Legendary stuntman and actor Al Leong, who's appeared in fan-favorite action films like Die Hard and Big Trouble in Little China, has been hospitalized.
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The 74-year-old was rushed to a hospital in California last week following a stroke, according to TMZ. However, the outlet's sources wouldn't reveal any further details, saying Leong's family had requested privacy.
Of course, Leong has been a familiar face to film and TV fans for decades. The expert martial artist made his acting debut in 1981's Going Ape. However, his first big screen appearance saw him as a circus performer rather than the signature villain roles he'd go on to play.
Per IMDb, Leong soon went on to work with prolific directors on high-profile projects. He played Wing Kong Hatchet Man in John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China in 1986. Leong reteamed with Carpenter on 1988's They Live and 1996's Escape from L.A.
He also portrayed the sadistic Endo in director Richard Donner's Lethal Weapon, famously torturing Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs in the 1987 blockbuster. He'd reteam with Donner in 1998's Lethal Weapon 4 as a henchman of Jet Li's antagonist character.
Al Leong Lands His Signature 'Die Hard' Role
However, what would become his signature role was in 1988's Die Hard. He played Uli, one of several terrorists under Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber. Uli is taken down in a hail of gunfire from beleaguered NYPD cop John McClane (Bruce Willis).
The following year, Leong played a rare high-profile comedy role. He took on the part of none other than Genghis Khan in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure alongside Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves.
Leong went on to appear in films like Ridley Scott's Black Rain, Beverly Hills Cop III, and The Scorpion King. On TV, the actor enjoys a deep bench of credits including The A-Team, That '70s Show and 24. His last credit to date is the 2020 thriller, Death by Midnight.
Meanwhile, the actor's current condition remains unclear, including whether he remains hospitalized. Here's hoping Leong makes a full recovery ASAP.
