Does it have to be a male actor? Lucy Liu has been in several things, not playing a stereotypical asian chick. Like Cashmere Mafia (her show that got cancelled) or Charlie's Angel. Ok, so there is some martial art type fight scenes, but she is playing a character that was white from the tv show.
I suppose Lucy Liu or Sandra Oh (on Grey's Anatomy) are good examples -- but they're still part of an ensemble cast. Still, I admit they're having some success breaking the glass ceiling.
I'm still trying to think of anyone who has a major lead in a feature or an non-ensemble show who is not playing something particularly "Asian" or "martial art," etc. Drawing a blank.
As an actor, I find myself always cast or sent to auditions for Asian-specific roles. Occasionally I get sent to something that calls for "any ethnicity" which is kind of nice. But often if a role is not written for an Asian, I don't get an audition, even if the role doesn't necessarily have to be white or black. I can think of many roles on TV or in movies where, I believe, actors of all colors could have played, but ultimately the roles would end up getting played by a white actor, and occasionally a black actor, and RARELY an Asian actor.
p.s. woo hoo, I got my own thread-split!!!
