Born into a mixed ethnicity home (Irish American father and Hong Kong immigrant mother), as a child Alex loved celebrating two cultures’ histories and traditions - e.g., the lyricism of Irish music/poetry and the bright, exuberant jubilation of Chinese New Year. His experience with multiple cultures and traditions provided him with a strong foundation for maintaining a broad perspective and adventurous, curious mind.

Alex came to acting through an obsession with video games, a history of high school sports, and a lifelong love of music. In retrospect, all of his passions stem from a love of narrative going back to early childhood. He gravitated toward stories of identity crisis, self-growth, and success against all odds. Empowered by the bravery of anti-heroes from biblical Job to Jonas (The Giver), Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII) to the Golden State Warriors (Run TMC-era and beyond), Alex hoped he could someday overcome his shyness and connect with other people in a way that felt comfortable and genuine. He found his community through the arts.

Originally dreaming of rock ‘n roll stardom, Alex picked up the guitar and bass in high school with the goal of starting an infinitely cool hardcore band. During that time of musical experimentation, he was playing high school basketball, but he noticed that all the people he wanted to be friends with were doing the school play. Why couldn’t he? The opportunity to collaborate with people he liked to tell the kinds of stories he loved to read, watch, and immerse himself in seemed too good to be true. A small role in Up the Down Staircase the next fall had him hooked, and he never looked back.

Alex’s acting work has been described as athletic, sensitive, big-picture, intellectual, and articulate. His work as a musician has been admired as expressive, dynamic, and energetic. Artists he finds inspirational include Conor Oberst, Fiona Apple, Chris Thile, Leon Bridges, John Legend, Hamish Linklater, Meryl Streep, Bryan D’arcy James, and Mark Rylance.