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The buzz surrounding Paramount Network’s upcoming limited series, “Waco” is palpable and SpoilerTV is beyond thrilled to be conducting an interview with one of the show’s stars, Rich Ting!

For those who are not familiar with the events surrounding “Waco,” the show will chronicle the 1993 standoff between the Branch Davidians, a spiritual sect led by David Koresh, and the FBI and ATF. The series premiered on the Paramount Network on January 24, 2018. 

Rich, we are so glad to have you joining us for your first interview with SpoilerTV! Your background in acting, modeling, and martial arts is beyond impressive. For fans that are just getting to know you, can you give us a quick background on who you are and what you are passionate about?

Hi! My name is Rich Ting, and I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Having been inspired by the legendary martial artist, Bruce Lee, I began my training of martial arts at the age of 4-years old and earned my 1st-degree black belt at the age of 12 years old. I have continued my martial arts training to the present day studying Tae Kwon Do, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, Jiu Jitsu, as well as various weapons, including nunchucks, boa staff, knives, samurai swords, and Filipino escrima sticks. When my family relocated to the Bay Area, I went to high school in San Francisco where I played Varsity football, basketball, baseball, and ran track and field. I went on to fulfill my first childhood dream of playing Division I collegiate football at Yale University where I won an Ivy League Championship in 1999. After successfully graduating with a B.A. in history, I continued my graduate studies by attending law school and M.B.A. school.

Throughout my undergraduate and graduate school careers, I trained (as a hobby) at different acting studios as a way of pursuing my childhood dream of being a Hollywood actor. After graduating from both law school and business school, I was coincidentally approached and asked by stunt coordinators in Hollywood if I would be willing to do stunts in some upcoming feature films. With absolutely zero knowledge or experience in the film making industry, I decided to take this challenge as an opportunity to learn and educate myself on set etiquette, film and television culture, as well as just “jumping right into the fire.” I promised myself (and also notified my close friends and family that were in the stunt business) that I would work in stunts until I was able to completely cross over to the acting side of the industry. As a result, I was fortunate enough to work on various major Hollywood feature films gaining and obtaining an immense amount of knowledge and insight about the film making industry.

My career as an actor began in Los Angeles, cast for “Lenny” in the TV series, “Beyond the Break” (2007-2009) and “Heatblast” in the Warner Brothers’ (Cartoon Network) feature film, “Ben 10: Race Against Time” (2007). That same year, I was also cast in the feature film, “Deadly Impact” and in 2009, I debuted on the big screen alongside Angelina Jolie in the film entitled, “Salt.” It has been an absolute dream come true for me to be working in Hollywood as an actor, and I continue to live the dream everyday I go to set and perform my craft in front of the cameras.

Okay, now that we know a little bit more about you, let’s jump right into the “Waco” questions! On the show, you play Lon Horiuchi, one of the FBI snipers during the Waco incident. How did you prepare for this role?

I was cast by director, John Erick Dowdle, as the recurring character of the F.B.I. Hostage Rescue Team (H.R.T.) sniper and former U.S. Army officer, “Lon Horiuchi.” He was the critical sniper that shot Vicki Weaver during the F.B.I. siege at Ruby Ridge in 1992. (In 1997, Horiuchi was charged with manslaughter for the death of Vicki Weaver at Ruby Ridge, but the charges were later dropped). He was involved in controversial deployments during the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff and 1993 Waco siege. As a result, the series opens with the events at Ruby Ridge and follows Horiuchi’s involvement all the way to the siege of the Waco compound in 1993.

Coincidentally, this was my second casting as a true, real life character starring alongside fellow actor, Taylor Kitsch. (I previously filmed with Taylor Kitsch in the feature film, “Lone Survivor,” where I played U.S. Navy Seal, “James Suh.”) In prepping for this real character, I did an extensive amount of research on the personal history of Lon Horiuchi, his accomplishments throughout his post military life, career in the F.B.I. as well as the various geographic locations where he grew up and lived. Thanks to the detailed background and additional information provided by our director and executive producers on “Waco,” I was able to dial into exactly what they wanted to capture on camera in the critical moments at Ruby Ridge and Waco, Texas.

“Waco” covers a traumatic and deadly incident in American history. Why do you think it’s important to share this story twenty-five years later?

“Waco” is extremely true, real, and overall, convincing. The accuracy and close resemblance of all the characters in the series as well as the actual Waco compound are truly outstanding. I am excited for the fans to see our series as it depicts the critical events prior to and during the entire 51-day siege of the Branch Davidians’ Waco compound. From what I have seen while filming, I believe that the audience will be exposed to a side of David Koresh, played by Taylor Kitsch, that is unfamiliar and untold from the original media coverage. In 1993, millions of people around the world viewed the siege of Waco through the eyes and lenses of the news and mass media. “Waco” provides the viewers with an inside view and perspective of not only David Koresh, himself, and his Branch Davidians but also from the eyes of the FBI, ATF, and local Waco residents.

What were some of your favorite aspects about working on the show? 

Due to the obvious nonfictional and true story of “Waco,” there was a definite serious vibe on set as well as an overall excitement in creating something for the public that has never been told or seen i.e. through the eyes of David Koresh and his Branch Davidians. Our director, John Erick Dowdle, and executive producer, Drew Dowdle, were extremely helpful and insightful on providing the actors, including myself, with specific details about the individual characters, events taking place on our shoot, and their overall vision with each particular scene. Everyone, including both cast and crew, were extremely motivated and dedicated to recreating and capturing on film the actual events that took place from 1992-1993 involving both the events at Ruby Ridge and the eventual siege of the Waco compound.

“Waco” features an incredibly talented cast! What was it like working with Taylor Kitsch, Melissa Benoist, Julia Garner, and Michael Shannon?

It was an absolute privilege to work with all of our incredibly talented cast on “Waco.” However, it was the second time in my career that I had the opportunity to film alongside both Taylor Kitsch as well as Melissa Benoist. Having played U.S. Navy Seal “James Suh” alongside Taylor (“Sgt. Matthew Murphy”) in “Lone Surivor” as well as “Metallo” in “Super Girl” alongside Melissa Benoist, it is always comforting to have already worked with a fellow actor on any future project.

Despite being one of the nicest actors I have worked with (as well as being a “cool dude”), I have always respected Taylor’s range as an actor and truly enjoy being in the presence of such performers as I continue to learn and fine tune my craft as well. One funny story I will not forget when I ran into Taylor (who plays “David Koresh”) at the gym in Santa Fe, New Mexico (where we were filming on location). He was so skinny and emaciated that I honestly believed it was the real “David Koresh” working out on the stationary bike. The accuracy and close resemblance of all the characters in the entire “Waco” are truly outstanding.

In addition to your work on “Waco,” you are starring in, “Warrior,” an upcoming show on Cinemax. This show is inspired by Bruce Lee’s writings and work in martial arts. What can you tell us about your role as Bolo, the top lieutenant of the Hope Wei Ton?

The drama is inspired by an idea from the late martial-arts star Bruce Lee. “Warrior” is an action series set against the backdrop of the Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the second half of the 19th century. It tells the story of Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who immigrates from China to San Francisco and becomes a hatchet man for one of Chinatown’s most powerful organized-crime families. Based on the real character and close friend of Bruce Lee, “Bolo Yeung,” I am playing the character of “Bolo,” the universally feared fighter and top lieutenant of the Hop Wei Tong. It has also been an absolute pleasure and privilege to be working with such a diverse group of extremely talented actors. Having actors from all over the world, including Canada, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, United Kingdom, South Africa, and the U.S., has definitely impacted and influenced the positive vibe and excitement while filming due to the overall diversity, culture, and energy that each specific actor brings to set.

This project has impacted me in so many ways due to my childhood connection with Bruce Lee, as he was the sole reason for why I began studying martial arts at the age of 4-years old and continues to be one of my lifelong idols. Having the opportunity to work with his daughter, Shannon Lee, as well as director/executive producer, Justin Lin, executive producer, Danielle Woodrow, and writer, Jonathan Tropper, words cannot express how honored I am to bring to life an idea, vision, and dream of the legendary martial artist and my childhood idol, Bruce Lee. Ironically, throughout my life, I have often been referred to and called “Bolo” or “Chong Li” from my family, close friends, and numerous athletic teammates. Known for his notorious characters in “Enter the Dragon” and “Blood Sport,” Bolo Yeung has been someone I have also idolized due to his muscular physique and overall strong character acting. Being cast as “Bolo” in “Warrior” represents the biggest win of my career thus far as I am portraying the most iconic and hyper-masculine Asian character known throughout the world in a TV series written and created by the greatest martial artist of all time. I would never have imagined I would be given such an opportunity as a 4-year old child watching both Bruce Lee and Bolo Yeung in “Enter of the Dragon.”

You have an extensive background in martial arts and have credited your interest in the sport to Bruce Lee. Can you tell us about the impact of martial arts on your life?

Bruce Lee was the sole reason why I began my martial arts training at the age of 4-years old. I remember learning how to play, pause, and rewind my parents’ beta machine replaying and rewatching all of Bruce Lee’s films. I self taught myself how to use the nunchucks, boa staff, various other weapons by simply watching and studying his techniques and style throughout all of his films.

Martial arts have always been a significant part in my life. It emphasizes and strives to teach self-discipline, self-control, integrity, focus, commitment, balance, and perseverance. All of these qualities apply to not only the craft of acting but to life in general. My martial arts training established the foundation of not only my biomechanics as an athlete but also the mental, emotional, and spiritual structures of having self-discipline, self-respect, self-control, and perseverance. I believe that with the culmination of both my martials arts training and the morals and lessons established by my parents at a young age, I have been able to stay focused and committed on being not only an obedient and respectful son but also a well-grounded individual. Throughout the various adversities we are confronted with and face in everyday life to our individual careers to our personal relationships, I am grateful and extremely thankful for my parents allowing me to begin my martial arts training at such a young age so that all of these values and foundational qualities could be installed and integrated into my early development as a young child. I believe that these same qualities co-exist and intersect with my training as an actor, and I continue to use all of the tools and techniques from my martial arts background to help me grow and mature as an actor.

What other upcoming projects are you currently working on and when can we look forward to seeing you on the screen next? 

In 2017, I was cast as “Keith Jenloe,” the managing partner of an investment bank, on the CBS TV series, “NCIS: Los Angeles.” I will be returning as a recurring character on “NCIS: Los Angeles” in 2018.

I also filmed an independent feature entitled, “Prisoner of Mind,” which will be making its premiere in the upcoming 2018 film festival circuits. I play the character of “Paul Nguyen,” a graduate student at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., who works as a tour guide for people visiting the National Mall, including the Vietnam Memorial. Unbeknownst to Paul, Vietnam War vet, “Sgt. Matthew Medder,” has been stalking and studying Paul and his family’s background. Sgt. Medder, a Vietnam P.O.W. who was a prisoner in a North Vietnamese prison camp, discovers that Paul is the grandson of the North Vietnamese commander that held him captive. Suffering from severe post traumatic stress disorder (P.T.S.D.) as well as various other mental illnesses, Sgt. Medder strategizes and eventually seeks revenge on his former captor by kidnapping and torturing Paul. The film focuses on the numerous illnesses as well as P.T.S.D. that our war veterans suffer from and experience upon returning home from war. Throughout the intense dialogue and conversations between Paul and Sgt. Medder, it becomes evident that these war veterans continue to require additional medical care and attention throughout their recovery and assimilation back into mainstream society. The film addresses the issues of revenge, hope, forgiveness as well as the impacts and influences of religion, including Christianity.

“Warrior” is scheduled to premiere on HBO’s Cinemax channel in late 2018.

When you aren’t acting, how do you kick back and relax?

In my spare time, I enjoy working out and exercising at the gym or outside at the beach. I believe in living a healthy lifestyle and always dedicate myself to staying in shape and eating well. I love to discover new eateries and restaurants. Last, I absolutely love spending time with my 11-year old teacup maltese, Bada. I enjoy the simplicities of being at home on the sofa with Bada next to me as we watch TV and just chill.

Is there anything that we haven’t covered today, that you would like to share with your fans?

Even though I have already had the opportunity to work with Angelina Jolie on “Salt” in 2010, it would a dream of mine to work with her again as either a fellow actor or under her direction, as she has been directing more of her recent projects. Besides her obvious beauty and skill, I have come to respect and truly appreciate her more current films that she has directed and developed behind the camera. I think she is an extremely creative and brilliant filmmaker, and I would jump at the opportunity to work with her again in the future. After working with her on “Salt,” I cannot put into words how incredible, professional, and loving she is as a person. I remember telling my mom after wrapping this film, “I now know why every woman wants to be like Angelina Jolie.” I will never forget this memorable time working with her as an actor but more importantly getting to know her as a person. It would be such an honor to say that I have not only worked with her as a fellow actor but have also been directed by her.

Rich, did you get to meet or talk to Lon Horiuchi before portraying him in “Waco?” If so, what was that like?

No, unfortunately, I was not able to meet or speak with Lon Horiuchi before portraying him in “Waco.”

You have modeled for everyone from Versace to Armani, which have been your favorite campaigns, and can you share a picture from them with us?

Some of my favorite modeling campaigns include Louis Vuitton, Adidas, and Gucci. Here is a picture when I modeled for Louis Vuitton:

It must be exciting filming and modeling all over the world. Where have been your favorite places to work? Is there anywhere you haven’t travelled yet and would like to go?

I have had the opportunity to model in various extraordinary locations throughout both Asia and the U.S. However, the most memorable place that sticks out to me in my career as a model is San Francisco, CA. In 2009, I was selected as 1 of 11 top male models in the entire U.S. to model for the Macy’s Passport Fashion Show. Even though we toured this runway event in different cities, the San Francisco show was one of the biggest highlights for me as a model as I returned to the Bay Area, where I had went to high school and where my parents had been living. All of my friends and family members were able to attend and share this incredible honor of being selected as a top model to walk the longest catwalk runway in the U.S. wearing some of the industry’s top international brand names hosted by the late Elizabeth Taylor and actress, Sharon Stone. I will never forget seeing my mom in the audience as she witnessed me on this epic runway stage working the catwalk as one of the top male models in the U.S.

I have always wanted to travel to Iceland. One of my close family friends travels to Iceland yearly, and I am always at a loss for words when I see all of her photos and videos of the beautiful, untouched land and environments of Iceland. I hope to travel there someday and see all of this natural beauty first hand.

If you could play any role, what would it be and why?

Because I am a hopeless romantic at heart, I truly enjoy watching romantic comedies. If I could play the love interest on a romantic comedy that would be an absolute dream come true. All of my close friends who know me very well always say that I should pursue comedy. I think starring in a romantic comedy would not only satisfy my personal interest but also solidify what all of my friends have been pushing me to do in the my acting career.

You are in incredible shape, what is your diet and workout schedule?

First, thank you very much for this humbling complement. Honestly, consistency is the key to staying in great shape. I have been weight training and working out since I was in high school and continue to lift weights and do as much cardio as I can whether it is jogging, riding the bike, or swimming. I usually try to do about an hour of cardio and an hour of weight training 5-6 times a week. The most important element, however, is my diet. I try to eat 4-5 meals a day, consuming most of my carbs during the day and eliminating all sugars and excess sodium in my diet. I eat a lot of red meat, chicken, and fish as well as take all the essential vitamins, proteins, amino acids, and probiotics.

Rich, thank you so much for your time! We have really enjoyed our time with you and we look forward to watching your work on “Waco,” as well as your future projects!

Be sure to follow Rich Ting on Twitter, IMDb, and Facebook! 

Interview Conducted By: 

Kelly Anne Blount
SpoilerTV Writer
USA TODAY Bestselling Author

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Rich Ting’s acting career has come full circle in an inspiring way.

You might recognize Ting from his previous roles on NCIS: Los Angeles and Supergirl or as James Suh on the 2013 film Lone Survivor. Next up, Ting stars as Lon Horiuchi on Paramount Network’s Waco and as Bolo on the upcoming Fall series, Warrior.

I recently had the chance to chat with Ting about the decisions that led him to become an actor and his roles on both Waco and Warrior.

“I am a fourth generation Asian American,” Ting began. “My grandparents were born in Los Angeles and Oakland California, and so, to say the least, I’ve been around for a while in the states, growing up in a household where my mom, she’s of Japanese descent, and my dad is of Chinese descent, they only spoke English. The only kind of culture we had was eating white rice and removing our shoes before entering the house, and that was more due to my mom’s anal retentiveness and not dirtying the floors and all that stuff. That being said, I always was fascinated from a very young age with the martial arts and Bruce Lee.”

“At the age of four, I began studying martial arts and training, so what motivated me to start training at the age of four was my exposure to Bruce Lee and his films when I was three,” Ting continued.

His focus on athletics continued throughout his childhood. “I was expected to participate in the traditional sports including football, basketball, baseball, and track, and which I continued to do all the way through high school. I lettered in all four sports and went on to play college football at Yale University, which was my first childhood dream,” he recalled.

He kept up his martial arts training as well, but there was always another lingering dream for Ting.

“I remember growing up and not being able to really identify with anyone on the small screen or the big screen. A lot of my friends that I played these sports with were predominantly African American, and I was the only Asian kid on the football team, on the basketball team, on the baseball team, on the track team — and all my friends had idols. They all loved this actor, or this hero, or this cartoon character,” he recalled.

“For me the only person that I kind of related to [was] Bruce Lee, and later on Jackie Chan and Jet Li and those kinds of guys. But I was always curious — where’s my Asian American hero? What station can I turn on the channel and be like wow, there’s an Asian American dad, or there’s an Asian American boyfriend, or there’s an Asian American lawyer or fireman?” Ting said.

“I never found that person, and I always wondered, ‘where am I?’ so to speak. You know, where is my Hollywood idol or icon that I can connect to just on a visual level. And I never found that person. So throughout the years as a kid, I became very intrigued with, what if I could be that first Asian American leading man. What if I could star in a TV series or be in a big blockbuster Hollywood studio film and influence another kid [who is] in a similar situation?” he continued. “That was always lingering in the back of my head.”

At Yale, Ting focused on studying the humanities and earned his B.A., then went on to earn a dual J.D./M.B.A. degree. He also started modeling and eventually taking acting classes. “It was like my stress relief,” he admitted, noting that breaks from work or school were often spent attending those acting classes and workshops.

“There was like this lingering dream of acting and it kept following me wherever I went, and long, long story short, I came back to downtown Los Angeles in the summer of 2007 to take a job at a firm in LA, and coincidentally I was approached by stunt coordinators in the industry who were family and close friends of mine that have kind of known me my whole life.”

Those connections got Ting started doing stunts, and once he was on the WB lot with the first job, he decided he had to continue in the business.

Ting credits working hard at everything he did with leading him to this point.

I use a quote from Bruce Lee,” Ting said. “His quote is, ‘running water never grows stale, so you gotta just keep on flowing.’ And to me… that’s me in a nutshell.”

Waco, which stars Taylor Kitsch, Melissa Benoist, and Julia Garner, is based on the true story of the 51-day standoff that began with an ATF raid of a religious sect and resulted in a deadly fire. The series will reveal the untold story exploring the true-life details leading up to the 1993 standoff between the FBI, ATF, and David Koresh’s spiritual sect, The Branch Davidians.

The opportunity to work on this series was something Ting simply couldn’t pass up.

“It’s my second project playing a real character. My first was Lone Survivor playing Navy SEAL James Suh. I had the opportunity to work with Peter Berg on that one, and ironically Taylor Kitsch as well, and just to represent true life people that have served in our US military is the ultimate honor I think as an actor. You know, we give thanks to these U.S. military and armed service people all the time, but then who really gets an opportunity to play one of these guys on television or on the big screen and to represent them? To me it was an easy decision,” Ting shared. “I continue to be totally humbled by it.”

For Ting, playing the role of a real person meant doing a few things, the first being to “keep it very simple.”

“We are actors, and the most I can do is play this character to the best of my ability and to give it 150%. And in doing that, [I do] as much research as I can individually — researching the person, his past, reaching out to family and friends, which can be a bit sensitive at times depending on where they are and if they want to talk about it. You have to respect the families and friends number one,” Ting noted.

“More importantly, though, it’s the production itself. Like for Waco, John Dowdle and one of the producers Drew Dowdle, his brother, they were very specific with me in how they wanted me to portray him and giving me great direction. At the same time, they left it open for me to interpret as well.”

Ting also spoke to what makes this particular project unique.

“We all saw the real thing happen on the news, and David Koresh was painted in a certain color. What I think is so special about our project is that it gives the perspective and the point of view not only from the mass media. You see David Koresh. You see what happens inside the compound. You see what happens through the minds of the Branch Davidians themselves, and I feel like a lot of people just thought they were a bunch of crazy people, but then you start to get to know these characters individually. The detail and specificity and just the overall attention to [what] really happened inside and outside of those walls. You get to see the point of view from the FBI. from the FBI HRT unit, from the ATF, from the police, from the local people of Waco, Texas.”

“You get to really see a full 360-degree picture of it. It starts with the writers, it continues with the actors, and I believe casting and the directors and producers did an awesome job just picking the talent for this show and forming an excellent roadmap for the whole thing,” he continued.

In addition to Waco, Ting can also be seen on the upcoming series, Warrior, which is currently slated to premiere this Fall on Cinemax. That’s the project which Ting said really brings things full circle for him.

“Growing up, like I said, the inspiration for my martial arts career let alone just kind of lifestyle and mentality has been Bruce Lee, and never would I have thought being a four-year-old kid watching Enter the Dragon that I would be doing a production that was inspired, created, and thought about by the man himself. The thing that’s cool about Warrior is that it’s a period piece set in the 1880s in Chinatown, it focuses on the Tongs, or the gangs of Chinatown at the time, as well as the politics, the economics, the culture of San Francisco,” Ting explained.

“I play the character of Bolo, which fans around the world know who Bolo is. Bolo Yeung is a scary, big, muscular Chinese warrior that always fought with or against Bruce Lee,” he said.

“For me, there are two ironies about this project. One is Bruce Lee himself. The man who inspired me, I get to now carry out his dream. Number two is because of my athletic background, physically I was always a bit bigger than the other Asian kids that I grew up with.”

“Early in my life, a lot of friends and family would call me Bolo to kind of make fun of me because I was bigger than them,” Ting continued. “So come full circle, I remember when I got the call that they wanted to see me for Bolo, I just started laughing, and I thought, you couldn’t have predicted this.”

“I could never have dreamt of playing the character of Bolo in a series created by Bruce Lee. So I am beyond humbled, I am beyond flattered, to be a part of this phenomenal production.”

Be sure to catch Rich Ting on Waco, airing Wednesdays at 10/9c on Paramount Network (premieres tonight), and be on the lookout for Warrior, coming soon to Cinemax.

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