Who was Peter Kwong? Actor known for starring in "Big Trouble in Little China" dies at 73

Peter Kwong, known for playing Rain in Big Trouble in Little China, has died. He was 73.

Variety has reported that the actor—whose character was one of the three martial arts warlocks known as the Three Storms in John Carpenter’s 1986 action classic—passed away in his sleep on Tuesday night. At the time of writing, the exact cause of death remains unclear.

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Also known for his contributions to The Golden Child, his agent, Theo Caesar, confirmed his passing to Entertainment Weekly, noting that Kwong was “a great guy.”

Peter Kwong's life and legacy explored:

Per Entertainment Weekly, Peter Kwong starred in The Golden Child in 1986, which featured Eddie Murphy as a private detective in search of a special missing child.

Kwong began his acting career in the mid-ʼ70s, with credits in major TV series such as Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, Dynasty, 227, and Miami Vice. He also starred in the 1986 film Never Too Young to Die, alongside John Stamos and Gene Simmons. Kwong co-starred with Christian Slater in the 1989 action drama Gleaming the Cube.

However, his most well-known role remains in Big Trouble in Little China, in which he starred alongside Kim Cattrall and Kurt Russell, a longtime Carpenter collaborator. While the film has since achieved cult classic status, Variety reported that it was a commercial flop at the time of its release, grossing only $11 million against a $20 million budget.

Variety also noted that Peter Kwong was just as prolific behind the camera, having served on the SAG National Board of Directors for over a decade. He was also a member of the Television Academy Board of Governors, the AFTRA National Board of Directors, and the Actors Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“He had a wonderful life and career,” his longtime friend Peter R.J. Deyell told Deadline.

“I watched him fight for the things he believed in, and I championed him for that. At the TV Academy, we were both very active and sometimes joked about being in the Pin Club, as we always wore our pins. He was always a gentleman and willing to help.”

Kwong was a trained martial artist, having studied Northern Shaolin kung fu and Chinese kata. He was also skilled in wielding weapons such as swords, staffs, spears, and nunchaku.

Fans have taken to social media to mourn Peter Kwong’s passing, with many lauding him for his contributions to cinema.

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