John Cho

John Cho Headshot

Actor

Birth Name: John Yohan Cho

Birth Date: June 16, 1972

Age: 52 years old

Birth Place: Seoul, South Korea

A lanky, affable presence in features and television from the late 1990s onward, actor John Cho delivered sharp-witted, often manic comedy in popular film franchises "American Pie" (1999) and "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" (2004) before shifting gears to play the determined Mr. Sulu in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" (2009).

A former literature student and English teacher, he fell in love with acting in college, and worked his way up from bit player in films and television to featured support as energized young men in "American Pie" and its first two sequels (2001, 2003). Cho became a go-to for laughs in movies and TV, enjoying both top billing and considerable fan praise as one half of the hapless stoner duo in "Harold and Kumar" and its 2008 sequel.

In 2009, he once again found himself the center of attention by assuming one of science fiction's most celebrated roles in "Star Trek," which attempted to provide an origin story for the legendary franchise. His ability to shift between broad comedy and high drama made Cho one of the more adaptable and likeable performers in screen entertainment.

The son of a Christian minister, he was born Cho Yo Han in Seoul, South Korea on June 16, 1972. The family moved to the United States in 1978, and settled in Los Angeles, where Cho attended high school before enrolling at the University of California at Berkeley.

Though he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature, he developed a passion for acting after appearing in the play, "Warrior Woman." He was particularly inspired by the fact that many of his cast mates still displayed such dedication to their craft, despite being well into their fifth decades.

After graduation, he returned to Los Angeles, where he worked as an English teacher at Pacific Hills School in West Hollywood while making his first inroads towards a professional acting career. Appearances in print advertising led to bit parts in features like his screen debut, "Wag the Dog" (1997), and television series like "Felicity" (The WB, 1998-2002) and "Charmed" (The WB, 1998-2006).

In the meantime, he began performing with the acclaimed Asian-American theater group, East West Players, in Los Angeles.

Cho's knack for dry comic delivery was soon tapped for more substantial supporting roles in features like "American Beauty" (1999) and the underrated "Bowfinger" (1999). His big-screen breakthrough, however, was as the manic high schooler John in "American Pie," whose hormonal response to Stifler's zaftig mom (Jennifer Coolidge) helped coin the catchphrase "MILF," a somewhat rude acronym for a sexual response generated by attractive older women.

His performance was well-received by the film's audience of teen males, and he reprised the role twice in the sequels, "American Pie 2" (2001) and "American Wedding" (2003). "Pie" creators Chris and Paul Weitz reunited Cho with his co-star Eddie Kaye Thomas for the short-lived sitcom "Off Centre" (The WB, 2001-02), about four single men on the make in New York.

Cho's performance as an accident-prone, socially unbridled Vietnamese restaurant owner was largely regarded as the show's sole saving grace. After the show's demise, he teamed once again with the Weitz brothers in "Down to Earth" (2001), a limp remake of "Heaven Can Wait" (1978) with Chris Rock.

In 2002, Cho shifted gears to play a casually cruel young man who becomes involved with bored students on a crime spree in the dark comedy "Better Luck Tomorrow" (2002). The film, helmed by future "Fast and Furious" (2009) director Justin Lim, featured an all-Asian cast and received critical praise, as well as an Independent Spirit Award nomination in 2004. But Cho soon returned to lighter material like "Big Fat Liar" (2002).

Cho's biggest film success after "American Pie" was "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" (2004), a sly send-up of racial stereotypes disguised as a slaphappy boys' comedy. Cho shone as Harold Lee, an overworked Korean banker whose craving for the title restaurant - spurred by a late night marijuana smoke-out with friend Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) - leads to a string of surreal events that include rabid raccoons, berserk extreme sports fans, and a debauched Neil Patrick Harris, played to the hilt by the actor himself.

The film was a mild box office success but proved exceptionally popular on DVD, which in turn inspired an even more popular - and crass - sequel, "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" in 2008. The exposure afforded by the "Harold and Kumar" films helped to make Cho a popular fixture in film and television comedies, with occasional forays into dramas.

A brief stint on the sitcom "Kitchen Confidential" (Fox, 2005), based on the book by chef Anthony Bourdain, preceded guest shots on "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005- ) and "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS, 2005-14) opposite his "Harold and Kumar" co-star, Neil Patrick Harris. Cho also enjoyed a recurring role on "Ugly Betty" (ABC, 2006-10) as the best friend of Christopher Gorham's nebbish accountant, Henry Grubstick.

Cho found himself at the center of considerable Internet and press buzz when he was cast as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the U.S.S. Enterprise in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek." Initially, Abrams was concerned about casting the Korean-born Cho in a role made iconic by Japanese actor George Takei, but the original Sulu appeased his concerns by stating that both he and "Star Trek" (NBC, 1966-68) creator George Roddenberry envisioned Sulu as a symbol for all Asian people.

In interviews, Cho cited how pleased he was to play a role that afforded an Asian actor the chance to play a sort of cowboy, and how much he enjoyed the physicality of the part, which required him to undergo weeks of fight training. The film showcased Cho in a new light, and led to his regular role on ABC's "FlashForward" (2009-10), a sci-fi drama series in which he played one of a team of FBI investigators studying a brief but international time travel incident.

Credits

AfraidStream

Actor
Curtis
Movie
2024
24%

The Graduates

Actor
John
Movie
2024

The Graduates

Executive Producer
Movie
2024

Praise PeteyStream

Voice
Bandit
Series
2023
80%

Oscars 2023: Highlights

Host
Show
2023

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Actor
Show
2023

The AfterpartyStream

Actor
Ulysses
Series
2022
92%

Don't Make Me GoStream

Actor
Max Park
Movie
2022
52%

Cowboy BebopStream

Actor
Spike Spiegel
Series
2021
45%

Wish Dragon

Voice
Long
Movie
2021

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2020

The GrudgeStream

Actor
Peter Spencer
Movie
2020
20%

Over the MoonStream

Voice
Ba Ba
Movie
2020
82%

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

Korea: The Never-Ending War

Narrator
Show
2019

The Twilight ZoneStream

Guest Star
Series
2019
67%

Love, Antosha

Self
Movie
2019

Between Two Ferns: The Movie

Self
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

L'exorciste : les coulisses de la série

Actor
Show
2018

SearchingStream

Actor
David Kim
Movie
2018
92%

The Oath

Actor
Peter
Movie
2018

Mirai

Voice
The Father
Movie
2018

Carpool Karaoke: The SeriesStream

Self
Reality
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

ColumbusStream

Actor
Jin
Movie
2017
96%

Literally, Right Before Aaron

Actor
Mark
Movie
2017

GeminiStream

Actor
Detective Edward Ahn
Movie
2017
71%

Caller ID: Entity

Actor
Movie
2017

A Happening of Monumental ProportionsStream

Actor
Mr. Ramirez
Movie
2017
29%

The ExorcistStream

Actor
Andy Kim
Series
2016
89%

SYFY Presents: Live From Comic-Con

Guest
Show
2016

Soirée pyjama

Actor
Acteur/actrice
Show
2016

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

Star Trek BeyondStream

Actor
Sulu
Movie
2016
86%

Get a Job

Actor
Brian Bender
Movie
2016

Captain Jake and the Never Land Pirates

Guest Voice
Captain Chen
Show
2015

Difficult PeopleStream

Guest Star
Todd
Series
2015
96%

Lip Sync BattleStream

Contestant
Reality
2015

The Late Late Show With James Corden

Guest
Talk
2015

Grandma

Actor
Chau
Movie
2015

Zipper

Actor
EJ
Movie
2015

Selfie

Actor
Henry Higgs
Series
2014
59%

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

Sleepy HollowStream

Guest Star
Series
2013
74%

Drunk HistoryStream

Guest Star
Series
2013

Sleepy Hollow: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

That Burning Feeling

Actor
Roger Whitacre
Movie
2013

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Voice
Middle Counselor Isonokami
Movie
2013

Złodziej tożsamości

Actor
Daniel Casey
Movie
2013

Identity ThiefStream

Actor
Daniel Casey
Movie
2013
19%

Star Trek Into DarknessStream

Actor
Hikaru Sulu
Movie
2013
84%

The Mindy ProjectStream

Guest Star
Series
2012
86%

The NBC Primetime Preview Show

Host
Show
2012

Go OnStream

Actor
Steven
Series
2012
54%

Larry King NowStream

Guest
Talk
2012

William Shatner's Get a Life!

Actor
Movie
2012

Total RecallStream

Actor
McClane
Movie
2012
31%

New GirlStream

Guest Star
Daniel Grant
Series
2011
95%

Dish NationStream

Guest
Talk
2011

Jake and the Never Land PiratesStream

Guest Voice
Captain Chen
Series
2011

A Very Harold & Kumar ChristmasStream

Actor
Harold
Movie
2011
68%

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

FlashForwardStream

Actor
Demetri Noh
Series
2009
80%

Star TrekStream

Actor
Sulu
Movie
2009
94%

Saint John of Las Vegas

Actor
Smitty the Flame Lord
Movie
2009

The Bonnie Hunt Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo BayStream

Actor
Harold
Movie
2008
52%

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Actor
Hype Man
Movie
2008

The Singles Table

Actor
Ivan Throckmorton
Show
2007

Smiley Face

Actor
Mikey
Movie
2007

West 32nd

Actor
John Kim
Movie
2007

30 RockStream

Guest Star
Lorne
Series
2006
78%

Ugly BettyStream

Guest Star
Kenny
Series
2006
97%

'Til DeathStream

Guest Star
Series
2006

etalk

Guest
Show
2006

Bickford Schmeckler's Cool Ideas

Actor
Bob
Movie
2006

American Dreamz

Actor
Frank Ittles
Movie
2006

Made in Hollywood

Guest
Series
2005

How I Met Your MotherStream

Guest Star
Jeff Coatsworth
Series
2005
84%

Kitchen Confidential

Actor
Teddy Wong
Show
2005

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

ET Canada

Guest
Show
2005

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Vince Chung
Series
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

Bam Bam and Celeste

Actor
Stephan
Movie
2005

HouseStream

Guest Star
Harvey Park
Series
2004
90%

Tavis Smiley

Actor
Talk
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

See This Movie

Actor
Larry Finkelstein
Movie
2004

Harold & Kumar Go to White CastleStream

Actor
Harold
Movie
2004
74%

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

SolarisStream

Actor
Suited Professional #1
Movie
2002
66%

Better Luck Tomorrow

Actor
Steve Choe
Movie
2002

Off Centre

Actor
Chau Presley
Show
2001

Down to EarthStream

Actor
Phil Quon
Movie
2001
20%

Pavilion of Women

Actor
Fengmo
Movie
2001

American Pie 2Stream

Actor
John
Movie
2001
50%

Entertainment Studios.com

Guest
Show
2000

Among Others

Actor
Movie
2000

American BeautyStream

Actor
Sale House Man No. 1
Movie
1999
87%

CharmedStream

Guest Star
Mark Chao
Series
1998

The Magnificent SevenStream

Guest Star
Series
1998
33%

The Tiger Woods Story

Actor
Jerry Chang
Movie
1998

EP Daily

Guest
Show
1997

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Shopping for Fangs

Actor
Clarance
Movie
1997

Yellow

Actor
Joey
Movie
1997

MADtvStream

Guest Star
Series
1995
43%

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutJohn Cho

Robert Downey Jr., Hoa Xuande in 'The Sympathizer' Season 1
Review

Roush Review: Downey Times 4 in HBO’s Spy Thriller ‘The Sympathizer’

Hugh Laurie as Gregory House and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Juan

‘House’ Streaming on Hulu: 12 Big-Name Guest Stars You’ll See on the Series

Scott Foley, Keri Russell, and Scott Speedman of 'Felicity'

‘Felicity’ Turns 25: See 13 Stars Who Guest Starred on the Show

Annie Murphy recording her voice for 'Praise Petey'
Exclusive

‘Praise Petey’: Annie Murphy & Cast Take Us Behind the Scenes of Animated Comedy (VIDEO)

John Cho, Zoe Chao, Paul Walter Hauser, Ken Jeong, Poppy Liu, and Vivian Wu in 'The Afterparty' - Season 2

‘The Afterparty’ Season 2 Sets Summer Return at Apple TV+

John Cho and Mia Isaac in Don't Make Me Go
Preview

‘Don’t Make Me Go’ Explores the Important Father-Daughter Relationship

Annie Murphy and John Cho

Annie Murphy & John Cho to Star In Freeform’s First-Ever Animated Series

COWBOY BEPOP (L to R) ALEX HASSELL as VICIOUS and JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL of COWBOY BEPOP
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’ Ends by Adapting One of the Anime’s Most Iconic Episodes (RECAP)

Elena Satine as Julia in Cowboy Bepop
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’: When Spike Met Julia… (RECAP)

COWBOY BEPOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL on the set of COWBOY BEPOP
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’: Pierrot Le Fou Is Coming for You (RECAP)

COWBOY BEBOP (L to R) DANIELLA PINEDA as FAYE VALENTINE in COWBOY BEBOP
Spoiler Alert

Cowboy Bebop: ‘Speak Like a Child’ Gets the Live-Action Treatment (RECAP)

COWBOY BEBOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL in COWBOY BEBOP
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’: Spike — Not Faye — Meets ‘Dr. Londes’ (RECAP)

Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’: Jet’s Past Comes Back to Haunt Him (RECAP)

Daniella Pineda as Faye, John Cho as Spike, and Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’: Branching Out (RECAP)

Ein cowboy bebop
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’: A Good, Good Boy Joins the Bebop Crew (RECAP)

Mustafa Shakir in Cowboy Bebop
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’: It’s Time to Blow This Scene (RECAP)

John Cho as Spike, Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black, Daniella Pineda as Faye in Cowboy Bebop
Spoiler Alert

‘Cowboy Bebop’ Premiere: 3, 2, 1, Let’s Jam (RECAP)

John Cho as Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop

What Is ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Anyway? Netflix Show and Its Anime Source, Explained

Alex Hassell as Vicious, John Cho as Spike in Cowboy Bebop
Preview

‘Cowboy Bebop’ Delves Into the Heroes’ Pasts & Expands on the Anime Series

Daniella Pineda, John Cho, Mustafa Shakir in Cowboy Bebop

‘Cowboy Bebop’ Trailer: There’s No Happy Ending in This Solar System (VIDEO)

John Cho in Netflix's Cowboy Bebop

‘Cowboy Bebop’: Netflix Releases Special ‘Lost Session’ Teaser (VIDEO)

The Exorcist - Ben Daniels, Zuleikha Robinson, Alfonso Herrera

‘The Exorcist’ Season Finale: Father Tomas Risks His Life

The Exorcist - John Cho as Andy Kim

John Cho Is Worried About His Character on ‘The Exorcist’

The Mindy Project - Mindy Kaling, Seth Rogen

16 Unforgettable ‘Mindy Project’ Guest Stars

John Cho as Andy Kim in Season 2 of The Exorcist
Exclusive

A New Evil Comes Knocking in ‘The Exorcist’ Season 2 Trailer (VIDEO)

John Cho

My Life on TV: ‘Difficult People’ and ‘The Exorcist’ Star John Cho

TV Tattle

‘New Girl’ Renewed for Season 5, Adds John Cho