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Lauren Tom

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Lauren Tom
Tom at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1961-08-04) August 4, 1961 (age 63)
Highland Park, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1978–present
Spouse(s)Glenn Lau-Kee (divorced)
Curt Kaplan
Children2
RelativesTom Y. Chan (grandfather)
Ping Tom (uncle)
Websitelaurentom.com Edit this at Wikidata

Lauren Tom (born August 4, 1961[1]) is an American actress. Her roles include Lena St. Clair in The Joy Luck Club, Julie in the NBC sitcom Friends, Dot in the final season of Grace Under Fire, and the voices for Amy Wong in Futurama, Dana Tan in Batman Beyond, Jinx and Gizmo in Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go!, Minh and Connie Souphanousinphone in King of the Hill, and Numbuh 3 in Codename: Kids Next Door. She portrayed Celia Mack in the Disney Channel series Andi Mack and also played Mrs. Tran in the CW series Supernatural.

Early life

Tom was born in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois,[2] the daughter of Nancy (née Dare) and Chan Tom, Jr.[1] She has a brother named Chip.[1] Their parents were born in Chicago, and their grandparents came from Kaiping, Guangdong, China.[2]

Raised in Highland Park, she grew up as a Catholic in a largely Jewish neighborhood.[3]

Career

Theatre

At the age of 17, 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 in the role of Connie.[4] She won an Obie Award for her Off-Broadway acting and was cast in the Broadway shows Hurlyburly and Doonesbury. In Chicago she starred in the Goodman Theater's production of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore.[5]

Film

Tom had several small roles in movies including Nothing Lasts Forever, Wall Street, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Blue Steel. Her biggest role up until 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 other films such as When a Man Loves a Woman and North.

Since the mid-1990s, Tom has focused primarily on voiceover roles. She has appeared in a few live-action films, including the 2003 comedy Bad Santa and the critically acclaimed 2004 film In Good Company.

Television

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, Friends, The Nanny, The Middle, DAG, The Division, Monk, My Wife and Kids, Barbershop: The Series, Grey's Anatomy, The Closer, and Men in Trees. She also had a supporting role on the 8th and 9th season of the drama series Supernatural as prophet Kevin Tran's mother, Linda Tran. In 2018, she appeared in the second season of the Amazon Prime drama series Goliath.

Voice acting

Lauren Tom in 2010 at San Diego Comic-Con

Tom began vocal work in the animated series Superman: The Animated Series playing Angela Chen. From there on, she voiced Dana Tan in Batman Beyond and had minor roles on Pinky and the Brain, Extreme Ghostbusters, and The Zeta Project before landing her regular roles on King of the Hill, where she voiced Minh and Connie Souphanousinphone and later Futurama, where she voices Amy and Inez Wong.

Since first playing the character on stage in the 1983 Doonesbury musical, Tom has periodically voiced the character Honey Huan in media related to Doonesbury, most notably in a series of animated shorts satirizing the 2000 U.S. presidential election.

She has also lent her voice to All Grown Up!, Rocket Power, Max Steel, Handy Manny as Mrs. Lee and Nelson, Samurai Jack, Johnny Bravo, Justice League Unlimited, Kim Possible, and Legion of Super Heroes.

She has also voiced the villains Gizmo and Jinx on Teen Titans, Yan Lin, Susan, Alchemy on W.I.T.C.H., Tasumi on The Replacements, Jake's mom, Counselor Chang on American Dragon: Jake Long, and as Joo Dee on Avatar: The Last Airbender. She also 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".

In 2010, she did the voice of Song, Bai Li, and Ming on the animated series, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and also played the role of Jessica in the animated film, Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare.

Other animated movies Tom has voiced include Mulan II, Kim Possible: The Secret Files, Kim Possible Movie: So The Drama, Kung Fu Panda 2, 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 voiced Li Li Stormstout in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria[6] and played Hayaku on an episode of Turbo FAST.[7]

Personal life

Tom was previously married to Glenn Lau-Kee. She has since remarried actor Curt Kaplan. Tom and Kaplan have two sons.[1][8]

Filmography

Tom in 2009

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Nothing Lasts Forever Eloy
1987 Magic Sticks Redhead
1987 Wall Street Lady Broker
1989 Rooftops Audry
1989 See No Evil, Hear No Evil Mitzie
1990 Blue Steel Marjolene Ping the Female Reporter
1990 Cadillac Man Helen
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 North Mrs. Ho
1998 With Friends Like These... Yolanda Chin
1998 Susan's Plan Carol
1998 SubZero Mariko (voice) Video
1999 Catfish in Black Bean Sauce Mai
2001 Jack the Dog Angel
2002 The Wild Thornberrys Movie Additional Voices Uncredited
2003 Manhood Bambi
2003 Bad Santa Lois
2004 Teacher's Pet Younghee (voice)
2004 In Good Company Obstetrician
2005 Mulan II Su (voice) Video
2006 God's Waiting List Sylvia
2007 Futurama: Bender's Big Score Amy
Various (voice) 		Video
2008 Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs Amy Wong
Inez Wong (voice) 		Video
2008 Futurama: Bender's Game Amy
Various (voice) 		Video
2009 Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder Amy Wong
Inez Wong
Trixie (voice) 		Video
2010 Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare Jessica (voice) Video
2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Market Sheep (voice)
2015 Chasing Eagle Rock Roxanne
2015 Justice League: Gods and Monsters Lara (voice) Video
2017 Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown Sharon (voice) Video
2021 Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Nomura (voice) Video

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Facts of Life Miko Episode: "The Americanization of Miko"
Episode: "Runaway"
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"
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"
1994 704 Hauser Margaret Episode: "Triskaidekaphobia"
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" and 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 Superman: The Last Son of Krypton Angela Chen (voice) TV movie
1996–1999 Superman Angela Chen (voice) 14 episodes
1997 The Batman/Superman Movie: World's Finest Angela Chen (voice) TV movie
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 Connie
Minh
Various (voice) 		98 episodes
1998 Adventures from the Book of Virtues Mother (voice) Episode: "Charity"
1998 Dexter's Laboratory Teacher (voice) Episode: "Last But Not Beast"
1998 Vengeance Unlimited Samantha Episode: "Dishonorable Discharge"
1999 Batman Beyond: The Movie Dana Tan (voice) TV movie
1999 Early Edition Amy Hunter Episode: "Play It Again, Sammo"
1999 Rocket Power Trish and Sherry (voice) Episode: "Fall and Rise of Sam / Typhoid Sam"
1999 Y2K Ann Lee TV movie
1999–2001 The Kids from Room 402 Jordan (voice) TV series
1999–2001 Batman Beyond Dana Tan
Various (voice) 		22 episodes
1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023 Futurama Amy Wong
Inez Wong
Various (voice) 		125+ episodes
2000 City of Angels Episode: "Unhand Me"
2000 Teacher's Pet Younghee
Additional voices 		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
2000–2001 Clerks (voice) 2 episodes
2001 Max Steel Laura Chen (voice) Episode: "Strangers"
2001 Johnny Bravo Ting (voice) Episode: "Enter the Chipmunk"
2001 No P in the O.O.L. Numbuh 3 (voice) TV movie
2001–2002 The Zeta Project Agent Lee (voice) 8 episodes
2001–2002 Lloyd in Space Trixie, Sirenia (voice) 3 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 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"
2002–2005 Kim Possible Yoshiko (voice) 4 episodes
2002–2003 Totally Spies! Lady Dragon
Keiko
Sunny (voice) 		Episode: "Game Girls"
Episode: "Man or Machine"
Episode: "Here Comes the Sun"
2002–2004 Fillmore! Karen Tehama/Various (voice) 16 episodes
2002–2008 Codename: Kids Next Door Kuki 'Numbuh 3' Sanban (voice)
Genki Sanban
Additional voices 		78 episodes
2003 All Grown Up! Bean (voice) Episodes: "Interview with a Campfire” parts 1 and 2
2003 Monk Mrs. Ling Episode: "Mr. Monk and the 12th Man"
2003 Duck Dodgers Dr. Yoshimi (voice) Episode: "The Spy Who Didn't Love Me"
2003 Samurai Jack Samurai Jack's mother
Additional characters (voice) 		3 episodes
2003 Line of Fire Korean Jury Member Episode: "This Land Is Your Land"
2003–2005
2006 		Justice League Unlimited Chung
Kid
Dana Tan
Dr. Light (voice) 		Episode: "Epilogue"
Episode: "The Great Brain Robbery"
Episode: "Eclipsed"
2003–2005 Teen Titans Gizmo
Jinx (voice) 		6 episodes
2003-2006 Clifford's Puppy Days Shun

Lucy (voice)

2004 The Infinite Darcy Darcy Chang (voice) TV series
2004 30 Days Until I'm Famous Carla TV movie
2004 My Wife and Kids Annie Hoo Episode: "Jr. Sells His Car"
Episode: "Restaurant Wars"
2004–2006 W.I.T.C.H. Yan Lin
Various (voice) 		51 episodes
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"
2005–2006 Avatar: The Last Airbender Joo Dee
Additional Voices (voice) 		3 episodes
2005–2007 American Dragon: Jake Long Susan Long
Counselor Chang (voice) 		25 episodes
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 'Numbuh 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
2007–2008 Legion of Super Heroes Zyx (voice) Episode: "Child's Play"
Episode: "Trials"
2008 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Bae Chin Episode: "Say Uncle"
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"
Episode: "All Tied Up With a Boa"
2010 Phineas and Ferb Additional Voices Episode: "Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You!"
2010 Fish Hooks Barb (voice) Episode: "Bea Becomes an Adult Fish"
2010–2013 Pound Puppies Various (voice)
2011 Curious George Mei (voice)
2011 Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness Song/Ming/Bai Li TV series
2012 Napoleon Dynamite Tokiko (voice) Episode: "Scantronica Love"
2012–2014 Supernatural Mrs. Linda Tran Episode: "What's Up, Tiger Mommy?"
Episode: "A Little Slice Of Kevin"
Episode: "Captives"
2013 The Newsroom Kathy Ling 2 episodes
2013–present Teen Titans Go! Gizmo
Jinx (voice)
2013–2014 It's a Small World: The Animated Series Marmura / Ling (voice)
2014–2016 Turbo FAST Hayaku
Translator (voice) 		Episode: "Turbo Drift"
Episode: "He Got Game Night"
2014 The Simpsons Amy Wong (voice) Episode: "Simpsorama"
2015 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Sashi's Mom (voice) Episode: "Flurgle Burgle"
2015 Pretty Little Liars Rebecca Marcus 3 episodes
2016 Future-Worm! Various Characters 3 Episodes
2016–2018 Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Mary Wang
Nomura (voice) 		17 episodes
2017–2019 Andi Mack Celia Mack Main Character
2018 Mighty Magiswords Toni Sento (voice) Episode: "Let's Team Up Because We Aren't Bad Friends"
2018 Big City Greens Various (voice)
2018-2022 Disenchantment Stacy LeBlatt (voice)
Miri the Mop Girl (voice)
Trixy (voice)
Mermaid Queen (voice)
Various (voice) 		11 episodes
2018–2019 The Loud House Cici
Ms. Pham
Burping Burger Mom (voice) 		Episode: “Middle Men”
Episode: “Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow”
2018–2019 3Below: Tales of Arcadia Mary Wang (voice) 9 episodes
2018–2019 Goliath Applebees 5 episodes
2019 Pinky Malinky Bus Driver
Tina (voice) 		Episode: "Gym"
2019-present Young Justice Traci Thirteen (voice), additional voices Episodes: "Away Mission", "Illusion of Control", "Odnu!"
2019 The Rookie Mrs. Chen Episode: "Tough Love"
2020 Last Man Standing Fiona Episode: "Keep the Change"
2020 Star Trek: Lower Decks U.S.S. Vancouver Captain Episode: "Cupid's Errant Arrow"
2021 Rick and Morty Various (voice) Episodes: "A Rickconvenient Mort", "Gotron Jerrysis Rickvangelion"
2021-present DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms May Wong (voice)
2022 Star Trek: Lower Decks Areore Female Episode: "A Mathematically Perfect Redemption"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2000 King of the Hill Connie Souphanousinphone
2002 Superman: Shadow of Apokolips Angela Chen / Mercy Graves
2003 Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour
2004 World of Warcraft
2005 Codename: Kids Next Door – Operation: V.I.D.E.O.G.A.M.E. Kuki Sanban (Numbuh 3)
2005 Teen Titans Jinx / Gizmo
2009 FusionFall Numbuh 3
2012 World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria Li Li Stormstout
2015 Heroes of the Storm Li Li
2016 World of Warcraft: Legion Li Li Stormstout
2017 Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow Amy Wong / Inez Wong / Jrrr (uncredited) Mobile game
2018 Lego DC Super-Villains Gizmo / Jinx / Dr. Poison
2020 Ghost of Tsushima Lady Masako Adachi English language voice and motion capture performance

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
1975 A Chorus Line Connie Tour; Shubert Theatre, Broadway
1983 Doonesbury Ching 'Honey' Huan
Dance captain 		Original cast; Biltmore Theater, Broadway
1984 Hurlyburly Donna Ethel Barrymore Theater, Broadway
1988 American Notes Pauline The Public Theater, Off-Broadway
Received an Obie Award
1990 'Tis Pity She's a Whore Annabella Goodman Theater, Chicago

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Lauren Tom Biography". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Tom in Lauren Tom (Untold Stories). Chinese American Museum. August 1, 2013. Event occurs at 00:03. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  3. ^ Pryor, Tim (October 1993). "Lauren Tom: China Girl". Detour. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007.
  4. ^ Article from In Style Magazine Archived 2010-02-10 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 7 February 2010
  5. ^ Bommer, Lawrence (1990-03-09). "Updated 'Tis Pity' Set In Mussolini's Italy". Chicago Tribune.
  6. ^ Lauren Tom [@LaurenTom9000] (3 October 2012). "@erictbar @LaurenTom9000 Yep! Glad you had fun with the Monk! :)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Lauren Tom". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  8. ^ Tom, Lauren [@LaurenTom9000] (June 17, 2018). "#HappyFatherDay to @Curtkap Funny, smart, handsome and a fantastic dad to our boys. #hockeydad #footballcoach #myrock Circa 2015. And Happy Father's Day to all dads everywhere. Thanks for all you do!" (Tweet). Retrieved February 12, 2022 – via Twitter.
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