Ron Yuan
as Dr. Evan Zao
Ron Yuan is recognized as being one of the most diverse Asian-American talents in the industry. He has been cast as new head Medical Examiner Dr. Evan Zao in "CSI: NY" (2004) for Jerry Bruckheimer. He just completed the indie feature Baby (2003/I), a raw and brutal portrayal of street life in the 1980s and 1990s. He stars as Tommy, a legendary gang leader who becomes a streetwise mentor to the adolescent Baby. Ron guest-starred in David E. Kelley's "Boston Legal" (2004) playing a tattoo artist who is caught branding his victims with his own personal symbols. He also recently appeared in Doug Ellin and Mark Wahlberg's "Entourage" (2004) for HBO as the young, charismatic director Chiang Chung who comes to the US to direct his first American film.
In Coalition Films' soon-to-be-released Fifty Pills (2005) Ron stars as The Soul Man, a dangerous yet comical NYC drug lord. In Joel Silver's Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) he stars with Jet Li and DMX as the smart-mouthed brains behind a ring of terrorists. In Wolfgang Petersen's The Agency (2001) (TV), he memorably took on dual roles as a Muslim cleric and an undercover Marine double agent. In "Robbery Homicide Division" (2002) for Michael Mann, he starred as the main villain Vinh, an underground arms dealer, and recently in WB's "Black Sash" (2003), created by Robert Mark Kamen, as the prodigal son Jing Li.
The key to Ron's success is his chameleon-like ability to connect with the variety of roles he's played. Whether he's taking on the part of a computer hacker, a religious fanatic, urban gangster or a gypsy in love, he brings to the screen the core and essence of the character. He can play an inner-city drug dealer with the same commitment and conviction that he lends to a white-collar businessman. In Warner Brothers' The Art of War (2000/II) (V) (Morgan Creek), not only did he play the covert operative Ming, he was also the writer/producer/performer of the title cut on the film's score. Ron is uniquely positioned as a multi-faceted artist with a sensibility that transcends traditional cultural and racial barriers.
A product of New York, he has studied with Anthony Howarth, Roy London, Stella Adler, Uta Hagen (Herbert Berghof Studios) and John Lehne (Actor's Studio). Ron was the only non-black actor to ever play Walter in "Raisin in the Sun" (In the Park), all the while bartending (underage!) at the famous Mr. Chow's in New York. His first film was Street Crimes (1992) on HBO, playing the troubled youth Jimmy opposite Dennis Farina. His next pivotal role came when William Friedkin cast him as a young pony-tailed tech in Jade (1995) (Paramount). Ron has since played an array of characters on film, showing great range and versatility.
He recently completed voice-overs for Tim Allen's The Shaggy Dog (2006), 50 Cent: Bulletproof (2005) (VG), Narc (2005) (VG), GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (2004) (VG), "Swat IV", Riddick" and the highly anticipated Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords (2004) (VG) and Wrath Unleashed (2004) (VG), both by Lucas Arts Ent. In past years Ron did "voice-overs" for Siu lam juk kau (2001) (Miramax), Godzilla 2001 (2001) (Sony) and Agnieszka Holland's Golden Dreams (2001) (Disney).