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Rosalind Chao

Rosalind Chao

Known For Acting
Birthday Sep 23, 1957 (67)
Birthplace Anaheim, California, USA
Popularity 1 (history)
Updated Dec 19, 2024 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

​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.

Known For

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Filmography

Sacramento

Sacramento

2025

as Dr. Murray

Freakier Friday

Freakier Friday

2025

as Mama P

Together Together

Together Together

2021

as Dr. Andrews

The Starling

The Starling

2021

as Fawn

Mulan

Mulan

2020

as Hua Li

Magic Camp

Magic Camp

2020

as Lorraine (uncredited)

Plus One

Plus One

2019

as Angela Mori

The Laundromat

The Laundromat

2019

as Gu Kailai

Tragedy Girls

Tragedy Girls

2017

as Mayor Campbell

Stockholm, Pennsylvania

Stockholm, Pennsylvania

2015

as Dr. Andrews

Nanking

Nanking

2007

as Chang Yu Zheng

Life of the Party

Life of the Party

2005

as Mei Lin

Just Like Heaven

Just Like Heaven

2005

as Fran

Inhabited

Inhabited

2003

as Ms. Montane

Freaky Friday

Freaky Friday

2003

as Pei-Pei

Three Blind Mice

Three Blind Mice

2001

as Li Mei Chen

I Am Sam

I Am Sam

2001

as Lily

The Man from Elysian Fields

The Man from Elysian Fields

2001

as Female Customer

Impostor

Impostor

2001

as Newscaster (uncredited)

Enemies of Laughter

Enemies of Laughter

2000

as Carla

What Dreams May Come

What Dreams May Come

1998

as Leona

The End of Violence

The End of Violence

1997

as Claire

To Love, Honor and Deceive

To Love, Honor and Deceive

1996

as Sydney's Best Friend

Special Report: Journey to Mars

Special Report: Journey to Mars

1996

as Dr. Lin Yo Yu

Web of Deception

Web of Deception

1994

as Dr. Sheila Prosser

Love Affair

Love Affair

1994

as Lee

North

North

1994

as Chinese Mom

The Joy Luck Club

The Joy Luck Club

1993

as Rose Hsu Jordan

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

1992

as Cathy DiTolla

Thousand Pieces of Gold

Thousand Pieces of Gold

1991

as Lalu / Polly

Last Flight Out

Last Flight Out

1990

as Tra Duong

Denial

Denial

1990

as Terry

White Ghost

White Ghost

1988

as Thi Hau

Shooter

Shooter

1988

as Lan

Slam Dance

Slam Dance

1987

as Mrs. Margaret Bell

The Terry Fox Story

The Terry Fox Story

1983

as Rika Noda

Going Berserk

Going Berserk

1983

as Kung Fu Girl

Moonlight

Moonlight

1982

as Daphne Wu

An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye

1981

as Linda Chan

Twirl

Twirl

1981

as Kim King

The Big Brawl

The Big Brawl

1980

as Mae

Bride of the Incredible Hulk

Bride of the Incredible Hulk

1980

as Receptionist

The Ultimate Impostor

The Ultimate Impostor

1979

as Lai-Ping

No data available

No data available

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

AfterMASH

as Soon-Lee Klinger

Episodes: 31

First Aired: Sep 26, 1983

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

as Keiko O'Brien

Episodes: 20

First Aired: Jan 03, 1993

Sweet Tooth

as Mrs. Helen Zhang

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Jun 04, 2021

3 Body Problem

as Ye Wenjie

Episodes: 8

First Aired: Mar 21, 2024

Star Trek: The Next Generation

as Keiko O'Brien

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Sep 28, 1987

Diff'rent Strokes

as Miss Chung

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Nov 03, 1978

The O.C.

as Dr. Kim

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Aug 05, 2003

Better Things

as Caroline

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Sep 08, 2016

Sin City Saints

as Mrs. Wu

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Mar 23, 2015

Falcon Crest

as Li-Ying Chi

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Dec 04, 1981

10-8: Officers on Duty

as Lt. Maggie Chen

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Sep 28, 2003

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

as Pastor Jin

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Apr 11, 2012

Citizen Baines

as Dr. Judith Lin

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 29, 2001

The First Lady

as Tina Tchen

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Apr 17, 2022

Drug Wars: The Camarena Story

as Thanh Steinmetz

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jan 07, 1990

Six Feet Under

as Cindy

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jun 03, 2001

Tell Me You Love Me

as Cynthia

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 09, 2007

M*A*S*H

as Soon-Lee

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 17, 1972

Max Headroom

as Angie Barry

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 31, 1987

The Magic School Bus

as Mrs. Li (voice)

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 10, 1994

Intruders

as Dr. Jenny Sakai

Episodes: 2

First Aired: May 17, 1992

The Event

as Doctor

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 20, 2010

The Amazing Spider-Man

as Emily Chan

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Apr 05, 1978

Trauma

as Therapist

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 28, 2009

The Neighbors

as Barb Hartley

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 26, 2012

Code Black

as Jae Eun

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 30, 2015

St. Elsewhere

as Mary Wilson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 26, 1982

Murder, She Wrote

as Phoebe Campbell

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1984

Medical Investigation

as Dr. Kramer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 09, 2004

Once and Again

as Tami Seitz

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1999

Here's Lucy

as Linda Chang Wong

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1968

The Incredible Hulk

as Receptionist

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 04, 1977

thirtysomething

as Willa Camden

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1987

Star Trek: The Next Generation

as Keiko Ishikawa

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 28, 1987

Brimstone

as Nina Chou

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 23, 1998

Monk

as Arleen Cassidy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 12, 2002

Miami Vice

as Mai Ying

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1984

According to Jim

as Sally Wu

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 2001

Beauty and the Beast

as Lin Wong

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 1987

Castle

as Mimi Tan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 09, 2009

Without a Trace

as Helen Collins

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 2002

Dharma & Greg

as Patricia

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1997

The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries

as Lily

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 30, 1977

The Parkers

as Prof. Thornhill

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 30, 1999

Kojak

as Grace Chen

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 24, 1973

Private Practice

as Lillie Jordan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 2007

Stingray

as Colette Tran

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 14, 1985

Ben 10

as Councilwoman Liang (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 27, 2005

Chicago Hope

as Allison Granger

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1994

ER

as Dr. Theresa Chow

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1994

Anna and the King

as Princess Serena

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1972

Tour of Duty

as Li Kiem

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1987

Family Law

as Dr. Seabourne

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1999

Center of the Universe

as Dr. Geisler

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 27, 2004

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

as Michelle Huntley

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 06, 2000

MDs

as Angela Yuan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 2002

Intelligence

as Sheng-Li Wang

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 07, 2014

The West Wing

as Jane Gentry

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1999

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

as Mrs. Zhuang

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 2001

Grey's Anatomy

as Kathleen Patterson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 27, 2005

Forever

as Frenchman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 2014

Jake and the Fatman

as Elaine Nakasone

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 1987

Hawaii Five-0

as Governor Keiko Mahoe

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 2010

The Catch

as Kohana Takashi

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 24, 2016

Get Real

as Anne Collins

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1999

How the West Was Won

as Li Sin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 06, 1977

Kung Fu

as Dancer (uncredited)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 14, 1972

The A-Team

as Alice Heath

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 23, 1983

The OA

as Patricia Knoller

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 16, 2016

ABC Afterschool Special

as The Kurmese Ambassador's Daughter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1972

Emergency!

as Kathy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 22, 1972

A Man Called Sloane

as Soom Nuk

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1979

The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo

as Leslie Chiu

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 1979

One Day at a Time

as Gloria

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 16, 1975

Bring 'Em Back Alive

as Shala

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1982

Diff'rent Strokes

as Ming Li

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 03, 1978

American Playhouse

as Ku Ling

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 12, 1982

Riptide

as Lucy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 03, 1984

Jack and Mike

as Holly Sykes

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1986

Private Eye

as Kai-Lee

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1987

Against the Law

as Toy Feng

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1990

Gideon's Crossing

as Claire Hines

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 2000

Arliss

as Karen

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 10, 1996

Century City

as Doctor

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 16, 2004

W.I.T.C.H.

as Joan Lin / Mandy (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 18, 2004

Ruth & Erica

as Helen

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 2012

Shameless

as Doctor

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 09, 2011

The Muppets

as Woman #1

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 2015

black-ish

as Dr. Stone

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 2014

This Is Us

as Anna

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 2016

Bones

as Mandy Oh

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 2005

The L Word: Generation Q

as Grace Lee

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 08, 2019

Battle of the Network Stars

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 13, 1976

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 01, 1962

Spies

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 03, 1987

Under Suspicion

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1994

The Daily Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 22, 1996

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 26 29 21
2024 6 30 44 21
2024 7 33 47 17
2024 8 22 46 13
2024 9 21 43 12
2024 10 14 20 10
2024 11 11 15 5
2024 12 14 26 9
2025 1 19 36 11
2025 2 11 26 2
2025 3 7 18 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 2 3 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 1 1 1
2025 8 2 5 1

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 667 276
2024 6 765 765

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