A Brief History of AAPI Representation in Hollywood, ExplainedA Brief History of AAPI Representation in Hollywood, Explained

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Like other institutions, Hollywood is built on racializing and therefore marginalizing specific groups. Jewish, Black, and Asian people, to name a few, were subjected to such horrific treatment because characters were built on stereotypes. Studios also preferred to hire Black or People of Color to be on the lots as long as they were in the background in a non-speaking role. Egregious practices such as these remain in place to this day, with several Asian America Pacific Islander actors only finally gaining recognition after being in Hollywood for over four decades.

Of course, not all the AAPI representation in Hollywood is bad. One of the first television shows that championed AAPI actors was the groundbreaking science fiction series Star Trek, starring George Takei as Lieutenant Sulu, the helmsman of the S.S. Enterprise. Sulu wasn't a caricature or a prop, but a vital member of Captain Kirk's team. By the 90s, AAPI representation expanded into films with all-Asian casts. Nearly a decade later, actresses like Sandra Oh and Lucy Liu were household names thanks to hit films and TV shows like Charlie's Angels and Grey's Anatomy.

The current landscape of Hollywood is arguably more inclusive than ever, with AAPI actors carrying the torch into animated, superhero, and other film and TV genres. While there's certainly more progress to be made, let's take a look back at AAPI representation across Hollywood's history.

In the Beginning

The first Asian movie star to make people swoon was Sessue Hayakawa, who starred in the 1915 film The Cheat. He was also the first man to share an interracial kiss on-screen in the film. While Hayakawa broke barriers, he was still subject to the racism of Hollywood executives. Director Stephen Gong explained that even with Hayakawa's immense talent, he never moved beyond a caricature to prop up white characters, as reported by Pacific Citizen.

A harmful practice that was commonplace in early Hollywood was casting actors like Hayakawa in secondary or extra roles, with minimal lines that relied heavily on stereotypes. Yet when a studio wanted to "diversify," a well-known white actor would use makeup, prosthetics, and a stereotypical accent instead. The harmful practice of yellowface, for example, made it possible for Mickey Rooney to star in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

To Go Where No One Has Gone Before

For most of Hollywood's early history, harmful tropes were so commonplace, AAPI actors had little chance of becoming household names. Then in the 1940s, a martial artist debuted a new form of cinema, blowing the gates wide open for AAPI actors. Bruce Lee is the most iconic martial artist and movie star. Over his career, he starred in 33 films where the harmful tropes of Hollywood didn't corner him or other actors.

During Lee's reign on the big screen, a science fiction TV series debuted starring another prolific AAPI actor. In Star Trek, the crew of the SS Enterprise traveled through the depths of space under the command of Captain Kirk. As captain, he entrusted Lieutenant Sulu as helmsman of the ship.

Related: Best American Movies with an Ensemble Cast of Asian Characters, Ranked

George Takei, the actor who portrays Sulu, wasn't reduced to any trope. Sulu was an equal crew member and a beacon of hope to aspiring AAPI actors in the 1960s. The role is so significant because he was written as a man given an incredible responsibility, just like every other SS Enterprise crew person.

Back in the 90s

By the 1980s, films became more futuristic and nostalgic of previous decades. Yet with the nostalgia came the growth of stereotypes of marginalized and racialized groups. AAPI actors were once again pushed into the background to prop up white actors and stories. Throughout Hollywood history, AAPI actors who became household names were typically men.

At the turn of the decade, however, the 1990s ushered in a new era of AAPI actresses. In 1993, an all-Asian-American cast graced the silver screen in The Joy Luck Club. The film is mostly Asian-American women who play mother and daughter. Each mother-daughter pairing struggles with the expectations of women between the generations. The Joy Luck Club paved the way for future AAPI actresses.

While Academy Award Winner Michelle Yeoh's acting career began in the 80s, her breakout role came nearly two decades later in the 007 film, Tomorrow Never Dies. Within four years, she won her first BAFTA for her role as Yu Shu Lien in the groundbreaking film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

Related: The Rise of Asian Directors and Film in Hollywood

Y2K Action Film and TV Drama Era

With the success of the 2000s Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, the opportunities for AAPI actresses grew exponentially. AAPI women weren't reduced to stereotypes to the extent that AAPI men were in film or TV. In the 2003 film Under the Tuscan Sun, actress Sandra Oh found her breakout role as Patti. Two years and one film later, she signed on to play an intern in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. As Dr. Cristina Yang, Oh portrayed a doctor interning with her best friend. Dr. Yang spoke her mind because she cared more about the truth than sugarcoating things for people.

Another breakout actress of the 2000s was Lucy Liu. Just like other AAPI actresses, Liu had been in films and TV shows for at least a decade before her breakout role. The film version of the 70s hit series Charlie's Angels was released in 2000, starring Liu as Alex. Her performance was so incredible, she began starring in other hit films like the Kill Bill, Kung-Fu Panda, and Tinkerbell sagas.

Casting Beyond Stereotypes

As far as AAPI characters have come, Hollywood still has a long way to go. As Medium points out, the landscape for AAPI actors and stories are still whitewashed. Films like The Last Airbender, Ghost in the Shell, and Doctor Strange replaced AAPI characters with white actors. Moreover, the villains in these films were of South Asian descent, sending a harmful message about dark-skinned people.

Additionally, AAPI actors like Steven Yeun and Michelle Yeoh were the first of their ethnicities to be recognized at awards ceremonies despite being well-known and outperforming their white counterparts for nearly four decades. That said, films like Raya and the Last Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and the live-action remake of Mulan cast an ensemble of AAPI actors, so maybe the light is at the end of the tunnel. With conscientious casting and storylines that honor the distinct AAPI cultures, proper celebrations and acclaims could ensue.