Martial arts star and Big Trouble in Little China actor Peter Kwong has died at the age of 73, with the star passing away in his sleep earlier this week
Big Trouble in Little China star Peter Kwong has died aged 73, his representative have confirmed. The actor and martial artist was best known for playing Rain in John Carpenter’s 1986 classic film alongside Kim Cattrall and Kurt Russell.
The actor died in his sleep on Tuesday night, with his representative sharing no further details. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, his agent Theo Caesar said that he was “a great guy”. The Californian actor took on roles in The A-Team, Wonder Woman, Little House of the Prairie and Miami Vice throughout the ’70s and ’80s.
Since the sad news broke, Peter’s fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to the iconic film star. One wrote on X: “Peter Kwong who played Rain in Big Trouble in Little China has sadly passed away. Another small piece of our childhood gone. RIP.”
Another tweeted: “This is shocking and I’m saddened that Peter Kwong, the actor who played “RAIN” has passed away in his sleep overnight at the age of 73. Peter, will forever be to me, RAIN, the coolest cat, ever with long locks to wear a two piece suit! #RIP.”
Meanwhile, Too Close for Comfort star Lydia Cornell paid tribute to the late star, revealing that they were meant to be appearing in a film together. “I’m gutted,” she wrote. “My dear friend Peter Kwong passed away. We’re co-starring as vampires in a film shooting this Friday.
“Just reconnected at @ChillerTheatre. Fly with the angels Peter. Till me meet again.”
Peter began his career in 1976 in the TV show Visions, before taking on roles in Wonder Woman, Dynasty, Never Too Young To Die.
However, his big break came in 1986 when he landed the role of Big Trouble in Little China – a fantasy action-comedy that tells the story of a truck driver who helps his friend rescue his fiancée from bandits in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
In the film, Peter played Rain – one of the Three Storms. Carter Wong took on the role of Thunder while James Pax played Lightning. While the film didn’t make much at the box office, it has become a cult classic in recent years.
Peter also appeared in The Golden Child in 1986 alongside Eddie Murphy, who played a detective looking for a missing child.
In recent years, Peter had voiced the role of Mike in animated series Pepito’s Mamadas and appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Lethal Weapon and in the music video for Ed Sheeran’s hit Sing.
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