Lori Tan Chinn
American actress (born 1948)
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Lori Tan Chinn (born 1948 or 1949) is an American actress and comedian. She played Mei Chang in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black and Awkwafina's grandmother on Comedy Central's Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (2020–2023). Chinn began her acting career on Broadway, where she played Miss Higa Jiga in Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen (1970). She was also a notable member of the Katherine Dunham Company and performed African dance with Syvilla Fort.
Born1948 or 1949 (age 76–77)
OccupationsActress, comedian
Yearsactive1970–present
Lori Tan Chinn | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1948 or 1949 (age 76–77) |
| Occupations | Actress, comedian |
| Years active | 1970–present |
Early life
Lori Tan Chinn was born in 1948 or 1949, the daughter of Hoisan Chinese immigrants to the United States. She grew up in Seattle, Washington.[1]
Chinn moved to New York City by herself in 1969.[1]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Author! Author! | Mrs. Woo | |
| 1985 | Brass | Hilda | TV movie |
| 1989 | She-Devil | Vesta Rose Woman | |
| 1990 | Revealing Evidence: Stalking the Honolulu Strangler | Pua | TV movie |
| 1991 | What About Bob? | Bus driver | |
| 1992 | Glengarry Glen Ross | Coat check girl | |
| 1995 | Living in Oblivion | Costume Designer | |
| 1996 | Ransom | Woman on Street #3 | |
| 1999 | Mickey Blue Eyes | Restaurant Owner | |
| 2001 | South Pacific | Bloody Mary | 2003 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Resident Musical |
| 2004 | From Other Worlds | Mrs. Kim | |
| 2007 | Security | Mrs. Pong | Short |
| 2007 | Year of the Fish | Shuk Yee (voice) | Animated film |
| 2008 | The Guitar | Mrs. Tzu | |
| 2012 | Miss D | Mrs. Ling | Short |
| 2013 | Final Recipe | Mrs. Wang | |
| 2015 | Chloe and Theo | Landlady | |
| 2022 | Turning Red | Auntie Chen (voice) | Animated film |
| 2023 | Joy Ride[2] | Nai Nai | |
| 2024 | Kung Fu Panda 4 | Granny Boar (voice) | Animated film |
| 2026 | Sleepwalker | Bai Zhao |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Roseanne | Iris | 4 episodes |
| 1992 | Mathnet | Miss Jessica | Episode: "The Case of the Smart Dummy" |
| 1999 | It's Like, You Know... | Daisy | Episode: "Lost in America" |
| 2000 | Spin City | Samaritan Nun | Episode: "Mike's Best Friend's Boyfriend" |
| 2000 | Law & Order | SEC Investigator | Episode: "High & Low" |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Mrs. Park | Episode: "The Line" |
| 2013–19 | Orange is the New Black | Mei Chang | 27 episodes |
| 2020–2023 | Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens | Nora's grandmother | starring role |
| 2023 | Strange Planet | Voice role | |
| 2024 | A Man on the Inside | Susan Yang | Pacific View Retirement Community resident council president[3] |
| 2024 | Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld | Flora "Gugu" Chau | Voice role |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–1971 | Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen | Miss Higa Jiga | |
| 1979 | G. R. Point | Mama-San | |
| 1988–1990 | M. Butterfly | Comrade Chin, Suzuki, Shu Fan | [4] |
| 2015 | Gotta Dance | Mae | [5] |
| 2015 | Triassic Parq | Twin velociraptor | [6] |
