Actor Has Starred In 27 Christmas Films And Always Plays The Same Character

This actor has starred in 27 different Christmas films and has played the same character in every single one of them.

Nelson Wong has made recurring appearances in nearly 30 Hallmark Christmas movies playing the same character in all of them.

A familiar face for anyone into festive films, Wong first starred as the character Kenny Kwon in the mystery movie Third Man Out (2005) playing the detective’s sidekick.

Little did he know, he would end up reprising the same role in 26 more films.

Through shooting Third Man Out, Wong befriended Ron Oliver, the film’s director who later went on to direct Hallmark movies which can be characterised by romantic plots, feel-good humour and family-friendly fun.

Hallmark Channel

After taking on the new position, Oliver brought in Wong and actively carved out a space in each of his Hallmark films for a character named Kenny.

Wong told CBC News: "As Ron started working for Hallmark, Kenny started working for Hallmark. It's just grown into a thing.

"The fans seem to respond to it and 27 movies later, here we are."

Kenny has tried his hand at a dizzying array of careers throughout his Hallmark journey, with roles as a wedding planner, TV director and hotel manager.

Wong has joked that ‘the whole time, I've been thinking Kenny is still undercover as a detective,’ referencing the character’s first role in 2005.

The actor said: "He's just got these identities that allow him to go to these different universes."

Originally from New Zealand, Wong began acting way back in 1999 and has also made appearances in the popular TV series Riverdale - where he does not, in fact, play Kenny.

Previously, the Canadian actor has revealed his background as a Jehovah's Witness, which he admitted to leaving following his introduction to working in the film industry.

This meant Wong didn’t properly celebrate Christmas or the festive period until he began starring as the character Kenny in Ron Oliver’s Hallmark films.

He's also decidedly against the criticism that Hallmark films are 'too cheesy'.

Facebook/Nelson Wong

He said: "These Hallmark movies are actually more true to real life, I'd say - nice people trying their best given their circumstances."

Not only are Hallmark Christmas movies critiqued for their supposedly corny plotlines and themes, but the production company has also come under scrutiny for its lack of diversity as the majority of the characters are white and, when portraying love stories, Hallmark typically only represent straight couples.

However, Wong argues that the films have become more inclusive during recent years as audiences ‘are not satisfied with homogenous depictions of families’.

For example, Hallmark released its first ever gay Christmas movie last year, This Christmas House, which followed a man who's about to adopt a baby with his husband.

Topics: Christmas, TV and Film

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.