Who Is Hoon Lee? Meet the Powerhouse Supporting Actor in Florence Pugh's 'East of Eden'

'East of Eden' is currently among the top shows on Netflix. Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh, unsurprisingly, takes the spotlight in the seven-episode limited series. She takes the role of anti-hero Cathy Ames in the adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel.

However, another name is making waves from the series: Hoon Lee, whom many have attributed as the beating heart of the show. Hoon plays the character coincidentally named Lee, who creator Zoe Kazan describes as the antithesis of Cathy.

Who Is Hoon Lee?

Hoon has been making movies and shows for close to 25 years, or almost half of his life. The 53-year-old was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He went to Harvard University, where he earned a degree in English literature and environmental studies in 1994.

His first acting gig was in the Broadway production of 'Urinetown.' He continued working in theatre and received the Distinguished Performance in the Theatre World Award for 'Yellow Face' in 2008.

In 2003, Hoon started getting guest roles on TV, starting with an episode of 'Sex and the City.' He finally received a regular gig in 2012, voicing Splinter in the animated series 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' until 2017. He bagged a main role in 'Banshee' (2013-2016), 'Warrior' (2019-2023), 'See' (second season, 2021) and 'Your Friends and Neighbors' (2025-present).

But it wasn't until 'East of Eden' that he finally got the adoration he deserved—many will also argue that he was already well-loved on 'Banshee.' Hoon also had minor film roles in 'We Own the Night' (2007), 'Premium Rush' (2012) and 'Mulan' (2020).

Two Wolves: Cathy and Lee

Zoe Kazan's grandfather, Elia Kazan, directed the 1955 film adaptation of 'East of Eden' starring James Dean. In creating the limited series, Kazan said she saw Cathy and Lee as two wolves.

'I really saw all the labor that he was doing and all the choices he was making with these boys,' said Kazan. 'I felt like inside me are two wolves. One is Cathy, one is Lee. There's a part of me that wants to throw the baby in the well and walk out the door and be free, and there's a part of me that is showing up every day and wiping their butts and putting food in mouths.'

Indeed, Lee stepped in as a parent to the Trask children—Cal (Joseph Zada) and Aron (Joe Anders)—when their mother physically left them and their father, Adam (Christopher Abbott), was emotionally absent.

It is why the audience fell in love with Lee as he became the mother and the father who stepped up. Hoon called it Lee's 'found family.' 'It's something that Lee desperately wants. And I think one of the things that's beautiful about that relationship is that it is not the thing that either of them set out to create,' Hoon said.

Internet Reaction

On social media, one said: 'Hoon Lee pocketed the entire show with his exceptional performance, and class. The diction, the expressions, and the delivery.'

'I knew Florence Pugh would deliver in Netflix's East of Eden and she does, but the surprise best performance for me was Hoon Lee!! Absolutely beautiful work,' another shared.

Another hopes this will finally give Hoon a much-deserved Emmy: 'Lee is the best character on #EastOfEden: the father and mother those children deserved... He carried the show. Hoon Lee, I'll get you that Emmy.'