Net Worth Ranker
What Is Kelly Hu’s Net Worth
Kelly Hu, a multifaceted American actress, activist, and former fashion model, has accumulated a net worth of $10 million. Her financial success stems from a diverse career spanning beauty pageants, television, film, and voice acting for video games.
Early Career and Pageant Success
Born on February 13, 1968, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Juanita, an engineering drafter, and Herbert, a salesman and exotic bird breeder, Kelly Hu’s early life laid the foundation for her future success. She is of Chinese, Hawaiian, and English ancestry and attended Ma’ema’e Elementary School and Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu. In 1985, inspired by her cousin, she entered and won the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant, subsequently being crowned Miss Teen USA 1985. This marked her as the first Asian-American to win the title, a significant milestone in her career. Her success in pageantry opened doors to modeling opportunities in Italy and Japan, as well as television commercials for Philadelphia cream cheese. Notably, in 1993, Hu made history again by winning Miss Hawaii USA, becoming the first former Miss Teen USA to claim a Miss USA state title. In the Miss USA pageant that followed, she placed fourth, further solidifying her presence in the public eye. Her early success in pageants and modeling contributed to establishing her brand and provided a platform for transitioning into acting.
Television Career and Roles
Kelly Hu began her television career with a role in “Growing Pains” from 1987 to 1988, where she played the Hawaiian love interest of Mike Seaver. This early role was followed by appearances in several television shows, including “Night Court,” “Tour of Duty,” “21 Jump Street,” “Raven,” “Burke’s Law,” and “Melrose Place.” These appearances, while not leading roles, helped her gain experience and exposure in the industry. 1996 was a pivotal year for Hu on television. In addition to appearing in the television film “Star Command,” she also featured in episodes of “Murder One,” “The Sentinel,” “One West Waikiki,” “Pacific Blue,” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” These diverse roles showcased her versatility as an actress. In 1997, she secured two significant roles: Dr. Rae Chang on the soap opera “Sunset Beach” and Inspector Michelle Chan on the police procedural “Nash Bridges.” “Sunset Beach,” though short-lived, provided her with a consistent role in a daytime drama, while “Nash Bridges” exposed her to a wider audience through a prime-time police series. Her role as Detective Grace “Pei Pei” Chen in the series “Martial Law,” which starred Sammo Hung, from 1998 to 2000, further boosted her profile. The series, which ran for two seasons, allowed her to showcase her martial arts skills and appeal to a global audience. Following “Martial Law,” Hu had recurring roles on “Boomtown,” “Threat Matrix,” and “CSI: NY,” expanding her range of roles in different genres. She also appeared in the television films “The Librarian: Quest for the Spear” and “Mayday.” In 2007, Hu had a main role on the short-lived ABC sitcom “In Case of Emergency,” demonstrating her ability to perform in comedic roles. Also that year, she began voicing the character Stacy Hirano on the animated series “Phineas and Ferb,” which became a long-running and popular role. Her voice acting in “Phineas and Ferb” added another dimension to her career and broadened her fan base. She subsequently appeared on “Army Wives” and had another voice role on the animated series “The Spectacular Spider-Man.” Her recurring role as Pearl Zhu on “The Vampire Diaries” from 2010 to 2011 and her recurring role on “Hawaii Five-0” during the same period increased her visibility. She also began a voice role on “Young Justice,” continuing her work in animation. Hu’s voice roles continued with major roles on series such as “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure,” and “The Legend of Vox Machina.” These roles contributed to her income and cemented her status as a sought-after voice actress. She also had recurring roles on “Arrow,” “Warehouse 13,” and “The Orville” and a main role in the first season of “The 100,” showing her continued presence in popular television series. Hu starred in the 2021 television film “List of a Lifetime,” adding another project to her extensive filmography. Her consistent work in television, encompassing both live-action and voice acting, has been a significant factor in accumulating her net worth.
Film Career and Notable Roles
Kelly Hu’s film career began in 1989 with “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan,” where she played Eva Watanabe. Although a minor role, it marked her entry into the film industry. She then appeared in “The Doors,” “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man,” and “Surf Ninjas,” gaining more experience in different genres. In 1995, she was in the thrillers “No Way Back” and “Strange Days,” further expanding her acting portfolio. Her role in the 1997 comedy “Fakin’ da Funk” showcased her comedic timing. In 2002, Hu played Cassandra in “The Scorpion King,” which was a significant role in a major action-adventure film. This role increased her visibility and led to more substantial opportunities. In 2003, she played Sona in “Cradle 2 the Grave” and Lady Deathstrike in “X2: X-Men United.” Her role as Lady Deathstrike, a villain with adamantium claws, was particularly memorable and contributed to her recognition in the superhero genre. Her subsequent credits included “Underclassman,” “Americanese,” “Undoing,” “Devil’s Den,” “The Air I Breathe,” “Dim Sum Funeral,” and “The Tournament.” These roles, though varying in size and scope, allowed her to continue working in film. In 2011, Hu starred in the drama film “Almost Perfect,” showcasing her ability to handle more dramatic roles. The following year, she had a supporting role in the dramedy “White Frog.” Hu appeared in many minor films, including “Age of Tomorrow,” “Death Valley,” and “Kepler’s Dream,” maintaining a steady stream of work in the film industry. In 2017, she starred as CIA Agent Kate Desmond in the Russian film “Maximum Impact.” Her other credits included the drama “Go Back to China,” the family adventure film “Finding ‘Ohana,” and the direct-to-DVD animated superhero films “Batman: Soul of the Dragon” and “Catwoman: Hunted,” adding to her diverse filmography. These roles contributed to her overall income and solidified her reputation as a versatile actress.
Voice Acting in Video Games
In addition to her film and television work, Kelly Hu has had a prolific career as a voice actress for video games. Her first credit was in “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords,” where she played Visas Marr. Her performance was well-received and opened doors to further opportunities in the gaming industry. She lent her voice to “Fracture,” “Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3,” “Afro Samurai,” “Ninja Blade,” and “Terminator Salvation.” Her extensive list of video game credits includes “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Batman: Arkham Origins,” “Infinite Crisis,” and “Mortal Kombat X” and “Mortal Kombat 11.” The success of these video games, combined with her consistent voice work, has contributed to her income. For example, games like Mortal Kombat X sold millions of copies, translating to significant royalties and recognition for Hu’s contribution. Royalties from successful video game titles, can be substantial and contribute significantly to an actor’s income.
Personal Life and Activism
Kelly Hu dated Ahmad Ali Moussaui from 1996 to 1998. She was later in a relationship with Gordon Gilbertson for around a year. From 2010 to 2016, Hu dated music producer Mitch Allen. Her personal life, though not directly contributing to her net worth, reflects her active social life. Hu has competed in the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, demonstrating her skills and passion for the game. Her involvement in these events has likely provided additional income through winnings. As an activist, Hu has supported organizations such as the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment, Save the Children, and Best Buddies International. Her support for these organizations highlights her commitment to social causes. She has been active in environmental activism, working to safeguard Hawaii’s ecology by supporting Reef Check Hawaii and running in the Honolulu Marathon to raise awareness. Her activism, while not directly contributing to her net worth, enhances her public image and can indirectly lead to more opportunities.
Summary
Kelly Hu’s $10 million net worth is a result of her diverse career. Her success in beauty pageants, early roles in television, memorable characters in films like “The Scorpion King” and “X2: X-Men United,” and extensive voice acting work in video games have contributed significantly to her financial success.
