RC
Rosalind Chao
ActorBorn September 23, 1957 (67 years)
Rosalind Chao is an American actress of Chinese heritage. Chao's most notable roles are as South Korean refugee Soon-Lee Klinger on CBS' AfterMASH, as Keiko O'Brien on both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dr. Kim on The O.C., Rose Hsu Jordan in The Joy Luck Club (1993), and Hua Li, Mulan’s mother, in the live-action version of Mulan (2020). Chao is married to voice actor Simon Templeman; they have 2 children.
She began acting at the age of five in a California-based Peking opera traveling company at the instigation of her parents who were already heavily involved, and during the summers they sent her to Taiwan to further develop her acting skills. As a child, she played the daughter of a laundry owner (played by James Hong) on the 1970 episode of Here's Lucy entitled "Lucy the Laundress".
For some time, Chao worked at Disneyland as an international tour guide.
Deciding not to pursue acting, Chao enrolled in the communications department at the University of Southern California where she earned her degree in journalism. However, after spending a year as a radio newswriting intern at the CBS-owned Hollywood radio station KNX, she soon returned to acting.
Her big break was with the role of Soon-Lee, a South Korean refugee, in the final episodes of the TV series M*A*S*H. Soon-Lee married longtime starring character Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr) in the series finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", the most-watched U.S. sitcom television episode of all time as of 2021. Chao continued playing the character in the M*A*S*H sequel series: AfterMASH (1983), her first role billed at co-starring status.
Chao regularly portrayed the Japanese exo-botanist Keiko Ishikawa O'Brien on both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She was also originally considered for the part of Enterprise security chief Tasha Yar.
She's had recurring roles as Miss Chung on season 5 of Diff'rent Strokes, Li Ying on season 5 of Falcon Crest, Dr. Judith Lin on Citizen Baines, Dr. Kim on seasons 1 & 3 of The O.C., Pastor Jin on Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment B, Mrs. Wu on Sin City Saints, Caroline on Better Things, and Tina Tchen on The First Lady.
She's guest starred on numerous shows including This is Us, Code Black, The Catch, black-ish, The OA, Hawaii Five-O, Castle, Forever, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Bones, The Event, CSI, Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, According to Jim, Six Feet Under, The Parkers, Monk, Without a Trace, Dharma & Greg, Once and Again, The West Wing, Family Law, ER, Brimstone, Chicago Hope, Murder She Wrote, thirty something, Jake & the Fatman, Miami Vice, Beauty and the Beast (1988), The A-Team, St. Elsewhere, Riptide, M*A*S*H,One Day at a Time (1981), Emergency!, The Incredible Hulk (1978), Here's Lucy, and more.
She has starred in several movies including The Joy Luck Club, North (1994), What Dreams May Come, Impostor, I Am Sam, Freaky Friday (2003), Just Like Heaven, Mulan (2020) as Mulan’s mother, Together Together, and The Starling.
In 2019, Chao was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences citing her contributions to critically acclaimed films The Joy Luck Club and I Am Sam.
She began acting at the age of five in a California-based Peking opera traveling company at the instigation of her parents who were already heavily involved, and during the summers they sent her to Taiwan to further develop her acting skills. As a child, she played the daughter of a laundry owner (played by James Hong) on the 1970 episode of Here's Lucy entitled "Lucy the Laundress".
For some time, Chao worked at Disneyland as an international tour guide.
Deciding not to pursue acting, Chao enrolled in the communications department at the University of Southern California where she earned her degree in journalism. However, after spending a year as a radio newswriting intern at the CBS-owned Hollywood radio station KNX, she soon returned to acting.
Her big break was with the role of Soon-Lee, a South Korean refugee, in the final episodes of the TV series M*A*S*H. Soon-Lee married longtime starring character Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr) in the series finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", the most-watched U.S. sitcom television episode of all time as of 2021. Chao continued playing the character in the M*A*S*H sequel series: AfterMASH (1983), her first role billed at co-starring status.
Chao regularly portrayed the Japanese exo-botanist Keiko Ishikawa O'Brien on both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She was also originally considered for the part of Enterprise security chief Tasha Yar.
She's had recurring roles as Miss Chung on season 5 of Diff'rent Strokes, Li Ying on season 5 of Falcon Crest, Dr. Judith Lin on Citizen Baines, Dr. Kim on seasons 1 & 3 of The O.C., Pastor Jin on Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment B, Mrs. Wu on Sin City Saints, Caroline on Better Things, and Tina Tchen on The First Lady.
She's guest starred on numerous shows including This is Us, Code Black, The Catch, black-ish, The OA, Hawaii Five-O, Castle, Forever, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Bones, The Event, CSI, Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, According to Jim, Six Feet Under, The Parkers, Monk, Without a Trace, Dharma & Greg, Once and Again, The West Wing, Family Law, ER, Brimstone, Chicago Hope, Murder She Wrote, thirty something, Jake & the Fatman, Miami Vice, Beauty and the Beast (1988), The A-Team, St. Elsewhere, Riptide, M*A*S*H,One Day at a Time (1981), Emergency!, The Incredible Hulk (1978), Here's Lucy, and more.
She has starred in several movies including The Joy Luck Club, North (1994), What Dreams May Come, Impostor, I Am Sam, Freaky Friday (2003), Just Like Heaven, Mulan (2020) as Mulan’s mother, Together Together, and The Starling.
In 2019, Chao was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences citing her contributions to critically acclaimed films The Joy Luck Club and I Am Sam.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 2025 | Freakier Friday · as Pei-Pei |
| 2024 | Sacramento · as Dr. Murray |
| 2024 | 3 Body Problem (TV Series) · as Ye Wenjie |
| 2024 | M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television · as Soon-Le |
| 2023 | Not an Artist · as Kimmy |
| 2022 | The First Lady (2022) (TV Series) · as Tina Tchen |
| 2021 | The Starling · as Fawn |
| 2021 | Sweet Tooth (TV Series) · as Mrs. Helen Zhang |
| 2021 | Together Together · as Dr. Andrews |
| 2020 | Magic Camp · as Lorraine (uncredited) |
| 2020 | Mulan · as Hua Li |
| 2019 | The L Word: Generation Q (TV Series) · as Grace Lee |
| 2019 | The Laundromat · as Gu Kailai |
| 2019 | Plus One · as Angela Mori |
| 2018 | What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine · as Keiko O'brien |
| 2017 | Tragedy Girls · as Mayor Campbell |
| 2016 | The OA (TV Series) · as Patricia Knoller |
| 2016 | This Is Us (TV Series) · as Anna |
| 2016 | Better Things (TV Series) · as Caroline |
| 2016 | The Catch (TV Series) · as Kohana Takashi |
| 2015 | Code Black (TV Series) · as Jae Eun |
| 2015 | The Muppets (TV Series) · as Woman #1 |
| 2015 | Stockholm, Pennsylvania · as Dr. Andrews |
| 2015 | Sin City Saints (TV Series) · as Mrs. Wu |
| 2014 | black-ish (TV Series) · as Dr. Stone |
| 2014 | Forever (2014) (TV Series) · as Frenchman |
| 2014 | Intelligence (2014) (TV Series) · as Sheng-Li Wang |
| 2012 | Knife Fight · as Kate - Focus Group Moderator |
| 2012 | The Neighbors (TV Series) · as Barb Hartley |
| 2012 | Ruth & Erica (TV Series) · as Helen |
| 2012 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (TV Series) · as Pastor Jin |
| 2011 | Shameless (US) (TV Series) · as Doctor |
| 2010 | The Event (TV Series) · as Doctor |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 (2010) (TV Series) · as Governor Keiko Mahoe |
| 2009 | Trauma (TV Series) · as Therapist |
| 2009 | Castle (2009) (TV Series) · as Mimi Tan |
| 2007 | Private Practice (TV Series) · as Lillie Jordan |
| 2007 | Tell Me You Love Me (TV Series) · as Cynthia |
| 2007 | Nanking · as Chang Yu Zheng |
| 2005 | Ben 10 (TV Series) · as Councilwoman Liang (voice) |
| 2005 | Just Like Heaven · as Fran |
| 2005 | Bones (TV Series) · as Mandy Oh |
| 2005 | Grey's Anatomy (TV Series) · as Kathleen Patterson |
| 2005 | Life of the Party · as Mei Lin |
| 2004 | W.I.T.C.H. (TV Series) · as Joan Lin / Mandy (voice) |
| 2004 | Center of the Universe (TV Series) · as Dr. Geisler |
| 2004 | Medical Investigation (TV Series) · as Dr. Kramer |
| 2004 | Century City (TV Series) · as Doctor |
| 2003 | 10-8: Officers on Duty (TV Series) · as Lt. Maggie Chen |
| 2003 | Freaky Friday · as Pei-Pei |
| 2003 | The O.C. (TV Series) · as Dr. Kim |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | Without a Trace (TV Series) · as Helen Collins |
| 2002 | MDs (TV Series) · as Angela Yuan |
| 2002 | Monk (TV Series) · as Arleen Cassidy |
| 2001 | I Am Sam · as Lily |
| 2001 | Impostor · as Newscaster (uncredited) |
| 2001 | According to Jim (TV Series) · as Sally Wu |
| 2001 | Three Blind Mice · as Li Mei Chen |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) · as Mrs. Zhuang |
| 2001 | The Man from Elysian Fields · as Female Customer |
| 2001 | Six Feet Under (TV Series) · as Cindy |
| 2000 | Citizen Baines (TV Series) · as Dr. Judith Lin |
| 2000 | Enemies of Laughter · as Carla |
| 2000 | Gideon's Crossing (TV Series) · as Claire Hines |
| 2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) · as Michelle Huntley |
| 1999 | Once And Again (TV Series) · as Tami Seitz |
| 1999 | The West Wing (TV Series) · as Jane Gentry |
| 1999 | Family Law (TV Series) · as Dr. Seabourne |
| 1999 | Get Real (TV Series) · as Anne Collins |
| 1999 | The Parkers (TV Series) · as Prof. Thornhill |
| 1998 | Brimstone (TV Series) · as Nina Chou |
| 1998 | What Dreams May Come · as Leona |
| 1997 | Dharma & Greg (TV Series) · as Patricia |
| 1997 | The End of Violence · as Claire |
| 1996 | To Love, Honor and Deceive · as Sydney's Best Friend |
| 1996 | Arli$$ (TV Series) · as Karen |
| 1996 | Special Report: Journey to Mars · as Dr. Lin Yo Yu |
| 1994 | Love Affair · as Lee |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Dr. Theresa Chow |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope (TV Series) · as Allison Granger |
| 1994 | Under Suspicion (TV Series) |
| 1994 | The Magic School Bus (TV Series) · as Mrs. Li (voice) |
| 1994 | North · as Chinese Mom |
| 1994 | Web of Deception · as Dr. Sheila Prosser |
| 1993 | The Joy Luck Club · as Rose Hsu Jordan |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) · as Keiko O'brien |
| 1992 | Intruders (1992) (TV Series) · as Dr. Jenny Sakai |
| 1992 | Memoirs of an Invisible Man · as Cathy Ditolla |
| 1990 | Against the Law (TV Series) · as Toy Feng |
| 1990 | Last Flight Out · as Tra Duong |
| 1990 | Thousand Pieces of Gold · as Lalu / Polly |
| 1990 | Denial · as Terry |
| 1990 | Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (TV Series) · as Thanh Steinmetz |
| 1988 | White Ghost · as Thi Hau |
| 1988 | Shooter · as Lan |
| 1987 | Slam Dance · as Mrs. Margaret Bell |
| 1987 | Thirtysomething (TV Series) · as Willa Camden |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) · as Keiko Ishikawa |
| 1987 | Jake and the Fatman (TV Series) · as Elaine Nakasone |
| 1987 | Beauty and the Beast (TV Series) · as Lin Wong |
| 1987 | Tour of Duty (TV Series) · as Li Kiem |
| 1987 | Private Eye (TV Series) · as Kai-Lee |
| 1987 | Max Headroom (TV Series) · as Angie Barry |
| 1987 | Shao ye de mo nan · as 莲花 (lian Hua) |
| 1986 | Jack and Mike (TV Series) · as Holly Sykes |
| 1986 | Stingray (1985) (TV Series) · as Colette Tran |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) · as Phoebe Campbell |
| 1984 | Miami Vice (TV Series) · as Mai Ying |
| 1984 | Riptide (1984) (TV Series) · as Lucy |
| 1983 | Going Berserk · as Kung Fu Girl |
| 1983 | AfterMASH (TV Series) · as Soon-Lee Klinger |
| 1983 | The Terry Fox Story · as Rika Noda |
| 1983 | The A-Team (TV Series) · as Alice Heath |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere (TV Series) · as Mary Wilson |
| 1982 | Bring 'Em Back Alive (TV Series) · as Shala |
| 1981 | Twirl · as Kim King |
| 1981 | An Eye for an Eye · as Linda Chan |
| 1981 | The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island · as Hotel Clerk |
| 1981 | Falcon Crest (TV Series) · as Li-Ying Chi |
| 1980 | American Playhouse (TV Series) · as Ku Ling |
| 1980 | Battle Creek Brawl · as Mae |
| 1980 | Bride of the Incredible Hulk · as Receptionist |
| 1979 | Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women · as Flower |
| 1979 | A Man Called Sloane (TV Series) · as Soom Nuk |
| 1979 | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (TV Series) · as Leslie Chiu |
| 1979 | Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge · as Emily Chan |
| 1979 | The Ultimate Impostor · as Lai-Ping |
| 1978 | Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) · as Miss Chung |
| 1977 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) · as Receptionist |
| 1977 | The Amazing Spider-Man (TV Series) · as Emily Chan |
| 1977 | The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series) · as Lily |
| 1976 | How the West Was Won (TV Series) · as Li Sin |
| 1975 | One Day at a Time (TV Series) · as Gloria |
| 1973 | Kojak (TV Series) · as Grace Chen |
| 1972 | The ABC Afterschool Special (TV Series) · as The Kurmese Ambassador's Daughter |
| 1972 | M*A*S*H (TV Series) · as Soon-Lee |
| 1972 | Anna and the King (TV Series) · as Princess Serena |
| 1972 | Kung Fu (TV Series) · as Dancer (uncredited) |
| 1972 | Emergency! (TV Series) · as Kathy |
| 1968 | Here's Lucy (TV Series) · as Linda Chang Wong |