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Yao (actor)
Malaysian actor From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
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]
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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]
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Personal life
Yao is based in Brooklyn, New York City.[1]
Filmography
Film
Short films
Television
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References
External links
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