John Lone was born Leung Kwok Ng on October 13, 1952, in Hong Kong. He was raised by a single mother until the age of seven, when he was sent to be schooled with the Peking Opera. This marked the beginning of a brutal and grueling life, but Lone proved to be a diligent and tireless student. At the age of 13, he received sponsorship to continue his education in the United States, where he attended Santa Ana Community College and later the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena and New York.
At college, Lone met his first wife, Nina Savino, an Asian American studying drama and art, and they married in 1972. They divorced in 1979. Lone's stage name, John, was chosen because it was a variant of "dragon" in different Chinese dialects, and he intended to harness the power of the dragon for his life.
As a theatrical workaholic, Lone became part of the East/West Players, a group of notable Asian actors, and performed in various productions, including "Pacific Overtures" as the Lion Dancer. He also danced, sang, wrote, and directed, and signed with the Bessie Loo Agency, which represented many Asian talents at the time.
Lone's early career consisted of small television roles, local theater, and lots of study. His first real break came with the Di Laurentis remake of "King Kong," where he played the ships cook. This was followed by his poignant and powerful performance in "Iceman," which he played without dialogue. The film opened the doors of his career to Michael Cimino and Bernardo Bertolucci, and made him a household name in the United States.
In addition to his acting career, Lone has also directed an acclaimed documentary on Chinese Railroad workers in America, which aired on PBS. He was voted one of the 50 most Beautiful People of the Year by People Magazine in 1990.
Today, Lone spends his time between New York, China, and Canada, where he continues to act, direct, produce, and even nurture a singing career. Despite being an intensely private man, his enigmatic persona has become a large part of his attraction.
