Tzi Ma Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Movies, Height, TV Shows, Career, Ethnicity

Tzi Ma, is a Hong Kong-American actor whose nuanced portrayals have reshaped Asian representation in Hollywood across stage, screen, and television for over four decades.

Celebrated for roles that blend quiet intensity with profound emotional depth—from the cunning consul Cheng Zhi on 24 to the stoic father in The Farewell—he has lent his distinctive presence to blockbusters like Rush Hour and Mulan, alongside indie gems such as Tigertail and Arrival.

His commitment to authentic storytelling, rooted in theater collaborations with David Henry Hwang and a refusal to accept stereotypical parts, has positioned him as a quiet force for cultural visibility, earning critical praise and a lasting imprint on diverse narratives.

Profile

• Full Name: Tzi Ma
• Stage Name: Tzi Ma
• Born: 10 June, 1962
• Age: 63 years old
• Birthplace: Hong Kong
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor
• Height: 1.65m
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: 6
• Spouse: Christina Ma (m. 1994)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Tzi Ma was born on June 10, 1962, in Hong Kong, to parents whose names are not publicly known.

He immigrated to the United States at age five with his family, who settled in Staten Island, New York, and ran a Chinese restaurant called Ho Wah.

As the youngest of seven children, he grew up helping at the family business while discovering his artistic side early on, landing the role of Buffalo Bill in an elementary school production of Annie Get Your Gun.

He briefly explored pre-med and political science to satisfy his traditional parents but soon pivoted to the arts, studying theater and dance at Columbia University, where he earned a degree in theater.

His ethnicity is Chinese, and his religion remains unknown.

Career

Tzi Ma began his career in the vibrant New York theater scene of the 1970s, immersing himself in off-Broadway productions while working at his family’s restaurant to make ends meet.

He made his professional acting debut in 1973 with a role in a Beijing opera adaptation, portraying the Monkey King in a 1975 production that marked his first major stage break.

Drawing on his martial arts training, he transitioned to film with a small part in the 1979 Andy Warhol-backed Cocaine Cowboys, but theater remained his anchor—collaborating closely with playwright David Henry Hwang on plays like FOB and The Dance and the Railroad, which were tailored for him.

Guest spots on shows such as The Equalizer and MacGyver followed in the 1980s, building his resolve to sidestep demeaning stereotypes despite limited roles for Asian actors, and leading to his first notable film turn as the villain in 1992’s Rapid Fire opposite Brandon Lee.

Ma’s momentum built through the 1990s and 2000s with a string of supporting roles that showcased his range, from the explosive Dante’s Peak in 1997—where he played a resilient town mayor amid volcanic chaos—to the high-octane Rush Hour in 1998 and its 2007 sequel as the crafty consulate agent.

His television breakthrough arrived with the recurring role of Cheng Zhi on 24 starting in 2005, a sharp Chinese official whose intellectual cat-and-mouse games with Jack Bauer spanned seasons four through six and resurfaced in 2014’s Live Another Day, earning him a dedicated following for his understated menace.

This period also saw him voice characters on Star Trek: The Next Generation and delve into indies like Golden Gate, while his theater work culminated in Obie-nominated performances that honed his emotional precision for later dramatic peaks.

Tzi Ma commands acclaim for lead turns that highlight immigrant resilience, such as the introspective patriarch in Netflix’s Tigertail and the wise father navigating family secrets in The Farewell, both drawing from his own cultural touchstones.

His portrayal of General Shang in the live-action Mulan and the alien liaison in Arrival underscore a versatility that spans sci-fi to historical epics, while starring as Jin in the CW’s Kung Fu reboot from 2021 to 2023 infused the series with grounded paternal warmth.

Through voice work in animated fare like American Dad! and advocacy for AAPI artists via organizations like East West Players, Ma’s contributions foster deeper, more humanized depictions that echo across generations of storytelling.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @tzi_ma
• Twitter Handle: @tzi_ma
• Facebook Handle: Tzi Ma

Personal Life

Tzi Ma married actress Christina Ma in December 1994, forging a partnership built on shared creative passions that has endured for three decades without the spotlight of public drama.

The couple has no children.

Filmography

• Rapid Fire (1992)
• Dante’s Peak (1997)
• Rush Hour (1998)
• The Ladykillers (2004)
• Rush Hour 3 (2007)
• Arrival (2016)
• The Farewell (2019)
• Tigertail (2020)
• Mulan (2020)

Net Worth

Tzi Ma boasts an estimated net worth of $5 million.

His financial foundation rests on steady earnings from high-profile film appearances in franchises like Rush Hour and prestige projects such as The Farewell, rounded out by television residuals from series like 24 and Kung Fu, plus selective theater engagements.