Lauren Tom
Lauren Tom | |
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![]() Lauren Tom on the Futurama voice cast panel at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2010. | |
Born | |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1978–present |
Spouse | Curt Kaplan (1999–present) |
Website | www |
Lauren Tom (born August 4, 1961)[1] is an American stage, film, television and voice actress of Chinese descent. 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 both mother and daughter characters on two animated TV comedy series: on Futurama she voiced Amy Wong and her mother Inez, while on King of the Hill she voiced Minh and Connie Souphanousinphone. She also voiced Numbuh 3 in Codename Kids Next Door.
Early life
Lauren Tom was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Nancy (née Dare) and Tom Chan, Jr. who worked in the frozen food business. Her parents were born in Chicago, and her grandparents came from Guangdong province, China.[2] 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, Ping Tom, was also a businessman and an influential civic leader in Chicago's Chinatown.[3] She was raised in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. 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.[4]
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. [5] 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.[6]
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 such other films such as When a Man Loves a Woman and North.
Since the mid-1990s, Tom has focused her work, primarily, in the 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 had an acting role in a bonus feature on the Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder DVD. 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.
Voice acting
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, 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.
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.
From 2002 to 2008, Lauren Tom played Numbuh Three (Kuki Sanban) and Numbuh Three's mother Genki on Codename: Kids Next Door. She also voiced various recurring characters on the show, such as Numbuh 23 and Numbuhs 44 and 45.
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".
Recently in 2010, she did the voice of 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, 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[7] and played Hayaku on an episode of Turbo FAST.[8]
Filmography
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" 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 | 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 | Connie Minh 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 | 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 | 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 |
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 | Jack the Dog | Angel | |
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 |
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" |
2002–2005 | Kim Possible | Yoshiko (voice) | Episode: "Crush" Episode: "Low Budget" Episode: "A Very Possible Christmas" Episode: "Showdown at the Crooked D" |
2002–2003 | Totally Spies! | Lady Dragon Keiko Sunny (voice) |
Episode: "Game Girls" Episode: "Man or Machine" Episode: "Here Comes the Sun" |
2002–2004 | Fillmore! | Various (voice) | 16 episodes |
2002–2008 | Codename: Kids Next Door | Kuki 'Numbuh 3' Sanban (voice) Genki Sanban Additional voices |
78 episodes |
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: "The Spy Who Didn't Love Me" |
2003 | Kim Possible: The Secret Files | Yoshiko (voice) | Video |
2003 | Samurai Jack | Samurai Jack's mother Additional characters (voice) |
3 episodes |
2003 | Bad Santa | Lois | |
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 |
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: 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 | Joo Dee Additional voices (voice) |
3 episodes |
2005–2007 | American Dragon: Jake Long | Susan Long Counselor Chang (voice) |
25 episodes |
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 '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 | Futurama: Bender's Big Score | Amy Various (voice) |
Video |
2007–2008 | Legion of Super Heroes | Zyx (voice) | Episode: "Child's Play" 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" Episode: "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" |
2010–2013 | Pound Puppies | Various (voice) | |
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 (voice) | 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–present | Teen Titans Go! | Gizmo Jinx (voice) |
Episode: "Laundry Day" Episode: "Girl's Night Out" |
2014 | Turbo FAST | Hayaku Translator (voice) |
Episode: "Turbo Drift" |
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 | |
2015 | Justice League: Gods and Monsters | Lara | Video |
References
- ^ http://www.birthdatabase.com/query.php Lauren J Tom, 1959-08-04, Los Angeles, CA
- ^ Lauren Tom (Untold Stories), Chinese American Museum
- ^ "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
- ^ Bommer, Lawrence (1990-03-09). "Updated `Tis Pity` Set In Mussolini`s Italy". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Tom, Lauren (2012-10-02). "twitter.com/LaurenTom9000".
@erictbar: That's great! My monk sounds great. :) Did you happen to do Li-Li, a young girl in The Valley of the Four Winds, as well? @LaurenTom9000: Yep! Glad you had fun with the Monk! :)
- ^ http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Lauren-Tom/
External links
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