John Cho

Birthday: 16 June 1972, Seoul, South Korea

Birth Name: John Yohan Cho

Height: 178 cm

John Yohan Cho was born in Seoul, South Korea, but moved to Los Angeles, California as a child, where his father was a Christian minister. Cho was educated at Herbert Hoover High School at Glendale before moving on to the University of California at Berkeley where he studied English Literature. Upon graduation, Cho moved back to Los Angeles, working for a while as a teacher at Pacific Hills School. He also began acting with the famed Asian American theater company East West Players.A screen acting career began with small roles in projects such as Wag the Dog (1997) and Bowfinger (1999). His breakthrough came when he appeared in the teen romance comedy American Pie (1999) and helped coin the phrase "MILF". Other roles followed, and he scored another hit in the slacker comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004). Cho also starred in the hugely successful franchise reboot Star Trek (2009), in the sought after role of Hikaru Sulu. As well as acting, Cho is also a singer and performs in the band Viva La Union. He is married to actress Kerri Higuchi and they have two children. Show less «

[observation, 2012] Thankfully, I'm not sweating too much about how to climb the ladder, and I'm not...Show more »

[observation, 2012] Thankfully, I'm not sweating too much about how to climb the ladder, and I'm not sweating too much about the money. I'm trying to think of making work that I'm proud of. And I think everything falls into place after that. Show less «

I am interested in people who are on top and how they stay on top. In a vague way, it's a bit like a...Show more »

I am interested in people who are on top and how they stay on top. In a vague way, it's a bit like athletes and how they stay on top of their game. You know, I always root for the older athlete. I root for the second album. I root for solo careers after the rock star breaks the band apart. I've become more interested in second and third acts, and a lot less interested in that splashy debut. For me, the most interesting thing is longevity and sustaining a career, because that's what's truly difficult. Show less «

When I was starting out, it was really hard. I tried to do things like turn down auditions I thought...Show more »

When I was starting out, it was really hard. I tried to do things like turn down auditions I thought were stereotypical. That sort of thing, small as it was, was difficult. Now it seems like I don't even have to make those decisions anymore. People understand what I do. Show less «

With music, I get to feel real ownership with what I do. I write it, I perform it and even if it is ...Show more »

With music, I get to feel real ownership with what I do. I write it, I perform it and even if it is crap, it is mine. With acting, you are a small part of the creative process, and sometimes it is hard to feel like you are making an impact. Show less «

[on being an Asian American actor] It's difficult having to hustle for jobs. Not knowing when the ne...Show more »

[on being an Asian American actor] It's difficult having to hustle for jobs. Not knowing when the next job is coming in. It's hard. There are not enough roles out there. I try not to get wrapped up in it or I'll get depressed. Show less «

[on avoiding Facebook] I have this nightmare that one day I will have to look at every picture I've ...Show more »

[on avoiding Facebook] I have this nightmare that one day I will have to look at every picture I've ever taken with people in an airport or in bars or restaurants, and it will make me very sad. It will be like the Vietnam memorial in Washington - a descending wall of sadness. Show less «

John Cho

John Cho's FILMOGRAPHY

John Cho'S roles

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