Chris Pang, an Australian actor with a unique journey into the world of entertainment, truly made his mark on the international stage in 2016. That year, Chris Pang joined the second season of the hit Netflix adventure drama Marco Polo (2014– ), a role that would become his major breakthrough in the United States. Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Chris Pang never originally planned to pursue acting as a career. His parents were both accomplished martial arts instructors, and growing up, Chris Pang spent much of his childhood immersed in the disciplined practice of this centuries-old tradition.

For many of his formative years, Chris Pang focused intensely on mastering martial arts. But eventually, he discovered a passion for performance and began auditioning for film and television roles back home in Australia. He started small, landing minor appearances in Australian films and TV shows during the late 2000s. Then came a turning point: in 2010, Chris Pang was cast as one of the leads in the action-adventure film Tomorrow, When the War Began. The movie became a box office success in Australia, instantly thrusting Chris Pang into the national spotlight.

From there, opportunities began to flow more steadily for Chris Pang. Over the next few years, he appeared in a string of notable projects, including Citizen Jia Li (2011), I, Frankenstein (2014), and First of the Dragon (2014). In 2016, Chris Pang took on a role in the Netflix action film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, further expanding his reach. Not long after, he secured what many consider his breakout part—playing Arban in the second season of Marco Polo—a performance that showcased his range and helped solidify his presence in American entertainment.

With his U.S. career clearly gaining momentum, Chris Pang reached new heights in early 2017 when he was cast in the highly anticipated, big-budget adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel Crazy Rich Asians. The film, which also featured stars like Constance Wu and Gemma Chan, brought even greater visibility to Chris Pang and introduced him to a global audience. It was another pivotal moment in the evolving journey of Chris Pang, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected paths lead to the brightest spotlights.