Michael Paul Chan

Last updated

Michael Paul Chan
Michael Paul Chan 2016.png
Chan in 2016
Born (1950-06-26) June 26, 1950 (age 75)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active1975–present
Spouse
Christina Ann
​
(m. 1975)​
Children1

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]

Contents

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

YearTitleRoleNotes
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
2019Boy GeniusSam
2024BaSonny [6]
Between BordersThe Judge

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Hill Street Blues SmithEpisode: "What Are Friends For"
1990 Northern Exposure MasutoEpisode: "Dreams, Schemes and Putting Greens"
1992 The Wonder Years Mr. Chong, Chinese Chef3 episodes
1994 Babylon 5 RobertsEpisode: "The War Prayer"
1995 JAG Ambassador SonsiriEpisode: "Deja Vu"
1996 Profit Alex YeeEpisode: "Hero"
Nash Bridges Tommy LuckEpisode: "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 LuMain cast
2004–05 Arrested Development Lionel Ping6 episodes
2005–12 The Closer Mike TaoMain cast
2007 Bones Shi Jon ChenEpisode: "The Boneless Bride in the River"
2011 The Simpsons Chinese Agent (voice)Episode: "Homer the Father" [8]
2012–18 Major Crimes Mike TaoMain cast
2019–21 The Resident Yee AustinRecurring role [9]
2021 MacGyver Dahn NguyenEpisode: "Banh Bao + Sterno + Drill + Burner + Mason"
2023 Hello Tomorrow! WaltRecurring role
2024 Gremlins: The Wild Batch The Lion (voice)Episode: "Always Bring a Toothpick" [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Paul Chan". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . 2015. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ Hale, Mike (August 12, 2012). "The New Boss, Not the Same as the Old Boss 'Major Crimes' Replaces 'The Closer' on TNT". The New York Times .
  3. ↑ "Alum Michael Paul Chan, 'Major Crimes' Actor, Finds Reason to Celebrate | College of Liberal & Creative Arts". lca.sfsu.edu. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Cinequest 2024: Michael Paul Chan reflects on the evolution of AAPI representation onscreen". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Asian Connections - The Closer's Michael Paul Chan". asianconnections.com. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ "BA – FilmQuest" . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Michael Paul Chan (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 6, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  8. ↑ "Listings | TheFutonCritic.com - The Web's Best Television Resource". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  9. ↑ Petski, Denise (September 4, 2019). "'The Resident': Kearran Giovanni, Geoffrey Cantor, Michael Paul Chan & Erinn Westbrook To Recur In Season 3". Deadline. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  10. ↑ Taylor, Drew (July 26, 2024). "'Gremlins: The Wild Batch' Adds Simu Liu as Series Regular, Sets Season 2 Premiere Date". TheWrap . Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
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