Rosalind Chao

Biography

Rosalind Chao is a distinguished American actress with Chinese roots, celebrated for her diverse roles in film and television. Among her most memorable characters are Soon-Lee Klinger, a South Korean refugee on CBS's AfterMASH, and Keiko O'Brien in both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Additionally, she portrayed Rose Hsu Jordan in the acclaimed film The Joy Luck Club (1993) and Hua Li, Mulan's mother, in Disney's live-action adaptation of Mulan (2020). Chao is married to voice actor Simon Templeman, and together, they have two children.

Chao's acting journey began at the tender age of five when she joined a Peking opera traveling company in California, thanks to her parents' influence. To hone her craft, she spent summers in Taiwan. One of her early roles was on the classic television show Here's Lucy, where she played the daughter of a laundry owner.

Initially, Chao explored a career in journalism, obtaining a degree from the University of Southern California. However, a year as a radio news intern led her back to acting. Her breakthrough came with her role as Soon-Lee in the iconic series M*A*S*H, particularly in its series finale, which remains the most-watched sitcom episode in U.S. history. Throughout her career, Chao has appeared in numerous television series and films, earning recognition for her contributions to the industry, including an invitation to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2019 for her work in The Joy Luck Club and I Am Sam.