Made professional acting debut in a New York production of Androcles and the Lion at age 20 in 1982.
Changed his stage name from Bradd Wong when producers of M. Butterfly wanted to keep the gender of the show's main character in question.
In 1988, became the first actor to be honored with all five major New York theater awards for a single role, receiving a Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Clarence Derwent and Theatre World awards for his work in M. Butterfly.