Haing S. Ngor

Dr Haing Somnang Ngor March 22 1940 February 25 1996 was a Cambodianborn American physician actor and author who is best known for winning the 1985 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his debut performance in the movie The Killing Fields in which he portrayed Cambodian journalist and refugee Dith Pran His mother was Khmer and his father was of Chinese descent Ngor and Harold Russell are the only two nonprofessional actors to win an Academy Award in an acting category Ngor and his close friend Jack Ong established the Dr Haing S Ngor Foundation to assist in raising funds for Cambodian aid As part of his humanitarian efforts Ngor built an elementary school and operated a small sawmill that provided jobs and an income for local families On February 25 1996 he was shot and killed outside his home in Chinatown Los Angeles Three alleged members of the Oriental Lazy Boyz street gang who had prior arrests for snatching purses and jewelry were charged with the murder They were tried together in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County though their cases were heard by three separate juries Prosecutors argued that they killed Ngor because after handing over his gold Rolex watch willingly he refused to give them a locket that contained a photo of his late wife MyHuoy All of the defendants were found guilty on April 16 1998 the same day Pol Pots death was confirmed in Cambodia Tak Sun Tan was sentenced to 56 years to life Indra Lim to 26 years to life and Jason Chan to life sentence without parole From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia