ABQ's Jamie Jung brings the thrills as an FBI agent in HBO Max's 'Duster'

Hard work does pay off — just ask Jamie H. Jung.

The Albuquerque-based actor reached a new milestone with the HBO Max series “Duster.”

“It’s my first recurring role,” Jung says. “I’ve been pounding the pavement for a long time. It’s been a dream of mine.”

“Duster” is currently airing on HBO Max — where it has remained in the top 10 for the streaming service since its debut on May 15. New episodes stream at 9 p.m. Thursday through July 3.

The eight-episode series is set in the Southwest in 1972 and follows the FBI’s first Black woman agent, Nina Hayes, played by Rachel Hilson.

Hayes is working to stop crime syndicate boss Ezra Saxton, played by Keith David, with the assistance of getaway driver Jim Ellis, played by Josh Holloway.

The series also stars Sydney Elisabeth, Greg Grunberg, Camille Guaty, Asivak Koostachin, Adriana Aluna Martinez and Benjamin Charles Watson.

Jung plays Agent Henry Minor, the No. 3 official in the FBI office.

“The role came across my desk and I didn’t know what it was,” Jung recalls. “It was about being involved with an FBI office.”

After the production showed interest in Jung, he was told that it was a J.J. Abrams TV show.

“I know him from ‘Lost’ and ‘Super 8’ and ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Alias,’” Jung says. “It took awhile for it to sink in that I was going to be involved in the next J.J. Abrams (project) … I wasn’t told anything about who was in the project other than it was in an FBI office and they used a one character name.”

Jung learned the role was recurring from his agent, Carissa Mitchell.

“I was arriving on set and I got that notice,” he says. “I was going to be working on multiple episodes as they were being written. We filmed the series in blocks and out of order, as a lot of series do.”

In the pilot episode, Jung shares screen time with Hilson.

The biggest chunk of his character arc appears in episode six — which airs Thursday, June 19.

“I was on set for 12 days and swapped stories with other cast members,” he says. “I got to know Steph Green as she was directing. She was warm and welcoming. When it came down to the actual mechanics and shooting of the scene, we got along really well. I think that’s why she brought me back.”

“Duster” began filming in April 2023 and by May production was halted due to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.

The WGA strike was prompted by the economic pressures of the streaming era on the film and TV industry.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, “Duster” filmed in Albuquerque, Moriarty, Belen, Gallup, and Sandia and Laguna pueblos.

The production employed thousands of New Mexicans — approximately 4,000 as background talent, 350 resident crew members and 50 principal actors, the film office released.

Though not a New Mexico Native, Jung says his parents moved to Albuquerque 11 years ago, after his dad retired from the Air Force.

Growing up in a military family, Jung has lived all over the world.

After college, he was based in London, New York City and Los Angeles.

“It was about chasing opportunities,” he says. “Now, I’m in Albuquerque and get to be part of the amazing industry here. I remain looking for projects that excite me.”

ABQ's Jamie Jung brings the thrills as an FBI agent in HBO Max's 'Duster'