Michael Paul Chan plays Lieutenant Mike Tao in the hit TNT television series The Closer .
You may know Michael Paul Chan as one of the stars in the hit TNT television series The Closer as Lieutenant Mike Tao. But hes also made his mark in theater and film, most recently with the independent film Americanese , directed by Eric Byler, which is currently playing the film festival circuit across the country. Chan proves that hard work pays off as he describes his beginnings, struggles, and passions, and why he is (deservingly) happy where hes at today.
How did you get your start in performing?
Performing, I started in junior high school. I was a musician and played in rock and roll bands. Acting, after a stint in college, I started working with Asian-American writers and they needed actors so I started doing theater. I got a scholarship at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Then I moved down to Los Angeles and started doing television. I think I started to turn when I went to New York and I did a play called Family Devotions written by David Henry Hwang and then I went on to do Madame Butterfly . I came back to LA and did more television. In the late 80s and early 90s, I got a couple of breaks in feature films like Joy Luck Club and Falling Down and then a few years later, I got my first network series which only lasted half a season. But then came The Closer .
Youve been performing for a long time now. Do you think Asian roles are getting better or is it...
Stay tuned for The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor starring Jet Li coming to theaters August 1. AsianConnections has an exclusive interview with Jet coming soon!
Meanwhile Jackie and Jet fans can rejoice! 2008 was the year that finally Jackie Chan and Jet Li starred in one film. Jackie Chan does his famous tiger moves as he chats with our Jen Yamato on camera! Email us with a message: WIN FK SWAG to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloak59af98494c4b1bc06c76ab372b5a7ee0').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addy59af98494c4b1bc06c76ab372b5a7ee0 = 'Info' + '@'; addy59af98494c4b1bc06c76ab372b5a7ee0 = addy59af98494c4b1bc06c76ab372b5a7ee0 + 'AsianConnections' + '.' + 'com'; var addy_text59af98494c4b1bc06c76ab372b5a7ee0 = 'Info' + '@' + 'AsianConnections' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloak59af98494c4b1bc06c76ab372b5a7ee0').innerHTML += ''+addy_text59af98494c4b1bc06c76ab372b5a7ee0+''; to win official movie souvenirs!
Check back soon as we launch AsianConnections' exclusive interview with Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh about their latest film The Mummy: Return of the Dragon Emperor" in theaters August 1.
Meanwhile, check out Jen Yamato's interviews with Jackie Chan in The Forbidden Kingdom. Jackie Chan and Jet Li are together in one film at last! Jen Yamato senior editor of RottenTomatoes.com, and our Hollywood correspondent for THE FORBIDDEN...
Hollywood -
Actor James Hong was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by CAPE - the Coalition of asian Pacifics in Entertainment. CAPE's New Horizons Award was presented to actor John Cho, and Tim Kring, creator and executive producer of Heroes, was presented with CAPE's Visionary Award.
December 2, 2008
After 17 years, CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) is still going strong.
The non-profit organization is dedicated to developing, promoting and positioning APA's into Hollywood's entertainment industry.
At an elegant dinner party at the Cafe La Boheme in West Hollywood, CAPE honored actor James Hong with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Actor John Cho was presented with its New Horizon Award, and Tim Kring, creator and executive producer of Heroes, was presented with CAPE's Visionary Award.
Photos and video by AC's Codey May and Suzanne Kai.
DIM SUM FUNERAL screened to a packed, cheering festival audience as an Official Selection at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Director Anna Chi, screenwriter Donald Martin, actors Bai Ling, Kelly Hu and Julia Nickson joined the producing team on stage and at the festival's After Party honoring the film.
"I hope this film will touch the hearts of everyone," said Anna Chi, Director of DIM SUM FUNERAL. Her film tells the story of estranged siblings who reunite at the death of their mother. Funny, bittersweet, quirky, the film has a universal story.
DIM SUM FUNERAL opens June 12 in two theatres, the Laemmle Theatre Sunset 5 in West Hollywood and the Laemmle Theatre in Pasadena. Future screenings to be announced in Orange County, CA. The film is scheduled to be released on DVD by HBO in July.
At an elegant dinner party at the Cafe La Boheme in West Hollywood, CAPE honored actor James Hong with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Actor John Cho was presented with its New Horizon Award, and Tim Kring, creator and executive producer of Heroes, was presented with CAPE's Visionary Award.
Photos and video by AC's Codey May and Suzanne Kai.
HOLLYWOOD
December 2, 2008 -
At an elegant gala fundraiser at the Cafe La Boheme in West Hollywood, CAPE honored actor James Hong with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Actor John Cho was presented with its New Horizon Award, and Tim Kring, creator and executive producer of Heroes, was presented with CAPE's Visionary Award.
In this three part interview, James Hong urges APAs to cooperate with each other and work with organizations such as CAPE to promote more roles for APAs in film and television.
Hong tells AsianConnections he's sorry to say that Asian actors "have not progressed that much" in his 55 years in Hollywood. We are still being "rescued by the white people."
Hong, is a veteran actor with a celebrated career spanning more than 55 years in Hollywood. He has played more than 500 roles in American film and television.
Among his most recent roles are "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (December 2008 release), and "Kung Fu Panda" playing Mr. Ping, Po's (Jack Black) father. He is nominated for an Annie Award for his role as Mr. Ping.
Photos and video by AC's Codey May and Suzanne Kai.
James Hong is also nominated for his role as Mr. Ping...