The Closer's Michael Paul Chan

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 still a struggle? Are the stereotypes still difficult to overcome?

Well, look at television. How many Asians do you see? Um, three? [Laughs] I remember there was an Asian-American reporter that I met and he said, I guess youre it! There was one Asian-American on television and that was me. Theres just not that many of us. The roles are becoming a little more colorful. The show that Im on The Closer , we dont really sit around and talk about our ethnicities. Its just is. Our show is wonderfully diverse. All people of color are basically represented and we dont really dwell on that. We just work as a tight ensemble. [In other shows] it is highlighted.

Tell us about the Asian American Theater Company that you started.

Its in San Francisco. At the time it was referred to the Asian American Theater Workshop. At the core was Frank Chin. It got me into acting. My brother Jeffery was head of the Asian American Studies department at San Francisco State. This was basically the Asian American literary movement in the 70's and my brother was a force in that. He was one of the four guys [along with Shawn Wong] who developed the book Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian American Writers . Shawn Wongs book Americanese was made into a film.

Youve done everything: TV, theater, and film on the East Coast and West Coast. What do you prefer and gives you more creative freedom?

Theater is basically an actors medium and film is more of a directors medium. But its hard making a living just working in theater and its hard finding the perfect working condition with every little project you get into. The Closer happens to be a really good place to be. Theres no tension and its a great working environment and its one of the best Ive ever had so Im quite happy right now. I can spend more time with my other passion which is surfing. I used to do it as a kid growing up in Northern California. We do 15 episodes a season which gives me six months to go play.

What are some of your upcoming projects?

Americanese is making the festival rounds right now. I did that film during the first season of the show last year Ive been just concentrating on doing the series. The good thing about doing the series is that it forces me to be picky about what comes my way and pick the ones that I want to do as opposed to having to find a job. I want to play the good guy. I played villains and jerks for a number of years and it kind of gets to me after a while. You just try to make the best of everything. As an Asian-American actor youre responsibility is to bring dignity to whatever you do. So its is good that this role on The Closer came my way to play the good guy where I care about people. Its not easy being an actor, period. So Im really fortunate to make a career out of it.