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American actor From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Paul Chan (born June 26, 1950) is an American actor.[1] He is known for his role as Lieutenant Michael Tao on the TNT series The Closer and Major Crimes. Chan also acted in U.S. Marshals, playing an assassin.[2]
 |
Michael Paul Chan | |
|---|---|
Chan in 2016 | |
| Born | June 26, 1950 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse |
Christina Ann (m. 1975) |
| Children | 1 |
Chan was born in San Francisco, California. A third-generation Chinese American, he is a founding member of the Asian American Theater Company. His brother was the late Jeffery Paul Chan, an author and academic.
Chan's television work has included roles such as Judge Lionel Ping on Arrested Development, Detective Ron Lu on Robbery Homicide Division, the voice of Jimmy Ho on The PJ's, Mr. Chong on The Wonder Years, a Japanese investor in the 1990 Northern Exposure episode "Dreams, Schemes and Putting Greens", an agent of the Chinese Intelligence Agency on a 2011 episode of The Simpsons, and roles on Bones, Babylon 5, Nash Bridges, and The Young and the Restless.
One of Chan's more notable film roles was as the Korean convenience-store owner in the 1993 film Falling Down, where he refused to give a discount to Michael Douglas' character when he attempted to purchase a can of soda to get change for the pay telephone outside the store. Another was as Data's father in The Goonies. Chan appeared in both of Joel Schumacher's Batman movies, in two different roles - a Wayne Enterprises executive in Batman Forever, and Dr. Lee in Batman & Robin. Other films in his filmography include Americanese, Megiddo: The Omega Code 2, U.S. Marshals, Spy Game, The Protector, Quicksilver, The Joy Luck Club, The Insider, and Thief.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Thief | Chinese Waiter | |
| 1984 | Runaway | Security chief | |
| 1985 | The Goonies | Data's Father | |
| 1986 | Quicksilver | Asian Gangster | |
| 1991 | Thousand Pieces of Gold | Hong King | |
| 1993 | The Joy Luck Club | Harold | |
| 1993 | Falling Down | Mr. Lee | |
| 1993 | Joshua Tree | Jimmy Shoeshine | |
| 1994 | Maverick | Riverboat Poker Player | |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Wayne Enterprises Executive | |
| 1997 | Batman & Robin | Observatory Scientist | |
| 1997 | The Protector | Anthony Mane | |
| 1998 | U.S. Marshals | Chen | |
| 1999 | The Insider | Norman | |
| 2001 | Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 | Chinese Premier | |
| 2001 | Spy Game | Vincent Ngo | |
| 2006 | Americanese | Jimmy Chan |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Hill Street Blues | Smith | Episode: "What Are Friends For" |
| 1992 | The Wonder Years | Mr. Chong, Chinese Chef | 3 episodes |
| 1994 | Babylon 5 | Roberts | Episode: "The War Prayer" |
| 1995 | JAG | Ambassador Sonsiri | Episode: "Deja Vu" |
| 1996 | Nash Bridges | Tommy Luck | Episode: "Promised Land" |
| 1999–2001 | The PJs | Jimmy Ho (voice) | 41 episodes |
| 2001 | Static Shock | Mr. Kim (voice) | Episode: "Tantrum"[3] |
| 2002–2003 | Robbery Homicide Division | Ron Lu | Main cast |
| 2004–2005 | Arrested Development | Lionel Ping | 6 episodes |
| 2005–2012 | The Closer | Mike Tao | Main cast |
| 2007 | Bones | Shi Jon Chen | Episode: "The Boneless Bride in the River" |
| 2011 | The Simpsons | Chinese Agent | Episode: "Homer the Father"[4] |
| 2012–2018 | Major Crimes | Mike Tao | Main cast |
| 2019–2021 | The Resident | Yee Austin | Recurring role[5] |
| 2021 | MacGyver | Dahn Nguyen | Episode: "Banh Bao + Sterno + Drill + Burner + Mason" |
| 2023 | Hello Tomorrow! | Walt | Recurring role |
| 2024 | Gremlins: The Wild Batch | TBA | Voice[6] |
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