Asian Characters with Western Names

[Shuriken]

I recently received a private message expressing some displeasure with Lucy Liu’s character in Cypher having the European name “Rita Foster.” Other examples of Asian (American) characters with Western names include Kim Miyori as Wendy Armstrong on St. Elsewhere and Maggie Han as Ms. Fannuchi in Murphy’s Law.

In fact, I hear that when Ming-Na gets cast non-traditionally as a character with a Western name, she insists that the name not be changed to an Asian one. Her reasoning is that Asian Americans with non-Asian names exist. I imagine that another reason is because she believes that if more industry people see her playing a character with a non-Asian name, they will think of her (and other Asian American actors) for parts not written as Asian.

Of course, the overwhelming examples of Asian American performers playing characters with non-Asian names — those that I can think of — are female. I have seen an Asian American male play a Western-named character only a couple of times, and their characters weren’t as central to the story as the Western-named Asian American women were.

Of course, to state my preference, I would rather see Asian American characters have Asian names. I think that at this time in history, it’s important for audiences to see that an American character can have an Asian name and still be just as American as any other U.S. citizen. But I can understand how someone like Ming-Na would feel differently — and I don’t think that a Western-named Asian American character is anything to go neuclear over.

I’m curious what others think. How do you feel when a part played by an Asian American performer has a European surname?

[kimpossible]

I think it happens with DDK quite a bit too. In guest spots on CSI and... dang, forgot the other one I saw him on but he had fully Western name in both roles. I figured they had written the script before casting and didn't bother to change the name.

[lethal]

I'd like to see Asian American characters have names similar to how they would generally be in real life, that is American first names and Asian last names.

Why is it that Hollywood has to go with a full Asian name and a full American name? What's wrong with having a character named Michelle Kim or Dan Wong?

[TB4000]

To some it may appear that every Asian woman, if it is mostly woman, in the fictional world are automatically married to someone non-Asian if their name isn't a traditional Asian one. Though on the flip side I suppose it does have a positive aspect if it means choosing someone for a role simply for the acting talent and not because they can play the role of the mistreated chinese restaurant owner.

[nameless]

I’m curious what others think. How do you feel when a part played by an Asian American performer has a European surname?

My main reaction is to applaud the actor, since I reason that the part was not specifically designed for an Asian and he or she got the part out of talent. However, a part of me would still like to see Asian surnames when the role is race neutral or doesn't have a specific back story (i.e. adopted, hapa, married out).

First, I would just like for it to be shown that, as you said, Asians can also be Americans. Second (and this is probably just a personal thing), when I see the Western last name and Asian face, it makes me question the character. And if I never see the European parents / spouse, it just takes me out of the story. I dunno, maybe it's just me thinking too much. Still, why have such an aspect to a character if it's not going to be addressed?

[hooligan]

Doesn't bother me at all. Although, it would be nice to see some actors/actresses with Asian surnames. Even if they happen to be Lee.

[Faithless]

I think the non-Asian surname thing is dumb.

And I'm sure it makes non-Asians snicker as well.

That's what cracked me up about Rita Foster.

But maybe it's the case that the part came first, and the Asian actor/actress second.

How often are parts re-written to fit the ethnicity of the actor playing the part?

[jtran81]

that's exactly the case....the asian actor won the part against everyone.....I have no problem with keeping the character in the script exactly as is....I mean, it's what the actor auditioned for correct ? And you can just say they were adopted....it doesn't matter at all.

[nameless]

Not to take over the thread, but...does this somehow justify (or lead to the justification of) non-Asians playing as Asians? I don't mean yellow face, just...say, a story that takes place in Chinatown and the restaurant owner is white or black guy...goes "I'm John Wong, the manager. How can I help you?" and then leaves. I'd be like WTF. I think it's just better to change the names so the audience doesn't jump to any conclusions.

[returntosender]

In fact, I hear that when Ming-Na gets cast non-traditionally as a character with a Western name, she insists that the name not be changed to an Asian one. Her reasoning is that Asian Americans with non-Asian names exist. I imagine that another reason is because she believes that if more industry people see her playing a character with a non-Asian name, they will think of her (and other Asian American actors) for parts not written as Asian.



Speaking of Ming-Na, she's a very strong minded asianamerican activist-so I'm actually a little surprised by those comments.

To me, unless a nonasian name is absolutely critical to the story, I see no reason for them. A lot of white looking people have asian last names because of a mixed ancestry, but you never ever hear of it.

[tapestrybabe]

i dont think i actually mind...
if they play a character with such a name...
but what gets me tho...
when an asian actor has to change
their actual name all together to a western name...
in order to get more recognition
from the public...

i remember the topic of ben kingsly...
his origional birth name is krishna bhanji
and as an actor,
whats up with him having to change
his actual name as a performer...
in order to appease others...

[Shuriken]

Not to take over the thread, but...does this somehow justify (or lead to the justification of) non-Asians playing as Asians? I don't mean yellow face, just...

You’re not hijacking this thread at all, Nameless. I think that’s a very important corollary to the initial question.

I’m not the horse’s mouth on this subject, but I’ve seen a couple of times in the past that when a supporting character originally written with an Asian name is cast with a non-Asian actor, the creators have changed the character’s name.

For example, the now-defunct CBS show Citizen Baines originally had a Chinese American supporting character named Michael Lin. However, the part ended up going to a white actor, so the show changed the character’s name to Michael Lynn. (I’m guessing that the character’s Chinese ethnicity was not germane to the part.) I was disappointed to hear that an apparently acculturated Chinese American character was written out of the show. Well, the series was short-lived and is now canceled, so it would have only been a fleeting victory if the character had stayed in.

[hkRT]

If the character is asian american, I prefer either the first or the last name to reflect their asian heritage. e.g. Amy Leung, Ka Wai Morris. I also would like to see the whole cast pronounce the asian names right, like Leung is not Lee- ung but something that resembles LERN (if it is a cantonese last name)

Also, changing Michael Lin to Michael Lynn is ridiculous. It completely hides the name Lin as if it were either some kind of embarassment or extra-terrestrial language. I think that it is important for people to see asian names as normal names and pronounce them right.

[LaiSteve66]

The only excuse I see for Asian characters to have a Western last name would be scenarios where an Asian women is the wife of a White man (or Black) or an orphan adopted by a Western family.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I know more than one or two Chinese people that spell their last name "Louie" instead of "Lui". I also knew this Ukrainian girl and she told me that her family changed their surname from Tapperkova to Tapper or something, so now her last name is Tapper, which I think is like...worse...but I dunno :tongue:

[abc!]

For the most part it doesn't really bother me if they have non-Asian surnames if it's not pivotal to the character or story. I agree with others that I'm more stoked that the actor got the role even though they're Asian. On the other hand, I also don't see why it's so hard to change the surname to an Asian one, either. Archie Kao's character on CSI is Archie Johnson but he's a minor role character anyway. If the actor feels really strongly about the issue I'm sure presenting it to the director couldn't be out of the question. That's very interesting about the Michael Lin/Lynn example though, I never thought about that before. Certainly sounds like a double standard but currently I don't see it as a big deal.

By the way Napolean, I don't think your aquaintences that spell their last name "Louie" versus "Lui" was their concious choice. It was probably given to them when their family came to this country by some immigration clerk who didn't know any better, and they've been using that spelling ever since. Plus of all the different dialects that China has, it's hard to know that Wang in Mandarin is the same as Wong in Cantonese. Also, now that you mention your Ukranian friend, did you know that Kirk Douglas' birth name is Issur Danielovitch Demsky (Russian-Jewish)?