Who was Thuy Trang? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 27

Born Country: Vietnam

Died Young Actresses

Height: 5'6" (168 cm), 5'6" Females

Died on: September 3, 2001

place of death: San Francisco, California, United States

Ancestry: Vietnamese American

Notable Alumni: Banning High School

Cause of Death: Car Accident

City: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

More Facts

education: University Of California, Irvine, Banning High School

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Career

Thuy Trang initially appeared in a number of television advertisements before landing in her first major role in 1993 in the TV series ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.’ Her character in the show, Trini Kwan, the Yellow Ranger, was similar to what she was like in real life: a caring young lady who adored her family and friends. Trang was in the series for one and a half seasons, following which she left it due to payment issues. She next featured in a documentary titled ‘The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts’ (1995), in which she was interviewed along with her ‘Power Rangers’ co-star Austin St. John.

Soon after this, the actress got the opportunity to play a lead villain, Kali, in the feature movie ‘The Crow: City of Angels,’ which was released in 1996. That year, she also starred as a manicurist in ‘Spy Hard’, a spy comedy movie starring Nicollette Sheridan and Leslie Nielsen parodying James Bond films and other action flicks. She also had cameo appearances in ‘Walter Jones Hip Hop Dance Video’ as well as in Austin St John's ‘Martial Art's Video.’

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Family & Personal Life

Thuy Trang was born on December 14, 1973 in Saigon, South Vietnam (currently Ho Chi Minh City). She had three siblings: a sister and two brothers. Her father, who was a South Vietnamese army (ARVN) soldier, was involved in protecting Saigon from the North Vietnamese army during the fall of Saigon in 1975. His battalion was low on ammunition during the battle which eventually led the communist forces to overcome it. Although her father tried to return home, the route was blocked by the opposition army. To save his life, he fled South Vietnam and was ultimately granted political asylum by the US government.

When she was two, Trang, along with her mother and siblings, fled Saigon and secretly boarded a cargo ship bound for Hong Kong, with the ultimate aim of reaching USA. They initially lived in a detention camp in Hong Kong while her father petitioned the American government to get political asylum for his family. In 1980, the family was finally reunited in California. Her father died of cancer in the year 1992.

Thuy got educated at Banning High School. She earned a scholarship to pursue engineering at University of California, Irvine (UCI). However, a meeting with a Hollywood agent in 1992 changed her plans and she went on to become an actress.

Death

On September 3, 2001, Thuy Trang died in a car accident, at the age of 27. According to some sources, she and model/actress Angela Rockwood were returning late at night after visiting someone when the car suddenly hit the roadside rockface after the driver lost control. The vehicle flipped numerous times before striking the safety rail and eventually plunged over the bank. Both Rockwood and the driver survived. However, Trang died before reaching the medical center, due to the major internal injuries she had sustained.

Thuy Trang Biography