Michael Paul Chan
 |
Michael Paul Chan | |
|---|---|
 Chan in 2016 | |
| Born | June 26, 1950 |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse |
Christina Ann (m. 1975) |
| Children | 1 |
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]
Early life and education
[edit]A third-generation Chinese American, Chan was born in San Francisco, California. His brother was the late Jeffery Paul Chan, an author and academic.
Chan is a graduate of San Francisco State University[3] and the American Conservatory Theater.[4][5] He is a founding member of the Asian American Theater Company.[4]
Career
[edit]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.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| 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 | |
| 1992 | Rapid Fire | Carl Chang | |
| 1993 | The Joy Luck Club | Harold | |
| Falling Down | Mr. Lee | ||
| Joshua Tree | Jimmy Shoeshine | ||
| 1994 | Maverick | Riverboat Poker Player | |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Wayne Enterprises Executive | |
| Galaxis | Manny Hopkins | ||
| 1997 | Batman & Robin | Observatory Scientist | |
| The Protector | Anthony Mane | ||
| 1998 | U.S. Marshals | Xiang Chen | |
| 1999 | The Insider | Norman | |
| 2001 | Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 | Chinese Premier | |
| Spy Game | Vincent Ngo | ||
| 2006 | Americanese | Jimmy Chan | |
| 2019 | Boy Genius | Sam | |
| 2024 | Ba | Sonny | [6] |
| Between Borders | The Judge |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Hill Street Blues | Smith | Episode: "What Are Friends For" |
| 1990 | Northern Exposure | Masuto | Episode: "Dreams, Schemes and Putting Greens" |
| 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) | Main cast |
| 2001 | Static Shock | Mr. Kim (voice) | Episode: "Tantrum"[7] |
| 2002–03 | Robbery Homicide Division | Ron Lu | Main cast |
| 2004–05 | Arrested Development | Lionel Ping | 6 episodes |
| 2005–12 | 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"[8] |
| 2012–18 | Major Crimes | Mike Tao | Main cast |
| 2019–21 | The Resident | Yee Austin | Recurring role[9] |
| 2021 | MacGyver | Dahn Nguyen | Episode: "Banh Bao + Sterno + Drill + Burner + Mason" |
| 2023 | Hello Tomorrow! | Walt | Recurring role |
| 2024 | Gremlins: The Wild Batch | The Lion (voice) | Episode: "Always Bring a Toothpick"[10] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Michael Paul Chan". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015.
- ^ Hale, Mike (August 12, 2012). "The New Boss, Not the Same as the Old Boss 'Major Crimes' Replaces 'The Closer' on TNT". The New York Times.
- ^ "Alum Michael Paul Chan, 'Major Crimes' Actor, Finds Reason to Celebrate | College of Liberal & Creative Arts". lca.sfsu.edu. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ a b "Cinequest 2024: Michael Paul Chan reflects on the evolution of AAPI representation onscreen". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ "Asian Connections - The Closer's Michael Paul Chan". asianconnections.com. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ "BA – FilmQuest". Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ "Michael Paul Chan (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 6, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ "Listings | TheFutonCritic.com - The Web's Best Television Resource". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Petski, Denise (September 4, 2019). "'The Resident': Kearran Giovanni, Geoffrey Cantor, Michael Paul Chan & Erinn Westbrook To Recur In Season 3". Deadline. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (July 26, 2024). "'Gremlins: The Wild Batch' Adds Simu Liu as Series Regular, Sets Season 2 Premiere Date". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
External links
[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1950 births
- Living people
- Male actors from San Francisco
- American male film actors
- American male actors of Chinese descent
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- San Francisco State University alumni
- American Conservatory Theater alumni
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors