American actor Ross Butler has long been vocal about authentic Asian representation in Hollywood. Photo: Yap Chee Hong/The Star
When American actor Ross Butler dropped out of college at 20 – just a year into his chemical engineering degree – and moved from Virginia, the United States, to Los Angeles, acting wasn’t part of the plan.
At the time, he was simply looking for a change, feeling stuck about the direction his life was taking.
“I quickly learned that chemical engineering wasn’t something I was passionate about.
“While I loved chemistry and science in general, I couldn’t see myself pursuing a career in the field in the long run,” Butler, 35, told StarLifestyle in an exclusive interview in Kuala Lumpur.
He was in town to promote his upcoming romantic comedy, Worth The Wait, which was filmed partially in Malaysia.
Butler’s decision to drop out didn’t sit well with his mother, who had envisioned a more academic future for him.
The fallout was so severe that the two stopped talking to each other for several years.
“I don’t blame her because when you’re a 20-year-old without any clear trajectory or solid plan, it’s only natural for any parent to worry.
“As parents, you want the best for your children, but at the same time, your kid is a human too and they want to explore life on their own terms... There needs to be a balance,” he said.
So how did his mother eventually come around?
“After I got her a car and everything, she was like, ‘OK, I see the vision now.’
“Maybe my path wasn’t the healthiest, and I don’t recommend it for everyone... I just got very lucky,” he added.
Butler ventured into acting when he turned 21, after a friend bought him a US$25 acting class as a birthday gift.
He quickly fell in love with the craft. And, after nearly two years of consideration, he finally decided it was something he wanted to pursue as a full-time job.
Born in Singapore to a Malaysian-Chinese mother and an English-Dutch father, Butler spent part of his early childhood in Jakarta before relocating to the US at the age of four.
Growing up as a minority in the US, he often felt like an outsider.
“I grew up in a diverse area just outside Washington DC.
“While there was a large Asian community, there weren’t many mixed kids. In school, all the Asian kids would hang out together, and all the white kids would hang out together, but I never really fit into either group.
“It became a lesson in developing social skills and learning how to play the role of who I thought others expected me to be,” he shared.
Butler hopes to star in an action-comedy next. Photo: HandoutThis struggle followed Butler into his early days in Hollywood, where Asian stereotypes were still rampant in casting.
He recalled auditioning for roles that leaned heavily on cliches – martial artists, geeks and even characters with exaggerated accents.
“Eventually, I got tired and told my agents to stop submitting me for stereotypical roles and instead push for characters that are written for white people.
“Although my auditions went down in number, I felt more motivated to push forward,” he said.
Butler’s perseverance paid off, as he gradually secured the roles he had long dreamed of.
He first gained recognition in Disney’s K.C. Undercover (2015), starring opposite Zendaya, and continued his rise with the popular teen drama Riverdale (2017-2023).
His breakout moment came in 2017 with Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, where he played Zach Dempsey – a high school student who’s implied to be suffering from depression following his father’s death.
Butler stars opposite Katherine Langford, playing her on-screen ex-lover in '13 Reasons Why'. Photo: HandoutThe role catapulted him to global stardom, earning him a devoted fanbase on social media and unlocking more doors in the industry.
In 2019, Butler branched into comedy with a supporting role in the film Shazam!.
He has also ventured into romance, taking on lead roles in movies like Love In Taipei and Worth The Wait.
The latter project was partially filmed at local hotspots such as Dataran Merdeka, Batu Caves, Petaling Street and more.
It centres around four Asian-American couples, whose journeys fatefully intertwine as they navigate life’s various challenges.
Butler and American actress Lana Condor filmed their upcoming romantic comedy 'Worth The Wait' at various locations across Malaysia. Photo: Handout“This is the first time I’ve been able to do any project relating to Malaysia.
“I grew up eating plenty of Malaysian food, thanks to my mum, who would cook various curries and all.
“Being able to eat it here as an adult... It’s special, and I felt a deeper connection,” he shared.
1. You’ve long championed more nuanced portrayals of Asians in Western productions. In your opinion, what needs to change to make that vision a reality?
We’re making progress, but it’s a lot slower than people think.
We need more support from outside the US because in South-East Asia, I don’t think people realise that all the biggest movies usually feature American or European faces.
America is very outwardly focused – they want to sell to the international market, but they don’t think Asian faces can sell.
That’s why I think the international community needs to push their side and support movies like Worth The Wait that’s showing these faces.
Hollywood is a business corporation. If the numbers show it, then they will fill the market.
That’s why we all need to be louder and show them, “Hey, this is what we want to see more of.”
2. Who are the people you look up to in the film industry?
I personally admire Malaysian film producers Dan Mark and Rachel Tan because they make a stand for what they believe in.
They both fought to have our movie Worth The Wait in cinemas and refused to put white actors as some of the leads despite repeatedly being pressured to do so.
Butler with Malaysian film producer Rachel Tan during an exclusive interview with StarLifestyle in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Yap Chee Hong/The StarThat’s the kind of artistic integrity I admire because after being in Hollywood for a while, you don’t see a lot of that.
Hollywood has become all about money, so I’m glad there are people actively fighting to have authentic Asian representation on screen.
3. You have spent a long time playing a high-schooler, but in recent years, have ventured into comedy and romance. What other genres are you hoping to explore next?
I really want to do action-comedy, not necessarily kung ku... Not Jackie Chan level because I don’t think I could get to that level.
I grew up watching films like Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon which have won the hearts of the international market.
Comedy is where I have the most fun on set, and when you’re having fun on set, you can see it reflected on screen.
13 Reasons Why was enough drama for me (laughs).
Of course, I’m still open to doing drama, but I haven’t gotten the opportunity to be a lead in an action-comedy yet.
4. Aside from acting, what do you enjoy doing for fun?
I have so many hobbies because I love learning new things – salsa dancing, drawing, cooking... so many!
Golf is my latest obsession because I feel like it’s a game you can’t master.
The reason I have plenty of hobbies is because I learn things very quickly, but golf is the one thing that has refuted that, and I love that challenge.
I also love music – I sing, play the guitar and piano, but I don’t think it’s something I want to pursue full-time.
I could do music as part of an acting job. For example, playing a singer.
However, I feel like the music industry is way too complex and competitive, and that would take the enjoyment out of music for me.
I don’t see myself as a songwriter either.
5. What upcoming projects can fans expect in the future?
I have two films coming out in the next six to 12 months.
One’s called Shiver, which is a romantic fantasy film based off a best-selling novel (written by American author Maggie Stiefvater).
Another is Zipline, which revolves around a group of adventurous college kids who travel to an island for a relaxing getaway.
But things take a wrong turn when a zipline they’re on breaks, leaving them suspended above a deserted lagoon with dangers lurking in the waters.
It’s a very thrilling movie, so I’m excited to show that.
There are also a few other scripts in the works... just various forms of production, so look forward to it!
Worth The Wait is now showing in cinemas nationwide.
