=kim />
Tim Dang graduated with a [[bachelor of Fine Arts]] degree in theatre in 1980.<ref name=quan />
==Career==
After graduation, Dang became a member of East West Players. He paid $35 a month in dues, which allowed him to take acting classes with the troupe's founders and permitted him to audition for EWP productions. He waited table and appeared in television commercials to earn a living.<ref name=kim />
He became artistic director in 1993, succeeding [[Nobu McCarthy]], guiding the company's transition from a small theatre company producing [[Equity (trade union)|Equity]] 99-seat shows, to a mid-sized company in a 240-seat house in 1995.  As a director, he has mounted productions at [[Singapore Repertory Theatre]], [[Asian American Theater Company]] in San Francisco, [[Mark Taper Forum]] New Works Festival, [[Celebration Theatre]], [[West Coast Ensemble]], and the [[Perseverance Theatre]] in Juneau, Alaska.  He has won numerous awards for directing and performing, including two [[Ovation Awards]].  He has served on the board of [[LA Stage Alliance]].<ref>[http://pinoywired.com/2008/08/11/divas-vs-tenors-a-face-off-celebrating-tim-dangs-15th-anniversary-at-ewp/ Tim Dang's 15th Anniversary at EWP] on PinoyWired.com</ref>
In 2019, Dang was awarded the Visionary Award at EWP's annual gala for his contributions toward furthering [[Asian Pacific American|API]] visibility in the industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastwestplayers.org/news/east-west-players-53rd-anniversary-visionary-awards-dinner-and-silent-auction/|title=East West Players' 53rd Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction|last=Wood|first=Ximón|website=East West Players|access-date=2019-07-11}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Even though Asians and Pacific Islanders make up the majority of the population in Hawaii, Dang saw few Asian actors on film or television as a child. Seeing [[George Takei]] play [[Hikaru Sulu]] on ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' impressed him, as Takei was one of few actors of Asian descent on TV. Dang later said that Takei became the role model for him and inspired his acting career.<ref name=quan />
==Filmography==
=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! width="60px" | Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1986
|''[[Night Court]]''
|Prince Maurice
|Episode: "Prince of a Guy"
|-
|1987
|''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''
|Tactical Officer "Main Bridge Security"
|Episode: "Encounter at Farpoint"
|-
|1990
|''[[Hunter (1984 U.S. TV series)|Hunter]]''
|Tun Roh
|Episode: "A Snitch'll Break Your Heart"
|-
|1994
| ''[[Brooklyn Bridge (TV series)|Brooklyn Bridge]]'' || Donald Lee || Episode: "War of the Worlds"
|-
| rowspan="2" |1997
|''[[Extreme Ghostbusters]]''
|Various characters
|Voice
|-
|''The Blues Brothers Animated Series''
|John Fun
|Voice
|-
|1999–2000
|''[[Batman Beyond]]''
|[[King Cobra (DC Comics)|King Cobra]], Driver
|Voice, 2 episodes<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Timothy Dang (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Timothy-Dang/ |access-date=June 5, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
|-
|2000
|''[[The Wild Thornberrys]]''
|Fareri Farani
|Voice, episode: "Song for Eliza"<ref name="btva" />
|-
|2001
|''[[The Zeta Project]]''
|Captain
|Voice, episode: "His Maker's Name"<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' || Yon Rha || Voice, episode: "The Southern Raiders"<ref name="btva" />
|}
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! width="60px" | Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1989
|''[[Listen to Me (film)|Listen to Me]]''
|Bobby Chin
|
|-
|1994
|''[[Deadly Target]]''
|Choy
|
|-
|2003
|''[[Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman]]''
|Kevin
|Voice, direct-to-video; uncredited
|}
=== Video games ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! width="60px" | Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1997
|''[[Blade Runner (1997 video game)|Blade Runner]]''
|Izo
|
|-
|2004
|''[[GoldenEye: Rogue Agent]]''
|Triad Informant
|<ref name="btva" />
|-
|2007
|''[[Uncharted: Drake's Fortune]]''
|Pirates
|<ref name="btva" />
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0199475}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dang, Tim}}
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American dramatists and playwrights of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:American theatre directors of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1958 births]]