I had a different agent after 'Hook,' and they were, like, 'We don't know where to go with you. It's like you've already gone to the top of what's out there for a young Asian actor.' No one had done anything higher profile than that. And I'm, like, 'OK, but I'm only 15.'
And it's ironic that in my career I've done the black shows from 'Moesha' to 'Fresh Prince' to 'Hangin' with Mr. Cooper,' and then a lot of black films like 'Biker Boyz' and 'Love Don't Cost a Thing.'
Within the black community, I'm definitely a neighborhood celebrity.
You have to understand, when you're 15 and you're doing this Steven Spielberg movie with megastars - Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts - you know you want to be cool. I don't know how cool I'm going to look with my belly button out!
Rufio's a great iconic character for a certain generation and definitely something I'm always associated with, proud to be associated with which is cool.
'Hook' became a cult classic without all the lore.
My mother always kept us involved in various types of art.
The first time I walked onto the set of Neverland, it was like walking into another world. They built the sets extra strong, so we were allowed to play on them when we weren't filming. It was cool!
Back In 1982, I started in show business with my brothers. We started a break dancing group.
My first professional acting role was a small part in a television series called 'The Wizard.' I later had the opportunity to work on Michael Jackson's Moon-walker music video.
The actor's life isn't for everyone, but it has been extremely rewarding to me.
When preparing for auditions, I have no rituals. I just try to be as prepared as possible.
I got to see this big crazy wild man Robin Williams on the set, and got to act with him in that sense. And then I got to just have really quiet time with him in the trailer, where he's way more soft-spoken, way more introspective.
Everything you want Robin Williams to be, he delivered in spades.
