Actor BD Wong rose to fame with the Tony Award-winning performance of Song Liling in the 1988 Broadway musical “M. Butterfly.” He went on to pick up more roles on stage and on screen, including a 14-year run portraying Dr. George Huang in the TV series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Through all his successes and achievements, he’s faced personal obstacles, as well as having to face the challenge of being a gay Asian actor in an industry where most of his peers didn’t have his same background.

In this episode of “Life In Seven Songs,” Wong details his journey as a boy growing up in the Sunset District nurturing his love of musical theater, to New York City as a young man where he lived in an apartment that was owned by the mafia. He talks about how the tragic loss of his baby made him a more confident public speaker, and how now, as an industry veteran, he’s championing Asian representation in the entertainment industry.

Here’s his playlist:


  
The Supremes, “Stop In The Name of Love”



  
Charlie Rich, “Behind Closed Doors”



  
Pacific Overtures OBC/Stephen Sondheim, “There Is No Other Way”



  
Al Jarreau, “Boogie Down”



  
Elton John, “The Greatest Discovery”



  
Beyonce, “Love On Top”



  
Dr. John, “Accentuate the Positive”

Life in Seven Songs

The San Francisco Standard

BD Wong on music, identity, and fighting for Asian American visibility

JAN 13, 202636 MIN
Life in Seven Songs

BD Wong on music, identity, and fighting for Asian American visibility

JAN 13, 202636 MIN

Description

Actor BD Wong rose to fame with the Tony Award-winning performance of Song Liling in the 1988 Broadway musical “M. Butterfly.” He went on to pick up more roles on stage and on screen, including a 14-year run portraying Dr. George Huang in the TV series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Through all his successes and achievements, he’s faced personal obstacles, as well as having to face the challenge of being a gay Asian actor in an industry where most of his peers didn’t have his same background. In this episode of “Life In Seven Songs,” Wong details his journey as a boy growing up in the Sunset District nurturing his love of musical theater, to New York City as a young man where he lived in an apartment that was owned by the mafia. He talks about how the tragic loss of his baby made him a more confident public speaker, and how now, as an industry veteran, he’s championing Asian representation in the entertainment industry. Here’s his playlist: The Supremes, “Stop In The Name of Love” Charlie Rich, “Behind Closed Doors” Pacific Overtures OBC/Stephen Sondheim, “There Is No Other Way” Al Jarreau, “Boogie Down” Elton John, “The Greatest Discovery” Beyonce, “Love On Top” Dr. John, “Accentuate the Positive”