Lauren Tom
| Lauren Tom | |
|---|---|
 Lauren Tom on the Futurama voice cast panel at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2010. |
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| Born | August 4, 1961 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, voice actress |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse(s) | Curt Kaplan (1999–present) |
| Website | |
| www.laurentom.com | |
Lauren Tom (born August 4, 1961)[1]is an American actress and voice actress who played the roles of Lena St. Clair in The Joy Luck Club, Julie in the NBC sitcom Friends, and provided the voices for both mother and daughter characters on two animated TV comedy series: on Futurama she voices Amy Wong and her mother Inez, and on King of the Hill she voiced Minh & Connie Souphanousinphone.
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Early life [edit]
Lauren Tom was born in Chicago, Illinois, the Chinese American daughter of Nancy (née Dare) and Tom Chan, Jr. who worked in the frozen food business. Her grandfather Tom Y. Chan was a businessman and a leading supporter of the Kuomintang in the United States, and helped raise money for both Sun Yat-sen and General Chiang Kai-shek. Her uncle was also a businessman and an influential civic leader.[2] In an article for Detour magazine Tom described how being teased as a child about her Chinese heritage made her introverted and is what originally inspired her to study dance.[3]
Theatre [edit]
At the age of 17, Lauren Tom landed a spot with a touring company of A Chorus Line and was cast in the Broadway production of the show less than a year later.[4] She won an Obie Award for her Off-Broadway acting and was cast in the Broadway shows Hurlyburly and Doonesbury.
Film [edit]
Tom had several small parts in movies including Nothing Lasts Forever, Wall Street, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Blue Steel; but her biggest role up til that point was as a waitress in the Robin Williams/Tim Robbins film Cadillac Man. This role led to being a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Tom landed a lead role in the film The Joy Luck Club in 1993, which led to roles in such other films such as When a Man Loves a Woman and North.
Since the mid-1990s, Tom has starred in few films (focusing her work, primarily, in the voiceover business), with the exceptions of her supporting roles in the 2003 hit comedy Bad Santa and the critically acclaimed 2004 film In Good Company.
Television [edit]
Lauren Tom's first role in television was that of Miko Wakamatsu on The Facts of Life. She subsequently appeared on The Equalizer, Catfish With Black Bean Sauce, thirtysomething, Quantum Leap, Chicago Hope, Homicide: Life on the Street, Grace Under Fire, as Ross' girlfriend Julie on Friends, The Nanny, The Middle, a starring role in DAG, The Division, as Mrs. Ling on Monk, My Wife and Kids, Barbershop: The Series, Grey's Anatomy, The Closer and as Mai Washington Men in Trees. She also had an acting role in a bonus feature on the Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder DVD.
Voice acting [edit]
Tom began vocal work in the animated series Superman: The Animated Series (as Angela Chen). From there Lauren had minor roles on Pinky and the Brain, Extreme Ghostbusters and The Zeta Project before landing her lasting roles on King of the Hill, where she voiced Minh and Connie Souphanousinphone and later Futurama, where she voices Amy and Inez Wong.
She has also lent her voice to All Grown Up!, Rocket Power, Max Steel, Batman Beyond, Justice League Unlimited, Kim Possible, Numbuh Three (Kuki Sanban), Numbuh Three's mother Genki, and Numbuhs 44 and 45 on Codename: Kids Next Door, Susanna Susquahanna on Histeria! in 2003, the villains Gizmo and Jinx on Teen Titans, Yan Lin, Susan, Alchemy on W.I.T.C.H., The Replacements, Legion of Super Heroes, Jake's mom, Counselor Chang on American Dragon: Jake Long, and as Joo Dee on Avatar the Last Airbender. She guest-starred in The Penguins of Madagascar as Chuck Charles's co-anchor, Bonnie Chang, in "Gator Watch" and "All Tied Up With a Boa".
The voice actress also did the voice of Bai Li on the animated series, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, recently in 2010.
Other animated movies Tom has voiced include Mulan II, Kim Possible: The Secret Files, Kim Possible Movie: So The Drama, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker and the four Futurama movies: Bender's Big Score, The Beast with a Billion Backs, Bender's Game and Into the Wild Green Yonder.
She also played the voice role of Jessica in the Scooby Doo animated film, Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare.
World of Warcraft voice over for Li Li Stormstout in the Mists of Pandaria expansion.
Filmography [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Facts of Life | Miko | Episode: "The Americanization of Miko" Episode: "Runaway" |
| 1983 | Doonesbury: A Broadway Musical | Ching 'Honey' Huan | |
| 1984 | Nothing Lasts Forever | Eloy | |
| 1984 | ABC Afterschool Special | Sarah | Episode: "Mom's on Strike" |
| 1985 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Kim | Episode: "The Exchange Student" |
| 1985 | The Equalizer | Mrs. Tom | Episode: "China Rain" |
| 1985 | Spenser: For Hire | Episode: "Children of a Tempest Storm" | |
| 1985 | The Cosby Show | Mrs. Gwynne | Episode: "Denise's Friend" |
| 1987 | Magic Sticks | Redhead | |
| 1987 | Wall Street | Lady Broker | |
| 1989 | Rooftops | Audry | |
| 1989 | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Mitzie | |
| 1989 | Blue Steel | Marjolene Ping the Female Reporter | |
| 1990 | Cadillac Man | Helen | |
| 1990 | Angel of Death | Julie | TV movie |
| 1990 | thirtysomething | Gail | Episode: "The Distance" |
| 1991 | Lenny | Nurse | Episode: "G.I. Joe" |
| 1991 | Quantum Leap | Sophie | Episode: "Southern Comforts" |
| 1991 | Palace Guard | Episode: "Eye of Newt" | |
| 1991 | Anything but Love | Episode: "First Lady Sings the Blues" | |
| 1992 | Man Trouble | Adele Bliss | |
| 1993 | The Joy Luck Club | Lena St. Clair | |
| 1993 | Mr. Jones | Amanda Chang | |
| 1994 | When a Man Loves a Woman | Amy | |
| 1994 | 704 Hauser | Margaret | Episode: "Triskaidekaphobia" |
| 1994 | North | Mrs. Ho | |
| 1994 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Emma Zoole | Episode: "A Model Citizen" Episode: "Happy to Be Here" |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope | Nurse Julia | Episode: "You Gotta Have Heart" |
| 1994-1996 | Spider-Man: The Animated Series | Burdine Chong-Yu | 56 episodes |
| 1995 | Chicago Hope | Nurse Julia | Episode: "Love and Hope" |
| 1995 | The Puzzle Place | Julie's Mom | Episode: "Family Fun" |
| 1995 | Kidnapped: In the Line of Duty | Lily Yee | TV movie |
| 1995 | Escape to Witch Mountain | Claudia Ford | TV movie |
| 1995 | The Nanny | Kim | Episode: "The Chatterbox" |
| 1995 | If Not For You | Claire | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1995–1996 | Friends | Julie | 7 episodes |
| 1996 | The Batman Superman Movie: World's Finest | Angela Chen (voice) | TV movie |
| 1996 | Superman: The Last Son of Krypton | Angela Chen (voice) | TV movie |
| 1996–1999 | Superman | Angela Chen (voice) | 14 episodes |
| 1997 | The Blues Brothers Animated Series | Soon-He / Mrs. Fun (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Tell Me No Secrets | Connie Ching | TV movie |
| 1997 | Murder Live! | Marge Fong | TV movie |
| 1997 | Tracey Takes On... | Weng | Episode: "Race Relations" |
| 1997 | Pinky and the Brain | Shopper | Episode: "Brain Acres" |
| 1997 | The New Batman Adventures | Ice Maiden #3 (voice) | Episode: "Cold Comfort" |
| 1997 | Extreme Ghostbusters | Episode: "Fallout" Episode: "Eyes of a Dragon" |
|
| 1997–1998 | Grace Under Fire | Dot | 12 episodes |
| 1997–2010 | King of the Hill | Various (voice) | 98 episodes |
| 1998 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Mother (voice) | Episode: "Charity" |
| 1998 | SubZero | Mariko (voice) | Video |
| 1998 | Dexter's Laboratory | Teacher (voice) | Episode: "Last But Not Beast" |
| 1998 | With Friends Like These... | Yolanda Chin | |
| 1998 | Susan's Plan | Carol | |
| 1998 | Vengeance Unlimited | Samantha | Episode: "Dishonorable Discharge" |
| 1999 | The Kids from Room 402 | Jordan | TV series |
| 1999 | Batman Beyond: The Movie | Dana Tan (voice) | TV movie |
| 1999 | Catfish in Black Bean Sauce | Mai | |
| 1999 | Early Edition | Amy Hunter | Episode: "Play It Again, Sammo" |
| 1999 | Rocket Power | Sherry / Trish (voice) | Episode: "Fall and Rise of Sam / Typhoid Sam" |
| 1999 | Y2K | Ann Lee | TV movie |
| 1999–2001 | Batman Beyond | Dana Tan, Various (voice) | 22 episodes |
| 1999–present | Futurama | Amy Wong, Various (voice) | 125+ episodes |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Episode: "Unhand Me" | |
| 2000 | Teacher's Pet | Additional Voices / Younghee | TV series |
| 2000 | The Weekenders | Candace (voice) | Episode: "Real Fake" |
| 2000 | Pepper Ann | Alice Kane | Episode: "Complementary Colors" Episode: "A Is for Average/Alice Kane Went Down to Calcutta" |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker | Dana Tan (voice) | Video |
| 2000–2001 | DAG | Ginger Chin | 17 episodes |
| 2000 | Clerks | (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2001 | Clerks | (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2001 | Jack the Dog | Angel | |
| 2001 | Max Steel | Laura Chen (voice) | Episode: "Strangers" |
| 2001 | Johnny Bravo | Ting (voice) | Episode: "The Great Bunny Book Ban/Toy Boy Johnny/Frankenbravo" |
| 2001 | No P in the O.O.L. | Numbah Three (voice) | TV movie |
| 2001–2002 | The Zeta Project | Agent Lee (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 2002 | The Chang Family Saves the World | TV movie | |
| 2002 | ChalkZone | Flunke/Robin (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2002 | The Division | Nora Chen | 6 episodes |
| 2002 | The Wild Thornberrys Movie | Additional Voices (uncredited) | |
| 2002 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Various (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2002 | My Wife and Kids | Hostess | Episode: "Table for Too Many: Part 1" Episode: "Table for Too Many: Part 2" |
| 2002 | Kim Possible | Yoshiko (voice) | Episode: "Crush" |
| 2002–2004 | Fillmore! | Various (voice) | 16 episodes |
| 2002–2008 | Codename: Kids Next Door | Kuki 'Numbah 3' Sanban (voice) / Additional Voices | 50 episodes |
| 2002 | Totally Spies! | Lady Dragon / Keiko (voice) | Episode: "Game Girls" Episode: "Man or Machine" |
| 2003 | Totally Spies! | Sunny (voice) | Episode: "Here Comes the Sun" |
| 2003 | Manhood | Bambi | |
| 2003 | All Grown Up! | Bean (voice) | Episode: "Interview with a Campfire: "Part 1" Episode: "Interview with a Campfire: Part 2" |
| 2003 | Monk | Mrs. Ling | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the 12th Man" |
| 2003 | Duck Dodgers | Dr. Yoshimi (voice) | Episode: "Duck Deception/The Spy Who Didn't Love Me" |
| 2003 | Kim Possible: The Secret Files | Yoshiko (voice) | Video |
| 2003 | Samurai Jack | Various (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Bad Santa | Lois | |
| 2003 | Kim Possible | Yoshiko (voice) | Episode: "Low Budget" Episode: "A Very Possible Christmas" |
| 2003 | Line of Fire | Korean Jury Member | Episode: "This Land Is Your Land" |
| 2003 | Justice League | Chung/Kid (voice) | Episode: "Eclipsed" |
| 2003–2005 | Teen Titans | Gizmo / Jinx (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 2004 | The Infinite Darcy | Darcy Chang (voice) | TV series |
| 2004 | Teacher's Pet | Younghee (voice) | |
| 2004 | 30 Days Until I'm Famous | Carla | TV movie |
| 2004 | Mulan II | Su (voice) | Video |
| 2004 | My Wife and Kids | Annie Hoo | Episode: "Jr. Sells His Car" Episode: "Restaurant Wars" |
| 2004 | In Good Company | Obstetrician | |
| 2004–2006 | W.I.T.C.H. | Yan Lin, Various (voice) | 51 episodes |
| 2005 | Kim Possible | Yoshiko (voice) | Episode: "Showdown at the Crooked D" |
| 2005 | Kim Possible: So the Drama | Yoshiko (voice) | TV movie |
| 2005 | Danger Rangers | Various (voice) | Episode: "Fires & Liars" |
| 2005 | Barbershop | Dana | 4 episodes |
| 2005 | Threshold | Janet Tam | Episode: "The Order" |
| 2005 | Clifford's Puppy Days | Shun (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2005–2006 | Avatar: The Last Airbender | Additional Voices / Joo Dee (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2005–2007 | American Dragon: Jake Long | Various (voice) | 25 episodes |
| 2005 | Justice League | Various (voice) | Episode: "Epilogue" |
| 2006 | Justice League | Rampage (voice) | Episode: "The Great Brain Robbery" |
| 2006 | God's Waiting List | Sylvia | |
| 2006 | Courting Alex | Jan | Episode: "Everything I Know About Men" |
| 2006 | Let Go | Beverly | TV movie |
| 2006 | Grey's Anatomy | Audrey | Episode: "Begin the Begin" |
| 2006 | In from the Night | Dr. Myra Chen | TV movie |
| 2006 | Codename: Kids Next Door - Operation Z.E.R.O. | Kuki 'Numbah 3' Sanban (voice) | TV movie |
| 2006 | The Closer | Dr. Tann | Episode: "Borderline" |
| 2006 | Me, Eloise | (voice) | Episode: "Eloise Goes to School" |
| 2006–2008 | Men in Trees | Mai Washington | 26 episodes |
| 2006–2009 | The Replacements | Tasumi (voice) | 43 episodes |
| 2007 | Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure | Numbuh Three (voice) | TV movie |
| 2007 | The Grim Adventures of the KND | Numbuh 3 (voice) | TV movie |
| 2007 | Futurama: Bender's Big Score | Amy/Various (voice) | Video |
| 2007 | Legion of Super Heroes | Zyx (voice) | Episode: "Child's Play" |
| 2008 | Legion of Super Heroes | Zyx (voice) | Episode: "Trials" |
| 2008 | Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs | Amy Wong / Inez Wong (voice) | Video |
| 2008 | Futurama: Bender's Game | Amy/Various (voice) | Video |
| 2008 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Bae Chin | Episode: "Say Uncle" |
| 2009 | Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder | Amy Wong / Inez Wong / Trixie (voice) | Video |
| 2009 | Without a Trace | Kim Tan | Episode: "Devotion" |
| 2009 | Hawthorne | Mrs. Tanaka | Episode: "The Sense of Belonging" |
| 2010–2011 | The Penguins of Madagascar | Bonnie Chang (voice) | Episode: "Gator Watch/In the Line of Doody" Episode: "Rock-A-Bye Birdie/All Tied Up With a Boa" |
| 2010 | Phineas and Ferb | Additional Voices | Episode: "Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You!" |
| 2010 | Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare | Jessica (voice) | Video |
| 2010 | Fish Hooks | Barb (voice) | Episode: "Bea Becomes an Adult Fish" |
| 2011 | Kung Fu Panda 2 | Market Sheep (voice) | |
| 2011 | Curious George | Mei (voice) | |
| 2011 | Chasing Eagle Rock | Roxanne | Post-production |
| 2011 | Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | Song | TV series; filming |
| 2012 | Napoleon Dynamite | Tokiko | Episode: "Scantronica Love" |
| 2012 | Supernatural | Mrs. Linda Tran | Episode: "There Will Be Blood" Episode: "What's Up, Tiger Mommy?" Episode: "A Little Slice Of Kevin" |
References [edit]
- ^ http://www.birthdatabase.com/query.php Lauren J Tom, 1959-08-04, Los Angeles, CA
- ^ "Lauren Tom Biography (1961-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
- ^ Article from Detour Magazine Accessed 7 February 2010
- ^ Article from In Style Magazine Accessed 7 February 2010
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lauren Tom |
- Official website
- Lauren Tom at the Internet Movie Database
- Lauren Tom at the Internet Broadway Database
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