Episode #194: Lawrence Kao TALKS 'Walker Independence' & 'Wu Assassins'

It is a pleasure to welcome actor and dancer Lawrence Kao to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Born in Hacienda Heights, California, his parents groomed Lawrence to become a pediatrician. However, when his mother forced him to play musical instruments as a kid, his path toward a future in the arts began. He received a bachelor’s degree in Theater at the University of California at Irvine. While at the university, he expanded his passion for dance and joined the Kaba Modern dance group. Lawrence and the group found themselves in the national spotlight when they auditioned for the inaugural season of MTV’s American Best Dance Crew. Week after week, the group’s impeccable choreography impressed judges JC Chasez, Lil Mama, and Shane Sparks, and the audience and Kaba Modern took home third place.

After graduating from the University of California at Irvine, Lawrence worked at award-winning theater companies such as the Guthrie Theater, East West Players, South Coast Repertory, and San Diego Repertory. In addition to joining the dance group Kinjaz, Lawrence continued to land roles on several popular television shows such as Hawaii 5-0, Law & Order: SUV, NCIS: Los Angeles & New Orleans, The Originals, and The Walking Dead.

Recently, Lawrence Kao was a series regular on Netflix’s Wu Assassins, where he portrayed Tommy Wan. He reprised the role in the 2022 original film Fistful of Vengeance. He joined the cast of the CW’s latest Walker spin-off: Walker Independence, as Kai. Kai is a newcomer to the town of Independence, looking to restart his life. Actors Katherine McNamara, Katie Findlay, Matt Barr, and Justin Johnson Cortez also star in the show.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Lawrence Kao spoke about portraying Tommy Wah in Netflix’s Wu Assassins and Fistful of Vengeance, plus teased Walker: Independence fans about Kai’s journey during the first season.

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