Family’s harrowing escape from Vietnam mirrors acclaimed HBO Max series
Vietnamese-American actor, musician and producer Tien Pham sees a deep connection between his own family’s harrowing journey and the story depicted in Robert Downey Jr.’s acclaimed limited series, The Sympathizer. Pham plays the role of “the wayward captain” in all seven episodes of the series, now streaming on HBO Max.
The first episode of “The Sympathizer” depicts the perilous escape of Pham’s parents as they secretly escort their six-month-old son, Thien, out of Vietnam amid a chaotic withdrawal of American troops and the collapse of the government. To avoid detection by the Communists, Pham’s parents give him tranquilizers to keep him quiet during the perilous journey through the jungle to the Vietnamese coast, where an escape boat awaits.
The family’s voyage to the island near Hong Kong lasted two weeks, during which they faced extreme hardship, including food shortages. The overcrowded boat full of refugees drifted precariously close to the surface. Despite the dire conditions, the family made it to shore, from where they were transferred to a refugee camp plagued by hunger and disease. Malnourished and ill, Thien spent much of his time in the camp’s hospital. After 18 months, a Buddhist association sponsored their emigration to the United States.
The Nguyen Pham family settled in East Los Angeles, where Thien discovered his talent for music and became a singer, pianist and guitarist, and although they initially expected him to pursue a more traditional career, his parents eventually recognized the success and inspiration he brought to the Vietnamese American arts community through his acting.
Pham has appeared in stage productions and commercials (including Land Rover’s global campaign “Above and Beyond”), had a guest role opposite LL Cool J on “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and has played leading roles in film projects in the U.S. and abroad. His role in “The Sympathizer,” based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and produced by Park Chan-wook and executive produced by Don McKellar, is one of his most significant roles to date. The series delves into political intrigue, tragedy, and a complex web of characters in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
Thien Pham is represented by Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica.
