Yao (actor)

Last updated
Yao
Born
Thomas Pang

1990or1991(age 34–35)
Malaysia
Education
Known forBo Chow in Sinners

Thomas Pang (born 1990 or 1991), known by the stage name Yao, is a Malaysian [1] actor based in the United States. He is known for playing Bo Chow in Ryan Coogler's film Sinners (2025). [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Yao was born Thomas Pang in Malaysia to a Filipino mother and Malaysian Chinese father. [2] [3] His stage name, Yao, "is derived from his Chinese name" and is used to pay homage to his great-grandfather. [1]

He is a graduate of the Lasalle College of the Arts at University of the Arts Singapore in Singapore, and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University in 2023. [1]

Career

Yao has been active in Singaporean theatre and television, winning a Straits Times Life Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in Hand to God at the Singapore Repertory Theatre. [1] [4] He starred on the Singaporean television series Scrum Tigers [5] and The Last Bout. [6]

Yao has appeared in Singaporean movies like Tiong Bahru Social Club and #LookAtMe. [1] [7] For his doubling role in the latter, he was awarded Best Performance by the 2022 New York Asian Film Festival. [2]

In 2025, Yao made his Hollywood debut in Ryan Coogler's Sinners as Bo Chow, a Chinese American grocery store owner and husband of Grace Chow, acted by Li Jun Li. [8] [9] Yao had auditioned, via tape, while living in Labrador Park, Singapore; after landing the role, he and Li researched more about the Chinese American community in the Southern United States. [1] [10] For the film's juke joint dance sequence wherein various cultural personages are represented, Yao was asked by the film crew to propose the Asian diaspora's iconic figures, after which he suggested that Sun Wukong make an appearance. [11]

Personal life

Yao is based in Brooklyn, New York City. [1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2020 Tiong Bahru Social Club Ah BeeTan Bee ThiamCredited as 'Thomas Pang'
2022 #LookAtMe Sean Marzuki / Ricky Marzuki Ken Kwek
2025 Sinners Bo Chow Ryan Coogler

Short films

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2014Kill the RabbitFrankPhil Giordano
2017MarathonInterior Ministry SoldierWe Jun Cho

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019Scrum TigersTerry15 episodes
2023-24The Last BoutTommy Law11 episodes

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Yao brings the Southeast Asian experience to Ryan Coogler's horror movie Sinners". The Straits Times. 2025-04-16. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 2025-05-12. Malaysian actor Yao, who plays grocer Bo Chow in his Hollywood movie debut...
  2. 1 2 3 Evangelista, Jessica Ann (2025-04-16). "Fil-Malay actor Yao on working with Hailee Steinfeld, Michael B. Jordan in 'Sinners'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  3. ↑ Wong, Silvia. "Singapore film festival stands by banned film '#LookAtMe' (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  4. ↑ "Ken Kwek's #LookAtMe to premiere at New York Asian Film Festival". The Straits Times. 2022-07-11. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  5. ↑ Scrum Tigers - mewatch . Retrieved 2025-06-12– via www.mewatch.sg.
  6. ↑ "The Last Bout". Content Distribution. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  7. ↑ Adlakha, Siddhant (2022-08-01). "Singaporean Indie Flick '#LookAtMe' Is More Than Just Social Media Satire". JoySauce. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  8. ↑ Gularte, Alejandra (2025-04-22). "Sinners Consultant Dolly Li Explains Inclusion of Chinese Delta Community". Vulture. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  9. ↑ Grobar, Matt (2024-05-01). "Newcomers Yao, Miles Caton & Peter Dreimanis To Round Out Cast Of Coogler-Jordan Thriller". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  10. ↑ Bui, Neil (2025-04-11). "Sinners: Meet Li Jun Li and Yao (Grace and Bo Chow)". Dorkaholics. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  11. ↑ Xiao, Jessica (2025-04-25). "Chinese Americans in Jim Crow South represented in 'Sinners'". AsAmNews. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
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