Ing was well associated with the musical
Flower Drum Song by
Rodgers and Hammerstein. He played the role of Wang Ta in numerous tours and stock productions, performing in the piece more than any other actor. Ing appeared in the musical
Chu Chem in 1966, but the production closed before it reached Broadway. Prior to his Broadway career, Ing appeared in two
Off-Broadway shows. Ing made his
Broadway debut in
Stephen Sondheim's
Pacific Overtures in 1976. His performance in the original production of
Pacific Overtures was also recorded and broadcast on Japanese television. Ing returned to Broadway in 2004 for a revival of the same show, playing one of his original parts, the Shogun's Mother. Due to his connection to
Flower Drum Song, Ing was also a part of the 2002 Broadway revision, with additions by
David Henry Hwang. In 1996, Ing appeared at the
Singapore Repertory Theatre in the world premiere of the
Dick Lee musical
Sing to the Dawn, based upon the
Minfong Ho book. Fellow cast members included Lee,
June Angela, and Sala Iwamatsu. In October 2011, Ing took part in workshops and backers auditions for the musical adaptation of
Honeymoon in Vegas, a piece which eventually reached Broadway in 2015. Ing performed on tours of
Two Gentlemen of Verona,
City of Angels, and the play adaptation of
The World of Suzie Wong, as well as with regional companies such as
East West Players, where he again played the Shogun's Mother in
Pacific Overtures. Ing became a frequent actor in musicals at East West Players during the 1990s, also appearing in
Sweeney Todd,
Cabaret,
Follies, and original works
Canton Jazz Club and
Beijing Spring. Besides his musical theatre career, Ing performed on television and in film. Ing had recurring roles on the soap operas
The Doctors and
Falcon Crest, but also did numerous guest roles in shows such as
Benson,
How the West Was Won, ''
Charlie's Angels, Quincy, M.E., All-American Girl, Dallas, Dynasty,
Fantasy Island,
Highway to Heaven,
Law & Order: Criminal Intent'',
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and
Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series). Movie credits include
The Final Countdown,
Stir Crazy,
Troop Beverly Hills, ''
Smilla's Sense of Snow, and in his largest movie role, Mr. Lee, a primary antagonist opposite Mark Wahlberg in The Gambler''. Ing's singing career included cabarets, benefit concerts, and an album released on CD,
Swing with Ing, which he recorded with
Betty Loo Taylor. Collaborating with
Flower Drum Song revival cast member and Okinawan-born Yuka Takara, Ing performed numerous singing engagements as part of a yearly Broadway Night in Okinawa. In 2020, Ing released a second album digitally,
Broadway is Still Calling featuring a collaboration with Takara. Ing also participated in
The X Factor. In December 2018, Ing and dozens of other Asian American performers celebrated the 60th anniversary of
Flower Drum Song by performing the opening number at the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit, where over $6 million was raised. Ing was active with the Theater for Asian American Performing Artists during the 1970s. The organization performed skits and revues, as well as protesting stereotypes as a way to advocate for Asian American performing opportunities. Ing was also an interview subject for a documentary about
Flower Drum Song castmate
Jack Soo and the struggles of Asian American performers due to
yellowface and
stereotyping. Ing's final performance was an open mic rendition of "
You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" as a way to protest an increase in violence against Asian Americans during the
COVID-19 pandemic. ==Death==