A couple of years ago, I noticed a supporting cast member in the Hallmark universe that not only had appeared in many of my favorite movies, but his character’s name was often similar if not exactly the same in each of these films. This phenomenon is unique to but one actor I know–Nelson Wong. It had been quite some time since I had interviewed him, and thankfully, he was able to find some time to chat with me recently. In anticipation of his upcoming premiere on the Hallmark Channel, Christmas At the Plaza, it is my honor to present the actor who has embodied Kenny Kwon for so many years that they appear one and the same–my friend, Nelson Wong.
The Good Doctor
Getting to return to The Good Doctor was a really nice surprise! I love the show and watch every episode, so when I got cast as a lab technician at St. Bonaventure Hospital, I was thrilled and always hopeful I’d get to return. My first time out, I got to work with the incredibly talented and friendly Antonia Thomas (Dr. Claire Brown), and the creative dynamo that is Freddie Highmore! Watching Freddie switch from creator–he’s also an executive producer on the show–to his role as Dr. Shaun Murphy, and then, taking time out of his day to check in with me too, was just amazing! And getting to share in the craft with him and co-star Antonia Thomas was invaluable!
The Good Doctor
It was absolutely delightful to get to revisit the powerhouse cast and crew again this year, and get to work on a scene, that bridges the first season cast –along with the dashing and solid Chuku Modu (Dr. Jared Kalu)- with the vibrant and charismatic addition of Fiona Gubelmann, as the competitive Dr. Morgan Reznick. Fun fact, Dr. Reznick bribes my character, Gus, for speedier lab results with my real-life favorite donuts from Cartem’s Donuterie. #guslovesdonuts
Van Helsing
On Van Helsing, I got to visit quite a different world with director, David Winning, than the last time we’d worked together! I had a small part in Mr. Winning’s Hallmark movie Winter’s Dream, starring superstars Kristy Swanson and Dean Cain. We shot that movie in a winter wonderland of resort ski environs, against a midnight blue sky and a naturally occurring Christmas tree forest, decorated with fresh snow…So, it was quite the contrast to now work with David in a violent, heart-pounding vampire apocalypse filled with action and danger at every turn!
Van Helsing
Mr. Winning is incredibly versatile and he really nailed the action and the thrills in the vampire world, just as much as he warms hearts in Hallmark. I don’t get to do a lot of action, so I’m eternally grateful to the clever writers of Van Helsing for creating my character Nguyen, the former mall security staffer turned head resistance tactical operative. What you see with leading actors Aleks Paunovic and his character Julian, and Rukiya Beranrd‘s Doc on screen was exactly what you got off-screen –those two lead the charge and helped make, even the vampire apocalypse, feel just like home. And as for the vampires, you might be surprised to hear that Rowland Pidlubny (Scab) is a real sweetheart, and Jennifer Cheon Garcia (Ivory) has an infectious laugh, but when the cameras are rolling….let’s just say I didn’t have to act scared!
It was a real privilege to get to work on series regular David Ramsey’s (John Diggle) directorial debut on season 7 of Arrow. Mr. Ramsey’s proficiency with saying just enough and just the right thing to help me find the emotional place I needed to go made it clear to me that he is an actor’s director. And, getting to watch him co-ordinate with his co-stars, the camera crew, and the stunts and other departments for the action sequences also proved he’s mastered the technical side and works smoothly and effortlessly with his Arrow family of artists. Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, and Juliana Harkavy were a privilege and a pleasure to work with. I’m really happy to have gotten to work with team Arrow, the DC Universe, and to get to work on such high stakes drama.
Hope At Christmas
Hope At Christmas was special to me because it expanded the Kenny-verse. Let me explain… Most of the 20 Hallmark movies I’ve been in have been the result of a 25 movies (and counting) and nearly 15 years collaboration –I say collaboration, but it’s much more like a mentor-ship that I’m incredibly grateful for — with director Ron Oliver (Genius and Visionary), including this year’s Hallmark movie, Christmas at The Plaza-premiering November 28th on Hallmark Channel. Mr. Oliver originally created the character of Kenny Kwon for the Donald Strachey Mysteries series for Here TV, and has since brought back the character, or at least his name, for the movies we get to do together. Kenny started out as a hotel desk clerk and has had many jobs since then: kitchen TV show director, wedding planner assistant, dance teacher, wedding DJ etc…and he’s had 3 other names: Gerry, Chris, and Jeffrey, but in those cases, I just like to think he’s working undercover. Oh, Kenny was training to be a private investigator through the original mystery series so legend has it he’s on the case!
Hope At Christmas
Ten years since Kenny had originated, he actually returned to the same hotel location where he started as a desk clerk, but this time he was the hotel manager in the Hallmark movie A Perfect Match with the delightful duo of Danica McKellar and Paul Greene. For Hope At Christmas, Mr. Oliver had written the script along with Kenny in it –this time as a teacher moonlighting as a mall Santa –but due to scheduling conflicts was no longer able to direct. The movie was then placed in the charge of inventive director Alex Wright, thus making Hope At Christmas the first time Kenny has existed in a Hallmark movie not directed by Ron Oliver, while still benefiting from his masterful dialogue. One of my favorite lines from the movie was from Hannah: “He was walking up the Candy Cane Stairs to get to the Christmas Throne when he slipped on a gingerbread man and fell off the back of Santa’s Workshop.” 🙂
Jingle Around the Clock
On Jingle Around The Clock, it was a real treat to get to work as part of an ensemble cast as the group of friends that hang out in a coffee shop. I feel like this Hallmark movie is as close to an episode of Friends as I’ve ever experienced! Brooke Nevin, Jeremy Guilbaut, Lara Gilchrist, Latonya Williams, and Antonio Cayonne as the friends group were such a fun mix of warm, funny people, and Michael Cassidy, Andrea Brooks, and P. Lynn Johnson brought an exciting spice to the adventure.
Jingle Around the Clock
Honestly, it was so great to be around such wonderfully collaborative artists along with the leadership of director Paul Ziller, upholding Brooke Nevin’s and Michael Traynor’s original story idea, I couldn’t stop smiling from admiration, and I think that spirit of co-operation and admiration shows in our movie.
Wedding March 5
Cameron Clarkson from the investor’s group in Wedding March 5 was definitely a switch from good friend Ryan in Jingle Around The Clock! Creative and hilarious director Mike Rohl carefully guided me to keep Cameron at the right tone through his journey assessing wedding planner Annalise’s new business and the location of her current destination wedding. As Cameron was just visiting and snooping around, while the romantic dramas unfolded, I kept more of a distance to what was going on with the core gang. Still, the joy and energy of the cast was infectious and I had a great time, and in a beautiful venue! The response online was delightful! I love seeing how moved, and excited, and supportive the Hallmark audiences are, taking the time to compose so many love-tweets to the team! I’m always surprised and heartened by any recognition they have of me turning up, and the response seemed to be exactly what Mike Rohl had envisioned! People seemed to feel the stakes of the adventure rise culminating into the wedding, and then all the romance that followed.
Picture Perfect Mysteries
I can go on and on about how much I love working with our beloved director Ron Oliver. Not only do I get the benefit of his direction and years of watching him making movies, not only am I proud and excited to watch his movies as they are these elegant thrill rides that keep you safely braced with entertainment the entire time, but the experience of being part of a cast and crew, some new and some known, who together as a unit share an understanding, like, just getting the vision and what we’re doing because of Mr. Oliver’s vision, it’s a kind of magic that’s rare and it’s so great to be involved in that energy.
Picture Perfect Mysteries
It was a blast getting to shoot the wedding scene where the murder happens as so many of the cast of suspects and characters converge. I had worked with Keith MacKechnie, Michael Patrick Denis, Michelle Brezinski, and Marci T. House in other projects so it was kind of like a reunion!
Christmas At the Plaza
Yes! Kenny returns in this year’s Hallmark Christmas movie-spectacular written and directed by Ron Oliver, Christmas at The Plaza, premiering Thanksgiving night November 28th!
Christmas At the Plaza
The adventure takes place at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, when historical archivist, Jessica Cooper -played by the marvelous Elizabeth Henstridge –is tasked with creating an installation around the history of Christmas at The Plaza Hotel. Overseeing this is Ms. Amanda Clark, played by the fabulous Miss Julia Duffy, who pairs her up with dashing Christmas decorator, Nick Perrelli, played by the incredibly dashing and soulful Ryan Paevey.
Kenny goes back to his roots at the front desk of the hotel, but this time at the prestigious Plaza, and is joined by bellman Reginald Brookswater,-the legendary and masterful talent of Bruce Davison.
Along with the stellar cast, much of the team from last year’s The Christmas Train reunited on this show. Our caring producer Karen S. Spiegel, visionary and genius director Ron Oliver, me as Kenny, and the fabulous Karen Holness as Jessica’s friend Cassidy, all return for Christmas at The Plaza and it made this movie feel all the more special because of it! It truly feels like this movie is from our Christmas family to yours!
I notice that you have been doing some teaching as well. What do you enjoy about teaching acting?
with Randy Pope at Christmas At the Plaza screening
If you could work with anyone in the industry that you have not as of yet, whom would you choose and why?
I wish I could have worked with Don Knotts, John Ritter, Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams, Garry Shandling, and Philip Seymour Hoffman before they had passed on. They all brought so much to their roles and made us all feel with them so deeply.
Favorite food: FOOD is definitely my favorite! Kidding aside, I’m really glad you asked this. I like all sorts of food, but this year, my favorite meal was Thanksgiving dinner with my Mom and Dad, two sisters, brother-in-law, and my niece and nephew. As an immigrant family, this was the first time we had celebrated Thanksgiving with the traditional turkey dinner. My sisters cooked an amazing meal and it was truly a special time! Oh, by the way, we celebrate Thanksgiving in October in Canada. Thanksgiving this year, for you, is on November 28th, the same evening Christmas at The Plaza premieres on Hallmark Channel!
With Jessica Lowndes
Over the Moon in Love
Favorite show(s): I loved Three’s Company, Will & Grace, The Shield, and Psych and currently I love The Good Doctor, the CW DC Universe shows, The Good Place, Barry, and 9-1-1, GLOW, and I’m enjoying Stumptown. But mostly I watch a lot of professional wrestling!
Thank you so much for staying in touch, Ruth! I love your blog and I’m so happy to be a part of My Devotional Thoughts! Wishing you and your readers a great holiday season and a wonderful New Year!
Christmas At the Plaza
On this Thanksgiving Day when U.S. households will be able to watch the premiere of Christmas At the Plaza on the Hallmark Channel, how fitting is it to be able to feature such a talented, gracious, humble actor like Nelson? He regularly shines the lights on his co-stars and sincerely acknowledges the support of his fans amongst the Hallmark community and beyond. He does not take his job for granted, and his gratefulness goes beyond the scope of far too many in the world today who would prefer to spend their time grumbling, complaining, and desiring more than what has been so abundantly sent their way. Nelson is the ideal fit with the values and tenets of the Hallmark network, and I’m grateful that Ron Oliver and others have continued to find a place for Nelson to reflect his beacon of light and hope to a world that is sometimes dark and despondent.
If you are able to, I hope that you will tune in tonight (November 28th) for the premiere of Christmas At the Plaza on the Hallmark Channel. {The movie will premiere November 30th on the W Network.} Moreover, while you are enjoying the entertainment on your screen this evening, please consider visiting Nelson’s links below and following him where applicable. As one who faithfully welcomes the support of all and continues to interact with and demonstrate an attitude of gratitude, Nelson is the perfect person, in my opinion at least, to highlight at this Thanksgiving season of the year, and I hope that we will continue the saga of Kenny Kwon for many, many years to come!
FOLLOW NELSON
