Ming Chen
American actor (born 1974)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cliff Ming-Si Chen (born August 1, 1974), better known as Ming Chen, is an American actor, podcaster, reality television personality, and webmaster associated with Kevin Smith.[1][3][4] He co-hosts the I Sell Comics! and Ming & Mike Show podcasts with Mike Zapcic and also starred in the AMC reality series Comic Book Men.[1][5][6]
August 1, 1974[2]
Ming Chen | |
|---|---|
Chen at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2022 | |
| Born | Cliff Ming-Si Chen[1] August 1, 1974[2] Euclid, Ohio, U.S.[2] |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupations | Actor, podcaster, reality television personality, webmaster |
| Years active | 1999–present |
Early life
Ming Chen was born in Ohio to parents born in China.[3] The family frequently moved due his father being an upstart engineer, but spent significant time in Jackson, Michigan, and Ann Arbor, Michigan.[3][7] Chen attended the University of Michigan (class of 1996), graduated with a degree in communications, and he at one point also worked at a video shop.[4][7][8]
Career
Chen became involved with Kevin Smith after making a fansite dedicated to the movie Clerks in 1996.[4][9] Smith asked Chen to build the View Askew Productions website.[4] Chen served as an extra in the movie Dogma.[3] After working around the Washington, D.C., area, and LivePlanet for two years, he joined Kevin Smith's company in 2002.[3][4] Chen became the full-time webmaster of View Askew after moving to New Jersey.[4] One of the oddest requests from Kevin Smith was to drive eight hours and deliver a copy of Red State to a critic from the Los Angeles Times in Maine.[3][10]
Chen has participated in several podcasts for SModcast Internet Radio including Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!, Puck Nuts, and co-hosts I Sell Comics! with Mike Zapcic.[5] In 2012, he began starring with co-workers from Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash including Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Mike Zapcic, and Bryan Johnson on Comic Book Men.[3] Ming is often made fun of as part of his role on Comic Book Men, due to his long friendships with Bryan and Walt.[9][11] Comic Book Men was cancelled after seven seasons in 2018.[1][6]
Chen partnered with Hunter Pence and others to create Coral Sword: Coffee, Comics & Games in Houston, Texas, which opened in February 2018.[12][13][14] Chen partnered with Mike Zapcic to open A Shared Universe PodcaStudio in 2018, with a second location opening in 2020.[6]
Personal life
Chen is married to Debbie and has two children.[3] His favorite baseball team is the Baltimore Orioles.[5] Two of his favorite comic books include Ex Machina and Preacher. Chen's favorite book as a kid was Avengers #214.[15] On Comic Book Men, Chen was able to purchase the USS Flagg, a toy his parents could not afford.[16] He has also participated in several marathons.[17] Chen also does work for two non-profits, Street Poets Inc. and The Kenny Gordon Foundation.[10][18] Chen joined The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County as a board member in 2021.[19]
Filmography
- Dogma (1999) (uncredited) as Club Patron
- Big Helium Dog (1999)
- Vulgar (2000)
- Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie! (2013) (voice) as Shower Bully 1
- Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019) as himself
Television
- Comic Book Men (2012–2018) as himself
