Ken Leung

A character actor known for his intense, often unnerving portrayals, Ken Leung not only impressed audiences, but virtually every director who had worked with him. After years of stage work and several small roles in indie films and on television, he found a powerful advocate in director Brett Ratner, who first cast him in the action-comedy "Rush Hour" (1998) and later in the thriller "Red Dragon" (2002). He went on to exhibit extraordinary dexterity in projects as diametrically opposed as the horror movie "Saw" (2004) and the family drama "The Squid and the Whale" (2005). Counted among the filmmaker's favorite actors, Ratner brought Leung onboard once again for the final chapter of the superhero franchise, "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006). One year later, the Asian-American actor gave such a magnificently raw performance as a mental patient in a final season episode of "The Sopranos" (HBO, 1999-2007), that producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse created a role specifically for him on their hit series "Lost" (ABC, 2004-2010). The fact that the character Miles became a fan favorite after being dropped into such an established ensemble cast was a true testament to Leung's ability. Equally capable of deeply nuanced dramatic turns and disarmingly comic performances, Leung was a true actor's actor.