Actor and former stuntman Stephen Oyoung might be one of the newest faces to join the Mission: Impossible film series, but he isn’t new to Hollywood. From making memorable one-off appearances in shows like Insecure, CSI: Vegas, NCIS, Scandal, and more, Oyoung became a go-to actor for prominent supporting roles.
His impressive filmography also includes roles in movies such as Twisters (2024), Star Wars: Rouge One, John Wick 3, THOR, Independence Day: Resurgence, and now “Pills” a U.S. Navy Dive Master who aids Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
Oyoung is also one of the most sought-after voice actors after gaining recognition for voicing lead villain Martin Li / Mister Negative in the hit video game Spider-Man. His desire to act stems from a passion for martial arts and he studied Wushu Kung Fu with various Chinese Kung Fu teams, becoming a master while pursuing his college degree.
In our interview, the actor talks about his experience on set of the record-breaking film, meeting Tom Cruise and Angela Bassett, and how prior experience as a stuntman prepared him for this dream opportunity.
How did you react when you got the role of Pills in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning? What aspect of portraying this character did you find most enjoyable?
I got the call at 4am while I was in Bangkok preparing for my wedding happening in two days. I went to the bathroom in my hotel and whispered to my agent, who let me know I got it. I literally screamed out loud in the shower. At 4am. So you can imagine the chaos. I enjoyed playing Pills’ expertise the most. To be a combat dive master requires years of experience, training, a toughness we can only dream of. So to portray that on screen was immense fun.
Would you describe Pills, a U.S. Navy Dive Master, as an unsung hero?
I think everyone in the crew are unsung heroes, so absolutely yes. They literally call submarine forces “the silent service.” And to see a guy like Pills on the big screen is pretty rare. In my mind Pills is like Jonny Kim, the real-life Navy SEAL, doctor, Harvard grad, and astronaut. Well, if Pills could be an astronaut that’s for another movie!
What was your experience like on set? Did you get the opportunity to chat with Tom Cruise or Angela Bassett?
It was the biggest movie set I’ve been on in my life! The sheer scale was so impressive. Luckily for us in the submarine sequence, all the actors, Tramell, Katy, Paul, Tomas and myself were in close quarters with Tom for some very serious, intense dialogue scenes. In between set ups Tom was super sociable, chatting with us and the crew, and also collaborating with the DP Fraser and the director McQ. He’s a one man band that does it all! Like, literally there’s just a buzz of energy and movement going around him at all times. We talked about movies, acting, he gave us advice. It was great. I met the queen herself Angela Bassett at the premiere and she was everything you could hope for. Gracious, graceful, so kind to my wife and I, and funny. Just great all around.
Being a part of a historic film series like Mission: Impossible is every actor’s dream. How did your prior experience as a stuntman prepare you for this opportunity?
I always put it down to team work and knowing your role. You have to be on your spot and be a team player at all times, so that’s what I tried to do. You just remember that’s it’s a movie, you’ve done the work hundreds of times before. You’ve been on big sets before. It’s very easy to be overwhelmed by such a big film, such a big star. So I just tried to focus on the task at hand. That’s all you can do.
You’ve worked in Hollywood for over 18 years, performing stunts, voicing video game characters like Martin Li / Mister Negative in Spider-Man, and taking supporting roles in TV and film. How did you ensure a smooth transition in your career?
The trick is to realize there is no smooth transition. This business is fickle, and forgetful, and equal parts difficult and amazing. I just take it one day at a time.
What advice do you have for stuntmen aspiring to secure a supporting role in a film?
Act! Be the absolute best actor you can be. When your acting skills are undeniable, there’s no holding you back.
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Photo credit: Courtesy of Kittisak Sirichunsuwan
