Tina Chen

Tina Chen is a Chinese-American actress renowned for her pioneering work in American film, television, and theatre, breaking barriers for Asian American performers. With a career spanning over five decades, she is best known for her acclaimed performance in the film The Hawaiians (1970), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. A respected figure on Broadway and a dedicated advocate for arts advocacy, Chen has received honors including an Obie Award and the Asian American Arts Alliance's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Early life and education

Born Chen Yixi in Chongqing during the Second Sino-Japanese War, she spent her early childhood in Shanghai before her family relocated to Hong Kong. She immigrated to the United States as a teenager, initially settling in Honolulu where she attended the University of Hawaii and studied drama. Her passion for acting led her to further training in New York City, where she studied at the prestigious HB Studio under renowned coaches like Uta Hagen, solidifying her commitment to a professional career in the performing arts.

Career

Chen made her professional debut on Broadway in 1969 in Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's play The Incomparable Max. Her breakthrough came quickly with a starring role opposite Charlton Heston in the 1970 epic The Hawaiians, a performance that garnered a Golden Globe nomination and established her as a leading actress. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared in notable films such as The Amazing Mr. Blunden and John Sayles's The Brother from Another Planet, while also becoming a familiar face on television with guest roles on series like Hawaii Five-O, Kung Fu, and M*A*S*H. A stalwart of the New York theatre scene, she earned an Obie Award for her performance in Nobuko Miyamoto's A Grain of Sand and has been a frequent collaborator with groups like Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. Her later career includes memorable roles in Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet and recurring parts on the soap opera As the World Turns.

Filmography

A selected list of her screen work includes the feature films The Hawaiians (1970), The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972), The Ultimate Warrior (1975), The Brother from Another Planet (1984), and The Wedding Banquet (1993). Her extensive television credits encompass guest appearances on Hawaii Five-O, Kung Fu, M*A*S*H, Starsky and Hutch, Quincy, M.E., and a long-running role on As the World Turns. She also appeared in the ABC Afterschool Special "The Woman Who Willed a Miracle" (1983), which won a Daytime Emmy Award.

Awards and recognition

For her performance in The Hawaiians, Chen was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress in 1971. Her distinguished stage work was recognized with an Obie Award in 1976. In 2007, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian American Arts Alliance in New York. Her contributions to the arts and the Asian American community have also been celebrated by organizations such as the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists and East West Players.

Personal life

In 1980, she married actor and physician Hsing S. Ngor, an Academy Award winner for The Killing Fields; the couple remained together until his tragic death in 1996. Chen has been a resident of New York City for most of her adult life and is known for her philanthropic work and mentorship within the Asian American artistic community. She continues to be an active supporter of organizations promoting diversity in the arts, including Pan Asian Repertory Theatre and the Asian American Arts Alliance.

Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:Chinese emigrants to the United States Category:1943 births Category:Living people