As an actor, Ahn was known for his roles in Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996), Amityville: A New Generation (1993),[2] and Panther (1995), as well as in the sitcom New Girl as the silent but wise character Tran.

[6] Three years after his father's death, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II.

[11][12] Ahn also opened a restaurant with his family in 1954, which served Cantonese food due to the lack of demand for Korean cuisine at the time.

[11][12] During a four-year hiatus from acting between 1964 and 1968, Ahn taught business math, and served as head coach of the varsity football team at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills.

[15] On January 1, 2017, Ahn welcomed the cast members of the popular South Korean variety show Infinite Challenge to Los Angeles as a representative of the Korean-American community.