Michael Paul Chan

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]

Born (1950-06-26) June 26, 1950 (age 75)
Almamater
OccupationActor
Yearsactive1975–present
Quick facts Born, Alma mater ...
Michael Paul Chan
Chan in 2016
Born (1950-06-26) June 26, 1950 (age 75)
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active1975–present
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Early life and education

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

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

Film

More information Year, Title ...
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
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1982 T. J. Hooker Doctor Episode: "The Connection"
1985 Hill Street Blues Smith Episode: "What Are Friends For"
1986 MacGyver Banker Episode: "The Wish Child"
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 Profit Alex Yee Episode: "Hero"
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 (voice) 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]
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References

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