Renowned film Director widely known for his romantic comedies like Maid in Manhattan and Last Holiday. His film A Thousand Years of Good Prayers premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and earned him a Golden Shell at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
He studied film and television at the California College of Arts and Crafts and by 1975 had made his first film A Man, a Woman, and a Killer.
He made an appearance in the Arthur Dong documentary Hollywood Chinese.
He was born and raised in Hong Kong. His father named him after his favorite movie star, John Wayne. He moved to the US at seventeen to study at medical school. He married former Miss Hong Kong, Cora Miao.
He both produced and directed The Joy Luck Club, a film starring Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Mulan Actress Ming-Na Wen.
