Editing Haing S. Ngor (section)

==Career==
Despite having no previous acting experience, Ngor was cast as Cambodian-American journalist [[Dith Pran]] in the biographical drama film ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'' (1984)—for which he won the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]],{{Sfn|Kim|Fugita|Cordova|1999}}<ref name="AP" /><ref name="yellowbridge.com"/><ref name="David Ng">{{cite news |last=Ng |first=David |title=Unauthorized play about Oscar-winner Haing S. Ngor causes friction |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-killing-fields-haing-ngor-20130714-story.html |access-date=July 12, 2024 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 17, 2013}}</ref> becoming the [[List of Academy Award winners and nominees of Asian descent#Best Supporting Actor|first actor of Asian descent to win the award]] and one of the only two amateur actors to win an Academy Award, following [[Harold Russell]].<ref name="HN-actor">{{cite web |title=Actor |url=http://www.haingngorfoundation.org/actor.html |website=Haing S. Ngor Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724235340/http://www.haingngorfoundation.org/actor.html |archive-date=July 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 6, 2007}}</ref> Ngor was not initially interested in the role, but interviews with the filmmakers changed his mind, as he recalled that he promised his wife to tell Cambodia's story to the world. After appearing in the film, he told ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', "I wanted to show the world how deep starvation is in Cambodia, how many people die under communist regime. My heart is satisfied. I have done something perfect."<ref>{{cite web |last=Donahue |first=Deirdre |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20089843,00.html |title=Cambodian Doctor Haing Ngor Turns Actor in the Killing Fields, and Relives His Grisly Past |publisher=People.com |access-date=2013-08-05 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220832/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20089843,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1987, he published his autobiography,<ref name="AP" /> ''Haing Ngor: A Cambodian Odyssey'', in which he described his life under the Khmer Rouge.{{Sfn|Kim|Fugita|Cordova|1999}}<ref name="David Ng" />

Ngor went on to appear in various other onscreen projects, most memorably in ''[[Vanishing Son]]'' (1994–1995) and the biographical war drama film ''[[Heaven & Earth (1993 film)|Heaven & Earth]]'' (1993). He also appeared in the Hong Kong action film ''[[Eastern Condors]]'' (1987).

Ngor appeared in a supporting role in the 1989 Vietnam War drama ''The Iron Triangle and'' guest-starred in a two-episode storyline on the acclaimed series ''[[China Beach]]'' (episodes "How to Stay Alive in Vietnam 1 & 2"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lemaster|first1=Donna|title=China Beach an Episode Guide|url=http://epguides.com/ChinaBeach/guide.shtml#ep034|website=epguides|date=May 14, 2005}}</ref>) as a wounded Cambodian [[prisoner of war]] who befriends Colleen McMurphy while under her care. Ngor guest-starred in an episode of ''[[Miami Vice]]'' called "[[List_of_Miami_Vice_episodes#Season_3_(1986–87)|The Savage / Duty and Honor]]".

In ''[[My Life (film)|My Life]]'' (1993), Ngor portrayed Mr. Ho, a [[Faith healing|spiritual healer]] who provides guidance for Bob Jones ([[Michael Keaton]]) and his wife Gail ([[Nicole Kidman]]) after Bob is diagnosed with terminal cancer, months before the birth of the couple's first child.