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Entertainment • Actor

Benedict Wong

Benedict Wong is an English actor known for roles in film, television, and theatre.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Benedict Wong is an English actor known for roles in film, television, and theatre. He is widely recognised for playing Kublai Khan in Netflix’s Marco Polo, Bruce Ng in The Martian, and Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As of 2024, he also stars in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem.

Early life

Wong was born on 3 July 1971 in Eccles, Salford, Greater Manchester, England. He was raised there by parents who emigrated from Hong Kong. He attended Salford City College, then known as De La Salle Sixth Form College.

Career

He began acting professionally in the 1990s and developed a career across British television, film, and theatre. His breakthrough international visibility came from Marco Polo and later from major studio films and Marvel productions.

Notable roles

Wong is especially associated with Kublai Khan in Marco Polo, Bruce Ng in The Martian, and Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has also appeared in other notable productions including Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Recent work

As of 2024, Wong stars in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem as Clarence “Da” Shi. He also has later film projects including Bad Genius (2024) and Weapons (2025).

Key facts

  • Benedict Wong was born on 3 July 1971 in Eccles, Salford, Greater Manchester, England.
  • He is an English actor whose work spans film, television, and theatre.
  • He is best known for portraying Kublai Khan in Marco Polo and Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
  • He played Bruce Ng in The Martian (2015).
  • He stars in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem as Clarence “Da” Shi.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know Benedict Wong from widely distributed Hollywood and Netflix productions such as The Martian, Marvel films, and 3 Body Problem, all of which have had significant viewership in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Benedict Wong?
Benedict Wong is an English actor known for film, television, and theatre roles, including Marco Polo, The Martian, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
When was Benedict Wong born?
He was born on 3 July 1971.
Where was Benedict Wong born?
He was born in Eccles, Salford, Greater Manchester, England.
What is Benedict Wong best known for?
He is best known for playing Kublai Khan in Marco Polo and Wong in Marvel films such as Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
What is Benedict Wong’s connection to 3 Body Problem?
He stars in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem as Clarence “Da” Shi.
What is Benedict Wong’s background?
He is of Hong Kong descent and was raised in England by parents who emigrated from Hong Kong.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Wong
    Supports: Birth date, English actor description, and recent work in 3 Body Problem, Bad Genius, and Weapons.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0938950/
    Supports: Roles in Marco Polo, The Martian, Marvel films, and family/background details.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/benedict_wong
    Supports: Birthplace, birthday, Hong Kong-born parents, and early education/career notes.
  4. Wikipedia (Catalan) — https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Wong
    Supports: Birthplace, nationality, key roles, and Marvel film appearances.
  5. South China Morning Post — https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3284255/meet-benedict-wong-how-3-body-problem-actor-launched-himself-out-his-familys-takeaway-restaurant-and
    Supports: Background, upbringing in Eccles, and role in 3 Body Problem.