About Rosalind Chao
Rosalind Chao is an accomplished American actress of Chinese descent, known for her versatility and depth in both television and film. She began her acting journey remarkably early—at age five—performing with a California-based Peking opera company, a passion nurtured by her parents who were deeply involved in the art. Summers spent in Taiwan further honed her acting skills. An interesting early TV role includes portraying the daughter of a laundry owner in a 1970 episode of "Here's Lucy." Besides acting, she also worked as an international tour guide at Disneyland, highlighting her varied interests.
Despite initially stepping away from acting to pursue a journalism degree at the University of Southern California and interning as a radio newswriter, Chao couldn't stay away from the screen. Her big break came with the role of Soon-Lee Klinger, a South Korean refugee, on the final episodes of the iconic TV series M*A*S*H, culminating in the most-watched U.S. sitcom television episode ever as of 2021 — "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen." She reprised this role in the sequel series AfterMASH, marking her first co-starring credit.
Chao is widely recognized for her portrayal of Keiko O'Brien on both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; interestingly, she was also considered for the role of Tasha Yar, the Enterprise security chief. Fans might enjoy that beyond sci-fi, she has had a breadth of recurring TV roles, including on shows like Diff'rent Strokes, The O.C., and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, and has guest-starred in numerous other prominent series.
In film, she made a memorable impact as Rose Hsu Jordan in The Joy Luck Club and portrayed Hua Li, Mulan's mother, in the 2020 live-action adaptation of Mulan. Such varied roles demonstrate her dynamic range.
On a personal note, Rosalind is married to voice actor Simon Templeman, and they have two children together. Her industry recognition includes an invite to join the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2019, acknowledging her contributions to critically acclaimed films.
Trivia:
- She began with traditional Peking opera because of her parents’ involvement.
- Worked as an international tour guide at Disneyland before fully committing to acting.
- Was almost cast as Tasha Yar on Star Trek, a role she ultimately did not take.
- Played the role in the most-watched U.S. sitcom episode ever.
- Holds a degree in journalism and once interned in radio newswriting before returning to acting.
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Movie Credits
Rosalind Chao has appeared in 51 movies.
TV Credits
Rosalind Chao has appeared in 95 shows.
