2009 continues to be a propitious year for Asian Americans in US entertainment. From film and television, to music and dance – Asians are continuing to impress themselves onto the mainstream, into the American psyche, and are proving that they are more than just a model minority group. So in celebration of this – a Top 8(+2) of Asian American Male actors in 2009. Why 8? Because its a lucky number in Asian Culture!

Putting together these Top 10 list of Asian American male actors lists, however, is admittedly a bit of a challenge. But never an impossibility. In years’ past, a lack of Asian American actors would have prevented a list such as this. And if said list were to be compiled back then, it would have been one filled with either a) Asian actors from outside the US, or b) those from previous years in acting, and not in a single year. Fortunately, the stage and landscape in US mainstream entertainment is changing. Derailing the previous trends that put most Asian actors into categorized actors who either knew “kung-fu” or those who only spoke with a “who you?” accent, the Asian actors of today are fulfilling all sorts of roles in the US. More of the universal roles, the more human roles, and let’s be honest here – more roles calling for an Asian Actor.

So now, without further ado and for your consideration, the Top 10 Asian American Actors of 2009 (in no particular order):

Sung Kang

Sung Kang continues to be on the up and up! An American actor, he’s known for his role in the films Fast & Furious, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Better Luck Tomorrow, and Ninja Assassin.

B.D. Wong

Bradley Darryl “B.D.” Wong is an American Tony Award-winning actor, best-known for his roles as Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as Father Ray Mukada on HBO’s Oz, and for his starring role as Song Liling in the Broadway production of M. Butterfly.

Quest Crew

Although not actors in the traditional sense, they entertain – the essential heart of acting. The Quest Crew are a diverse, male dance crew best known for competing and winning the 4th Season of Americas Best Dance Crew.

Kal Penn

Kal Penn is an American film actor best know for his roles in Harold and Kumar, Van Wilder and House. Did you also know that he’s a politician? On April 8, 2009, it was announced that he would join the Obama White House as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Daniel Dae Kim

Daniel Dae Kim is an American actor and continues to rauke haute playing Jin-Soo Kwon on the series Lost.

Rex Lee

Rex J. Lee is an American actor best known for his role on HBO’s Entourage. Lee plays Lloyd, the flamboyantly homosexual assistant to Ari Gold, the bombastic agent character played by Jeremy Piven. If you’ve never seen Entourage up to this point, I highly suggest you do!

Masi Oka

Masi Oka is an Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-nominated American actor, as well as a digital effects artist. He is currently cast in the role of Hiro Nakamura in the NBC series Heroes. He has also appeared in the film Get Smart..

James Kyson Lee

James Kyson Lee is a Korean-born American actor best known for his role of Ando Masahashi on the NBC television series Heroes and recently starred in White on Rice.

Ken Jeong

Where’d this guy come from?!? Boom! In 2009, EVERYONE got to know Ken Jeong. Blending comedy & medicine all of his life, it was only a matter of time before he’d hit Hollywood mainstream. From Doct-or to Act-or, Ken Jeong has appeared in movies such as: Role Models, The Hangover, Knocked Up, The Goods, Couples Retreat, just to name a few. Watch TV? Ya, he’s there too.

John Cho

John Cho continues to re-define the image of the Asian American actor. He is a Korean-born American actor and musician, best known for his roles in the American Pie films (1999–2003) and the Harold & Kumar films (2004–present). More recently, Cho portrayed (splendidly) Hikaru Sulu in the 2009 film Star Trek, and he is currently starring in the television drama Flash Forward.

And there you have it. The Top 10 Asian American Actors for 2009. As with last year, this list is always a feat to put together, but its worth it. We need to Catalogue our Asian American history in Entertainment! ‘Nuf Said. Hope you enjoyed this year’s Top 10!

If you think we missed anyone, don’t be shy! Let your opinions be heard by sounding off in the comments. We encourage you to share this Top 10 list with your friends and family. And please, let us know what you think! ‘Til next year!

Finally, here’s the Gallery of all of your Top 10 Asian American Actors of 2009, including up-and-coming Actors, as well as those still making waves. Enjoi!

(Wanna see the Ladies?)

Click on foto for Full Bio w/video: