View source for John Cho

{{short description|American actor (born 1972)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Cho|lang=Korean}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = John Cho
| image              = John Cho by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption            = Cho in 2024
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1972|6|16}}
| birth_place        = [[Seoul]], South Korea
| birth_name         = Cho Yo-Han
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1997–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Kerri Higuchi|2006}}
| children           = 2
| citizenship        = United States
| education          = [[University of California, Berkeley]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| module             = {{Infobox Korean name/auto|child=yes|headercolor=transparent
| hangul = %조요한
| hanja = 趙要漢
}}
}}

'''John Yo-Han Cho''' ({{korean/auto|hangul=조요한}}; born June 16, 1972) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as John/MILF guy #2 in the  [[American Pie (film series)|''American Pie'' film series]] (1999–2012), Harold Lee in the [[Harold & Kumar|''Harold & Kumar'' film series]] (2004–2011), and [[Hikaru Sulu]] in the [[List of Star Trek films#Kelvin Timeline|''Star Trek'' reboot film series]] (2009–2016). 

Cho became the first Asian American actor cast as a romantic lead in a romantic comedy series when he played Henry Higgs in the sitcom ''[[Selfie (TV series)|Selfie]]'' (2014)<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Saraiya |first=Sonia |date=November 11, 2014 |title=Why ''Selfie''{{'}}s cancellation is a massive shame: This was the most promising interracial couple on TV |url=https://www.salon.com/2014/11/10/why_selfies_cancellation_is_a_massive_shame_this_was_the_most_promising_interracial_couple_on_tv/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529124455/https://www.salon.com/2014/11/10/why_selfies_cancellation_is_a_massive_shame_this_was_the_most_promising_interracial_couple_on_tv/ |archive-date=May 29, 2022 |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=Salon |language=en}}</ref> and the first to headline a mainstream Hollywood thriller film when he starred in ''[[Searching (film)|Searching]]'' (2018), for which he was nominated for an [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead]]. 

Cho has had lead roles in television series such as ''[[FlashForward]]'', ''[[Off Centre]]'', and ''[[The Afterparty (TV series)|The Afterparty]]'', and recurring roles in ''[[Sleepy Hollow (TV series)|Sleepy Hollow]]'' and ''[[Difficult People]]''. In his early career, Cho attained recognition for guest-starring in the [[fantasy]] television series ''[[Charmed]]''.

== Early life and education ==
Cho was born as '''Cho Yo-Han''' ({{korean/auto|hangul=조요한}}) on June 16, 1972<ref name="tvg">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-cho/bio/157818/ |title=John Cho Biography |publisher=[[TV Guide|TVGuide.com]] |access-date=July 7, 2016 |archive-date=September 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920130151/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-cho/bio/157818/}}</ref><!--Cited source TV Guide gives birth name Cho Yo Han--><!--TV Guide link is live but birth date is only in archived version--> in [[Seoul]], South Korea. He moved to the United States with his family when he was 6 years old in 1978.<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/collection-post/5042063/american-voices-john-cho/|title=John Cho Thinks His Immigration Story Makes Him a True Citizen|last=Falcone|first=Dana Rose|date=December 20, 2017|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=March 17, 2020|archive-date=July 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731023959/https://time.com/collection-post/5042063/american-voices-john-cho/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ELLE |date=November 9, 2018 |script-title=ko:존 조의 초상 |url=https://www.elle.co.kr/article/21579 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |website=ELLE |language=ko |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322164514/https://www.elle.co.kr/article/21579 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was raised in [[Los Angeles]], where his family settled after living in [[Houston]], Texas; [[Seattle]], Washington; [[Daly City, California]]; and [[Monterey Park, California]].<ref name="Kevin" /><ref name="UCLA">{{cite web|url=https://international.ucla.edu/institute/article/110087|title=The Game-Changer: An Interview with John Cho|last=Wang|first=Oliver|date=July 3, 2009|publisher=Asia Pacific Arts ([[UCLA Asia Institute]])|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121080301/http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/090703/article.asp?parentID=110087|archive-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> His father was a minister in the [[Churches of Christ|Church of Christ]] and was originally from North Korea.<ref name="Kevin">''Kevin Pollak's Chat Show,'' Hulu.com and Ustream, episode 96</ref><ref name="UCLA" /><ref>{{cite web |title=What to watch |url=http://www.aoltv.com/2011/10/27/john-cho-kal-penn-different-white-house-experiences-video/ |website=AOL.com |access-date=December 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123193318/http://www.aoltv.com/2011/10/27/john-cho-kal-penn-different-white-house-experiences-video/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He grew up with one younger brother.<ref name="wired.com">{{Cite magazine |title=John Cho Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions |url=https://www.wired.com/video/watch/google-autocomplete-inverviews-john-cho-answers-the-web-s-most-searched-questions/ |access-date=June 26, 2022 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite podcast |host= |title=John Cho on Cowboy Bebop and the expectations that come with adapting a wildly popular anime |website=q with Tom Power |publisher= |date=November 22, 2022 |time= |url=https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-50-q/clip/15879967-john-cho-cowboy-bebop-expectations-adapting-wildly-popular |access-date=June 26, 2022 |last=Powers |first=Tom}}</ref> At the time, his father believed in order to survive and assimilate in the U.S., Cho and his brother would need to stop speaking Korean and speak English instead. They would also watch American television as much as they could to absorb the new culture.<ref>{{Cite podcast |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/john-cho/id1459899327?i=1000622214617 |title=John Cho |website=Life is Short with Justin Long |publisher=Apple Podcasts |host=Justin Long |date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725000000/https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/john-cho/id1459899327?i=1000622214617 |url-status=live |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |time=18:25}} [https://wondery.com/shows/justin-long/episode/5779-john-cho/ Alt URL]</ref>

Cho graduated from [[Herbert Hoover High School (Glendale)|Herbert Hoover High School]] in Glendale, California, in 1990.<ref name="UCLA" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Buchanan|first=Jason|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/224268/John-Cho/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511153921/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/224268/John-Cho/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2008|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2008|title=John Cho}}</ref>

Cho attended the [[University of California, Berkeley]]. In 1994, he toured nationally for a stage production of [[Maxine Hong Kingston]]'s ''[[The Woman Warrior]]'' by the [[Berkeley Repertory Theatre]]. He graduated in 1996 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in English literature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Conversation With John Cho: 'Troublemaker' |url=https://asiasociety.org/new-york/events/conversation-john-cho-troublemaker |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=Asia Society |date=February 23, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318232608/https://asiasociety.org/new-york/events/conversation-john-cho-troublemaker |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="UCLA" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/John-Cho-rises-to-the-top-with-Harold-s-help-3217677.php|title=John Cho rises to the top, with Harold's help|last=Hartlaub|first=Peter|date=April 23, 2008|website=SFGate|access-date=March 17, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802181537/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/John-Cho-rises-to-the-top-with-Harold-s-help-3217677.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Career ==
=== Acting ===
After graduation, Cho taught English literature<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI45fFoXLvE&t=116s |title=John Cho Is the Reason "MILF" Is Part of Your Vocabulary |date=March 25, 2022 |last=The Drew Barrymore Show |time=1:56}}</ref><ref name="wired.com"/> at [[Pacific Hills School]] in West Hollywood, California, while acting at [[East West Players]] in downtown [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="Kevin"/><ref name="UCLA"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2019 |title=John Cho {{!}} Cal Reunions |url=https://reunions.berkeley.edu/spotlight/john-cho/ |access-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723002023/https://reunions.berkeley.edu/spotlight/john-cho/ |archive-date=July 23, 2019 }}</ref> There, he appeared in Edward Sakamoto's ''The Taste of Kona Coffee'' in 1996 and in Euijoon Kim's film ''My Tired Broke Ass Pontificating Slapstick Funk'' in 2000.<ref>[http://eastwestplayers.org/about_us/production_history/mybrokeass.htm EWP 34th Season] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406114333/http://www.eastwestplayers.org/about_us/production_history/mybrokeass.htm |date=April 6, 2011 }} on [[East West Players]] site</ref>

Cho gained attention with a small role as "MILF guy #2" in the 1999 comedy ''[[American Pie (film)|American Pie]]'', in which he popularized the slang term [[MILF (slang)|MILF]].<ref name="UCLA" /> Cho reprised the role in three sequels: ''[[American Pie 2]]'', ''[[American Wedding]]'', and the latest installment ''[[American Reunion]]'' in which he has a much larger role. His character initially had no name, but he was given the name "John" in the third film, named after Cho himself.

Cho guest-starred on ''[[Charmed]]'' as the ghost of Mark Chao, one of leading character Piper Halliwell's most prominent love interests, in the episode "[[Dead Man Dating]]" in 1998; he indicated in 2024 that it was a role that he "gets asked about... all the time".<ref>{{Cite Podcast|title=Dead Man Dating with John Cho - Charmed S01E04|author=The House of Halliwell / A Charmed Rewatch Podcast|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-man-dating-with-john-cho-charmed-s01e04/id1643024276?i=1000580157382 |via=[[Apple Podcasts]] |access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media|title=My 25 Favourite Charmed Episodes No. 21 Dead Man Dating |author=Better with Bob |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cTVqP58utrM |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref> He was one of the stars of the short-lived situation comedy ''[[Off Centre]]'' from 2001 to 2002; his character, Chau Presley, became the series' breakout character.

He was a costar on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] sitcom ''[[Kitchen Confidential (TV series)|Kitchen Confidential]]'', based on [[Anthony Bourdain]]'s [[Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly|best-selling book]]. He had supporting roles in the [[science fiction]] comedy ''[[Evolution (2001 film)|Evolution]]'', directed by [[Ivan Reitman]]; ''[[Down to Earth (2001 film)|Down to Earth]]''; and ''[[Bowfinger]]''.

In 2002, Cho had a starring role in the ensemble cast of [[Justin Lin]]'s ''[[Better Luck Tomorrow]]'', a drama focusing on the travails of a group of [[Asian American]]s living in Southern California who are academically successful but socially discontented, and as a result engage in wantonly violent, criminal behavior. It was well received by critics, with Elvis Mitchell of ''The New York Times'' describing Cho's character's "lazy magnetism of which he is charmingly aware".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/movies/film-review-teenagers-determined-to-damage-their-resumes.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=Film Review; Teenages Determined to Damage Their Resumes |first=Elvis |last=Mitchell |access-date=August 26, 2012 |work=The New York Times |date=April 11, 2003 |archive-date=March 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309003709/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/movies/film-review-teenagers-determined-to-damage-their-resumes.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that year, the movie ''[[Big Fat Liar]]'' was released, in which Cho played a Hong Kong-based film director. He refused to do the accent scripted for his character. The director worked with him to re-develop the role.<ref>Sullivan, Gail (October 9, 2014), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/09/john-cho-of-selfie-wants-roles-outside-any-asian-stereotype-2/ "John Cho of 'Selfie': 'I experienced racism'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209131519/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/09/john-cho-of-selfie-wants-roles-outside-any-asian-stereotype-2/ |date=December 9, 2015 }}. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref>

Cho had a successful starring role as Harold Lee in 2004's ''[[Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle]]'' and reprised the role in 2008's ''[[Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay]]'' which earned $38{{nbsp}}million at the box office,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=haroldandkumar2.htm |title=Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay |website=boxofficemojo.com |access-date=August 26, 2012 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018075623/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=haroldandkumar2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and again in 2011's ''[[A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas]]'' which made $35{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=haroldandkumar3.htm |title=A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas |publisher=boxofficemojo.com |access-date=September 13, 2012 |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103223340/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=haroldandkumar3.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Cho's role in the popular franchise was written specifically for him by [[Hayden Schlossberg]], and Cho has recounted that when Schlossberg first approached him with the role, he was initially suspicious.<ref name="Kevin" />

Cho appeared in the July 2004 issue of ''[[KoreAm Journal]]'' and, in September 2006, was cast in NBC's new comedy ''[[The Singles Table]]'', but the series never aired due to changes in scheduling and production. In 2006<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 14, 2006|title=The Sexiest Men Alive 2006|url=https://people.com/celebrity/the-sexiest-men-alive-2/|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=PEOPLE.com|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106234545/https://people.com/celebrity/the-sexiest-men-alive-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> and again in 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/the-sexiest-men-alive-2009/ |title=People Magazine Sexiest Men Alive 2009 |access-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626203206/https://people.com/celebrity/the-sexiest-men-alive-2009/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Cho was selected as one of the sexiest men alive in ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine.

[[File:John Cho in 2018.jpg|right|thumb|In 2018, Cho was interviewed at the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]].]]
In 2007, Cho was added to the cast of ''[[Ugly Betty]]'' as a recurring character. Cho plays Kenny, a best friend of accountant [[Henry Grubstick]]. Cho played helmsman [[Hikaru Sulu]] in [[J. J. Abrams]]'s feature film ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]''.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3if4ef26bbb490c2c53a944c8e92a50006 |date=October 12, 2007 |title=Final frontier for Cho, Pegg |first=Borys |last=Kit}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/12/john.cho.ap/index.html |title=John Cho: 'Trek' role is 'daunting' |agency=Associated Press |publisher=CNN |date=March 12, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2008 |archive-date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313135330/http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/12/john.cho.ap/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Manohla Dargis of ''The New York Times'' praised him for making his role "ultimately and rather wonderfully [his] own".<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/movies/08trek.html |title=Movie Review: 'Star Trek' |first=Manohla |last=Dargis |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=May 7, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222154018/http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/movies/08trek.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cho appeared in [[Nas]]' "[[Be a Nigger Too]]" music video along with various celebrities and had a guest appearance on the sitcom ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'', in the episode "[[I'm Not That Guy]]" where he played a partner in an evil law firm. Of the latter, Staci Krause of [[IGN]], wrote that Cho was "the scene stealer in this episode" and that she would "definitely like to see more of him" in the series.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |publisher=IGN |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/30/how-i-met-your-mother-im-not-that-guy-review |title=How I Met Your Mother: 'I'm Not That Guy' Review |date=October 30, 2007 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922124258/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/30/how-i-met-your-mother-im-not-that-guy-review |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 2009 to 2010, Cho starred in the television series ''[[FlashForward]]'' as FBI Special Agent [[Demetri Noh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Fall-TV-ABC-1006175.aspx |title=Fall TV: ABC's Official Schedule Revisits V, Moves Betty and Says Adieu to Who? |first=Joyce |last=Eng |work=[[TV Guide]] |date=May 19, 2009 |access-date=May 20, 2009 |archive-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015054127/http://www.tvguide.com/news/fall-tv-abc-1006175.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> His character was originally slated to be killed off during what turned out to be the show's only season, but after his turn as Sulu in ''Star Trek'' boosted his popularity, the producers revised the show's storyline so that he survived, in an attempt to boost declining ratings.<ref name="FlashForward Keck">{{cite web |last=Keck |first=William |author-link=William Keck |title=Keck's Exclusives: Gabrielle Union FlashForwards to New Series |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Exclusives-Gabrielle-1019728.aspx |work=TV Guide |date=June 18, 2010 |access-date=July 9, 2010 |archive-date=July 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704004413/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Exclusives-Gabrielle-1019728.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2012, he was part of the cast ensemble of ''[[Go On (TV series)|Go On]]'' as Steven.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Megan |date=June 15, 2012 |title=Scoop: Matthew Perry's Go On Promotes John Cho to Series Regular |url=https://tvline.com/2012/06/14/nbc-go-on-john-cho-series-regular/ |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=TVLine |language=en-US |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623065041/https://tvline.com/2012/06/14/nbc-go-on-john-cho-series-regular/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cho starred as Henry Higgs in the short-lived sitcom ''[[Selfie (TV series)|Selfie]]'', a retooling of the play ''[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion]]'' by [[George Bernard Shaw]],<ref>Doll, Jen (October 20, 2014), [https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-10-16/review-abcs-selfie-fails-to-get-the-internet-right "YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON TELEVISION] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082411/http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-10-16/review-abcs-selfie-fails-to-get-the-internet-right |date=March 4, 2016 }}." ''Business Week''. (4399):70</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2014-year-in-review/was-2014-banner-year-asian-americans-television-n271176 |title=Was 2014 A Banner Year for Asian Americans on Television? |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=December 27, 2014 |access-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820131023/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2014-year-in-review/was-2014-banner-year-asian-americans-television-n271176 |url-status=live}}</ref> becoming the first Asian American man to play a romantic lead on a U.S. romantic comedy television series in 2014.<ref name=":4" /> At the time, Keli Lee was the executive vice president of Talent and Casting at ABC who selected Cho as a candidate<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Haithman |first=Diane |date=2014-07-15 |title=TCA: 'Suburgatory' Stars Could Be Taking A Shot In 'Selfie' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/07/suburgatory-selfie-actors-appearance-abc-tv-804665/ |access-date=2022-01-29 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2014-03-22 |title=PILOT SEASON 2014: Network Casting Chiefs On This Season's Biggest Challenges, Casting Coups & Fresh Faces |url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/pilot-season-2014-network-casting-executives-interviews-exclusive-701842/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> and also previously cast Cho in ''Flashforward''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-11 |title=The woman behind the stars |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2010/10/11/features/The-woman-behind-the-stars/2927029.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Julie Anne Robinson]], one of the directors and executive producers of ''Selfie'', revealed in 2021 interviews that she strongly supported casting Cho and had to persuade "top to bottom of everybody in that chain" that he was the perfect choice for the role, which took considerable time. Robinson fought for Cho and won, saying, "That's what I'm most proud of about that whole pilot."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Romero |first=Ariana |title=One Super Steamy Grey's Anatomy Episode Has A Secret Bridgerton Connection. The Woman Behind It Explains |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/03/10320119/greys-anatomy-sexy-scenes-bridgerton-director-interview |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=www.refinery29.com |language=en |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314054905/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/03/10320119/greys-anatomy-sexy-scenes-bridgerton-director-interview |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite podcast |last1=Saux |first1=Lori |last2=Saux |first2=Stephen |title=46. Coming Down The Mountain: Our Interview with Julie Anne Robinson |website=If We Knew Then |date=4 March 2021 |time=14:06 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnK4YBETCKE&t=846s |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=[2021] Selfie (& Bridgerton) executive producer Julie Anne Robinson had to fight to cast John Cho | date=March 25, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um37pQQuGds |access-date=2022-03-26 |language=en |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314054905/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um37pQQuGds |url-status=live }}</ref> The show continued to have a [[Selfie (TV series)#Fandom|dedicated fan following]] after its broadcast, [[Selfie (TV series)#International recognition|especially in China]]. The slow burn romance was similar to a Korean drama, which appealed to fans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=花小编 |date=23 November 2021 |title=7年了，让网友意难平的豆瓣8.3分美剧——《再造淑女Selfie》，可爱又性感的女主太迷人！_男装_什么值得买 |url=https://post.smzdm.com/p/aen8lzdq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521200117/https://post.smzdm.com/p/aen8lzdq/ |archive-date=21 May 2023 |access-date=9 July 2022 |website=post.smzdm.com}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=再造淑女 Selfie |url=https://movie.douban.com/subject/25884510/ |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408035921/https://movie.douban.com/subject/25884510/ |archive-date=8 April 2023 |url-status=live |language=zh-CN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Weibo |url=https://www.weibo.com/5216087137/KwTg8qdqH |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411012212/https://www.weibo.com/5216087137/KwTg8qdqH |archive-date=11 April 2023 |access-date=9 July 2022 |website=passport.weibo.com}}</ref> In July 2022, when Cho was asked about his thoughts on the show's cancellation, he answered, "I'm still stunned to see how many people still love that series. And yeah, I was bummed when it got canceled. I just thought that was a good show."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Silverio |first=Ben F. |date=July 14, 2022 |title=Don't Make Me Go Star John Cho Talks About The Film's Ending, The Afterparty Season 2, And More [Interview] |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/920592/dont-make-me-go-star-john-cho-on-building-chemistry-with-his-on-screen-daughter-the-afterparty-season-2-and-more-interview/ |access-date=July 22, 2022 |website=SlashFilm.com |language=en-US |archive-date=July 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720155458/https://www.slashfilm.com/920592/dont-make-me-go-star-john-cho-on-building-chemistry-with-his-on-screen-daughter-the-afterparty-season-2-and-more-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2023, Cho mentioned he had not received many offers for romantic comedy roles since ''Selfie''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2023 |title=Who should be the next great romantic comedy star? |url=https://www.avclub.com/who-should-be-the-next-great-romantic-comedy-star-1850032005/slides/15 |access-date=February 7, 2023 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208000003/https://www.avclub.com/who-should-be-the-next-great-romantic-comedy-star-1850032005/slides/15 |url-status=live }}</ref> There were talks of a [[Selfie (TV series)#Revival|''Selfie'' movie revival with Stars Collective]], but plans have been stalled due to the Warner Brothers not selling the film rights.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liu |first=Yuxin |date=January 27, 2024 |title=原版权没戏了 华纳不放 现在尽力在沟通原班人马打造另一个故事 |url=https://www.weibo.com/detail/4994723833972751 |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=Weibo}}</ref><!--''[[Vanishing Son]]'' with [[Russell Wong]] was the first to have an Asian American romantic male lead on U.S. television in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2018 |title=Interview: Lewis Tan Talks DEADPOOL 2 and INTO THE BADLANDS |url=https://screenanarchy.com/2018/04/interview-lewis-tan-talks-deadpool-2-and-into-the-badlands.html |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=ScreenAnarchy}}</ref>-->

In 2016, he was a series regular for the television show as Andy Kim in the second season of ''[[The Exorcist (TV series)|The Exorcist]]'' television series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2017 |title=John Cho reveals why he joined The Exorcist: "I hadn't seen Asians in American horror" |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a839266/the-exorcist-john-cho-asians-in-american-horror/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623065434/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a839266/the-exorcist-john-cho-asians-in-american-horror/ |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2017, he starred in the film ''[[Columbus (2017 film)|Columbus]]'', which received critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web |title=COLUMBUS {{!}} Press – Critical Acclaim |url=https://www.columbusthemovie.com/new-index |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=COLUMBUS |language=en-US |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418062522/https://www.columbusthemovie.com/new-index |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, Cho starred in the film ''[[Searching (film)|Searching]]'', playing a man combing social media for clues to his daughter's disappearance. He was the first Asian American actor to headline a mainstream thriller in Hollywood.<ref>{{cite web |last=General |first=Ryan |url=https://nextshark.com/john-cho-searching-thriller-asian-actor/ |title=John Cho Makes History as the First Asian Actor Leading a Hollywood Thriller in 'Searching' |publisher=Nextshark.com |date=July 25, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729200640/https://nextshark.com/john-cho-searching-thriller-asian-actor/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/john-cho-starring-searching|title=Two Years After #StarringJohnCho, John Cho Is Finally a Leading Man|last=Chi|first=Paul|date=July 26, 2018|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en|access-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref> Also in 2018, he was presented with the [[List of San Diego International Film Festival award winners|Spotlight Award]] at the [[San Diego International Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sdfilmfest.com/night-of-the-stars-tribute/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403112641/https://sdfilmfest.com/night-of-the-stars-tribute/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |title=Night Of The Stars Tribute {{!}} San Diego International Film Festival|date=April 3, 2019|access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>

In April 2019, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that Cho had been cast as [[Spike Spiegel]] in a live-action version of the ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/cowboy-bebop-netflix-live-action-series-cast-1203180399/ |title=''Cowboy Bebop'': John Cho, Mustafa Shakir Among Four Cast in Netflix Live-Action Series |last=Otterson |first=Joe |work=Variety |date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=April 6, 2019 |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404162000/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/cowboy-bebop-netflix-live-action-series-cast-1203180399/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, production shut down when Cho suffered a knee injury in October and remained shut down until late September 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=''Cowboy Bebop'': Netflix Series Shuts Down Production For 7–9 Months Following Star John Cho On-Set Injury |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/cowboy-bebop-netflix-series-shuts-down-production-7-9-months-hiatus-star-john-cho-on-set-injury-1202764024/ |website=Deadline |date=October 18, 2019 |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-date=October 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018224036/https://deadline.com/2019/10/cowboy-bebop-netflix-series-shuts-down-production-7-9-months-hiatus-star-john-cho-on-set-injury-1202764024/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Cowboy Bebop (2021 TV series)|Cowboy Bebop]]'' premiered on Netflix on November 19, 2021.

Cho wrote a [[middle school]] novel for younger readers called ''Troublemaker'', which was released on March 22, 2022.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |url=https://www.lbyr.com/titles/john-cho/troublemaker/9780759554450/ |title=Troublemaker |date=June 7, 2021 |isbn=978-0-7595-5445-0 |language=en-US |last1=Cho |first1=John |publisher=Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |access-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625170636/https://www.lbyr.com/titles/john-cho/troublemaker/9780759554450/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2022, Cho was cast in the second season of Apple TV+'s comedy series ''[[The Afterparty (TV series)|The Afterparty]]'' as "Funcle" Ulysses Zhu.<ref name="afterparty1">{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 13, 2022 |title=''The Afterparty'': John Cho Joins Season 2 Cast Of Apple Comedy Series |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/the-afterparty-john-cho-season-2-cast-apple-comedy-series-1235022944/ |access-date=June 8, 2022 |website=Deadline |archive-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515185032/https://deadline.com/2022/05/the-afterparty-john-cho-season-2-cast-apple-comedy-series-1235022944/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="afterparty2">{{cite tweet|number=1524435633762037761|user=chrizmillr|title=Season 2 has begun.#TheAfterparty|date=May 11, 2022|access-date=May 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511170648/https://twitter.com/chrizmillr/status/1524435633762037761|archive-date=May 11, 2022|url-status=live|first=Christopher|last=Miller}}</ref> The new season premiered in July 2023.

In May 2024, he had a cameo in the television adaptation of ''[[The Sympathizer (miniseries)|The Sympathizer]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Rebecca |date=May 6, 2024 |title=John Cho Doesn't Think of His 'Sympathizer' Cameo as Meta, But Understands If You Do |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-sympathizer-john-cho-cameo-1235890292/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In early August 2024, Cho voiced in the audiobook version of the romantic comedy book, ''Drop Dead'', written by Lily Chu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drop Dead |url=https://lilychuauthor.com/drop-dead |access-date=June 13, 2024 |website=Lily Chu |language=en-US}}</ref> Cho starred in a sci-fi horror film, ''[[Afraid (film)|Afraid]]'', released on August 30, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vejvoda |first=Jim |date=July 3, 2024 |title=AFRAID: Exclusive Trailer and Poster Debut for New Blumhouse AI Thriller |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/afraid-trailer-poster-blumhouse-ai-thriller-plot-release-date-cast |access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> 

In February 2025, Cho was cast in the second season of ''[[Poker Face (TV series)|Poker Face]]''.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=February 18, 2025 |title=''Poker Face'' Season 2 Adds Davionte 'Gata' Ganter, Justin Theroux, John Cho, Haley Joel Osment & Patti Harrison |url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/poker-face-season-2-davionte-gata-ganter-justin-theroux-john-cho-haley-joel-osment-patti-harrison-1236293926/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> He also had cameos in several ''[[Murderbot (TV series)|Murderbot]]'' episodes, which premiered on May 16, 2025.<ref name=":7">{{Cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=April 7, 2025 |title=''Murderbot'' Would Hate You—But That's Why You'll Love It |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/murderbot-first-look |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408132320/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/murderbot-first-look |archive-date=April 8, 2025 |access-date=April 7, 2025 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref> Cho made his [[Korean drama]] debut in ''[[Tempest (TV series)|Tempest]]'', which was released on Disney+ and Hulu on September 10, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Korean Spy Drama ''Tempest'' Adds John Cho, Chris Gorham, Alicia Hannah-Kim & Jacob Bertrand |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/tempest-cast-john-cho-chris-gorham-alicia-hannah-kim-jacob-bertrand-1236034306/ |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=July 23, 2025 |title=Gianna Jun to Star in Disney+, Hulu Korean Spy Thriller ''Tempest'' With Gang Dongwon, John Cho and Michael Gaston |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/gianna-jun-disney-hulu-korean-spy-thriller-tempest-gang-dongwon-john-cho-1236467612/ |access-date=July 23, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Music===
Cho is the lead singer for Viva La Union (formerly known as Left of Zed),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/090703/article.asp?parentID=110145|title=Asia Pacific Arts: The Game-Changer: An Interview with John Cho (part 2)|last=Wang|first=Oliver|date=July 3, 2009|website=Asia Pacific Arts|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709165706/http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/090703/article.asp?parentID=110145|archive-date=July 9, 2009|access-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref> a Los Angeles [[garage rock]] band composed of former [[University of California at Berkeley|Berkeley]] and [[University of Southern California|USC]] students. They have one album, self-titled, while their song "Chinese Baby" is on the [[Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay#Soundtrack|''Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay'' soundtrack]].

==Personal life==
Cho married actress Kerri Higuchi in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Star Trek''{{'s}} John Cho welcomes baby girl with wife Kerri Higuchi|url=http://www.today.com/news/star-treks-john-cho-welcomes-baby-girl-wife-kerri-higuchi-1C8336661|access-date=October 31, 2021|website=TODAY.com|date=February 12, 2013 |language=en|archive-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104164323/https://www.today.com/news/star-treks-john-cho-welcomes-baby-girl-wife-kerri-higuchi-1C8336661|url-status=live}}</ref> They met at UC Berkeley and later dated when they moved to Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 17, 2015|title=On a Date With John Cho: He Opens Up About Relationship Mistakes and American Pie Secrets|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/john-cho-wife-marriage-advice|access-date=October 31, 2021|website=Glamour|language=en-US|archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031183746/https://www.glamour.com/story/john-cho-wife-marriage-advice|url-status=live}}</ref> They have a son, born in 2008,<ref name="People Baby">{{cite web |title=John Cho and wife Kerri expecting first child |url=https://people.com/parents/john-cho-and-wi/ |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=April 13, 2008 |access-date=February 13, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209125155/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2008/04/13/john-cho-and-wi/ |archive-date=December 9, 2011}}</ref> and a daughter, born in 2013.<ref name="People second baby">{{cite web |title=John Cho and wife Kerri have second child |url=https://people.com/parents/go-on-identity-thief-john-cho-welcomes-a-daughter/ |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=February 11, 2013 |access-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002633/https://people.com/parents/go-on-identity-thief-john-cho-welcomes-a-daughter/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2015, he and his family live in Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Cho |url=http://www.tv.com/people/john-cho/biography/ |website=TV.com |access-date=December 1, 2015 |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701031125/http://www.tv.com/people/john-cho/biography/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is close to his father, a former preacher; he has said he would like to play a role in the story of his father's generation, growing up in North Korea through the [[Korean War]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94HUM3S_Gzg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/94HUM3S_Gzg| archive-date=November 7, 2021 | url-status=live|title=John Cho On Playing The Asian-American Stoner Stereotype|work=Larry King Now| date=May 16, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Cho has said he found freedom in portraying Harold in the ''Harold and Kumar'' films because the stoner character goes against the grain of Asian Americans on screen.<ref name=":3" /> He has said he has experienced racism during his career in Hollywood and that he tries to take roles that do not perpetuate Asian stereotypes.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Haruch|first=Steve|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/09/28/352046466/selfie-s-choice-john-cho-gets-an-unlikely-shot-as-a-romantic-lead|title=In 'Selfie', John Cho Gets An Unlikely Shot As A Romantic Lead|website=NPR|date=September 28, 2014|publisher=[[National Public Radio]]|access-date=December 2, 2015|archive-date=April 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425223709/http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/09/28/352046466/selfie-s-choice-john-cho-gets-an-unlikely-shot-as-a-romantic-lead|url-status=live}}</ref> Cho said he refused a request to do an Asian accent for ''Big Fat Liar'', writing, "I don't want to do this role in a kid's comedy, with an accent, because I don't want young people laughing at an accent inadvertently".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Gail|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/09/john-cho-of-selfie-wants-roles-outside-any-asian-stereotype-2/|title=John Cho of 'Selfie': 'I experienced racism'|date=October 9, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 30, 2015|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=December 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209131519/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/09/john-cho-of-selfie-wants-roles-outside-any-asian-stereotype-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2015 tweet, he said, "[[Whitewashing in film|Stop turning Asian roles white]]. It's bullshit and we all know it."<ref>{{Cite tweet|first=John (verified account)|last=Cho|title=Stop turning Asian roles white.|date=March 24, 2015|user=JohnTheCho|number=580552681711923200|access-date=November 30, 2015|archive-date=May 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511023752/https://twitter.com/johnthecho/status/580552681711923200|url-status=live}}</ref> He described his casting in ''[[Selfie (TV series)|Selfie]],'' which made him the first Asian to play a romantic lead on a U.S. romantic comedy television series, as being "revolutionary" and a "personal revolution". He said, "Asians narratively in shows are insignificant. They're the cop, or waitress, or whatever it is. You see them in the background. So to be in this position...is bit of a landmark".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victoria-namkung/tvs-first-asian-romantic-lead_b_5878380.html|title=Will John Cho Be Television's First Asian Romantic Lead?|website=The Huffington Post|date=September 25, 2014|access-date=December 2, 2015|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725004013/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tvs-first-asian-romantic-lead_b_5878380|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Wong|first=Tony|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2014/07/16/star_treks_john_cho_breaks_barriers_as_romantic_lead_i_would_call_this_revolutionary.html|title="Asians narratively in shows are insignificant," says John Cho, the romantic lead in the fall series Selfie. "So to be in this position ... is a bit of a landmark."|date=July 16, 2014|newspaper=The Toronto Star|access-date=November 30, 2015|issn=0319-0781|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225111940/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2014/07/16/star_treks_john_cho_breaks_barriers_as_romantic_lead_i_would_call_this_revolutionary.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Cho was the face of the "#StarringJohnCho" social movement and hashtag campaign, a bid to call attention to the lack of opportunities for Asian American actors in Hollywood. Created by William Yu, it [[Photograph manipulation|Photoshopped]] Cho's face onto existing movie posters as the male lead.<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=#STARRINGJOHNCHO|url=http://starringjohncho.com/|access-date=August 27, 2020|website=#STARRINGJOHNCHO|language=en-US|archive-date=December 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230826/http://starringjohncho.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> This created a [[domino effect]]: it inspired director [[Jon M. Chu]] to create the film adaptation of ''[[Crazy Rich Asians]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2019 |title=Jon M. Chu: #StarringJohnCho Movement Pushed Me To Make ''Crazy Rich Asians'' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jon-m-chu-starring-john-cho-movement_n_5c6daa07e4b0e37a1ed4445a |access-date=March 18, 2025 |website=[[HuffPost]] |language=en}}</ref> and that film's success inspired [[Ke Huy Quan]] to return to acting in ''[[Everything Everywhere All at Once]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=March 25, 2022 |title=''Everything Everywhere'' Star Ke Huy Quan on How ''Crazy Rich Asians'' Gave Him FOMO and Inspired His Return to Movies |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/ke-huy-quan-crazy-rich-asians-everything-everywhere-1235214799/ |access-date=March 18, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

Cho supported the 2012 re-election campaign of Democratic U.S. President [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="hollywooddonors">(2011-07-16) {{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/07/celebrities-open-wallets-for-obama-059184|title=Hollywood stars open wallets for Obama|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=July 16, 2011|archive-date=November 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121031106/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59184.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He supported the Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Cho on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/JohnTheCho/status/1269495642247684096 |access-date=June 6, 2020 |website=Twitter}}</ref> Cho also supported the 2024 election campaign of Democratic presidential candidate [[Kamala Harris]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kamala For Nevada |date=October 4, 2024 |title=Welcome to Nevada, @Kalpenn and @JohnTheCho! |url=https://twitter.com/KamalaForNevada/status/1842245850426462717}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=.@Kalpenn and @JohnTheCho are your favorite millennial's favorite millennial! |url=https://twitter.com/KamalaForNevada/status/1844168741107662915 |access-date=October 9, 2024}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{{Pending films key}}

=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1997
| ''[[Shopping for Fangs]]''
| Clarence
|
|-
| ''[[Wag the Dog]]''
| Aide #3
| 
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Yellow (1998 film)|Yellow]]''
| Joey
| 
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1999
| ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]''
| Sale house man #1
| 
|-
| ''[[American Pie (film)|American Pie]]''
| MILF guy #2
|
|-
| ''[[Bowfinger]]''
| Nightclub cleaner
| 
|-
| 2000
| data-sort-value="Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, The" | ''[[The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas]]''
| Parking valet
| 
|-
| rowspan="5" |2001
| ''[[American Pie 2]]''
| John (MILF guy #2)
| 
|-
| ''[[Delivering Milo]]''
| Mr. Hugo
|
|-
|''[[Down to Earth (2001 film)|Down to Earth]]''
| Phil Quon
| 
|-
| ''[[Evolution (2001 film)|Evolution]]''
| Student
| 
|-
| ''[[Pavilion of Women]]''
| Fengmo Wu
| 
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2002
| ''[[Better Luck Tomorrow]]''
| Steve Choe
| 
|-
| ''[[Big Fat Liar]]''
| Dustin Wong
| 
|-
|''[[Solaris (2002 film)|Solaris]]''
| DBA emissary #1
| 
|-
| 2003
| ''[[American Wedding]]''
| John
| 
|-
| rowspan="3" |2004
| ''[[Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle]]''
| Harold Lee
| 
|-
| ''[[In Good Company (2004 film)|In Good Company]]''
| Petey
| 
|-
| ''[[See This Movie]]''
| Larry Finkelstein
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" |2005
| ''[[American Dreamz]]''
| Frank Ittles
| 
|-
| ''[[Bam Bam and Celeste]]''
| Stephan
| 
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas]]''
| Tom
| 
|-
| 2007
| ''[[West 32nd]]''
| John Kim
| 
|-
| rowspan="3" |2008
| ''[[Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay]]''
| Harold Lee
| 
|-
| ''[[Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist]]''
| Hype Man
| 
|-
| ''[[Smiley Face (film)|Smiley Face]]''
| Mike
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" |2009
|''[[Saint John of Las Vegas]]''
| Carnival Human Torch
| 
|-
| ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]''
| [[Hikaru Sulu]]
|
|-
| 2011
| data-sort-value="Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, A" | ''[[A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas]]''
| Harold Lee
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| ''[[American Reunion]]''
| MILF guy #2
|
|-
| ''[[Total Recall (2012 film)|Total Recall]]''
| Bob McClane
| 
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2013
| ''[[Identity Thief]]'' 
| Daniel Casey
| 
|-
| ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]''
| Hikaru Sulu
|
|-
| data-sort-value="Tale of the Princess Kaguya, The" | ''[[The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (film)|The Tale of the Princess Kaguya]]''
| Middle Counselor Isonokami (voice)
| English dub
|-
| ''[[That Burning Feeling]]''
| Roger Whitacre
| 
|-
| rowspan="3" |2015
| ''[[Grandma (2015 film)|Grandma]]''
| Chau
| 
|-
| ''[[Zipper (film)|Zipper]]''
| EJ
| 
|-
|''Parallel Man: Infinite Pursuit''
|Nick Morgan
|Short film<ref>{{Citation |last=Morris |first=Jeffrey |title=Parallel Man: Infinite Pursuit |type=Animation, Short, Action |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4329360/ |access-date=May 8, 2024 |others=John Cho, Lance Reddick, Ming-Na Wen |publisher=FutureDude Entertainment}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DXaRZDMd70 |title=Sci-Fi Short Film: "Parallel Man" {{!}} DUST {{!}} Starring John Cho, Lance Reddick, Ming-Na Wen |language=en |access-date=May 8, 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| ''[[Get a Job (2016 film)|Get a Job]]''
| Brian Bender
|
|-
| ''[[Star Trek Beyond]]''
| Hikaru Sulu
| 
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2017
| ''[[Columbus (2017 film)|Columbus]]''
| Jin Lee
| 
|-
| ''[[Gemini (2017 film)|Gemini]]''
| Edward Ahn
|
|-
| data-sort-value="Happening of Monumental Proportions, A" |''[[A Happening of Monumental Proportions]]''
| Mr. Ramirez
|
|-
| ''[[Literally, Right Before Aaron]]''
| Mark
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2018
| data-sort-value="Oath, The" |''[[The Oath (2018 film)|The Oath]]''
| Peter Barber
|
|-
| ''[[Mirai (2018 film)|Mirai]]''
| Mr. Ota (voice)
| English dub<ref name="btva2">{{cite web |title=John Cho (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/John-Cho/ |access-date=August 19, 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
|-
|''[[Searching (film)|Searching]]''
| David Kim
|
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Between Two Ferns: The Movie]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2020
| data-sort-value="Grudge, The" | ''[[The Grudge (2020 film)|The Grudge]]''
| Peter Spencer
| 
|-
| ''[[Tigertail (film)|Tigertail]]''
| Grover
| Scenes cut; also executive producer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/alan-yangs-tigertail-tells-his-fathers-immigration-story.html|title=Alan Yang's ''Tigertail'' Is a 'Fever Dream' of His Father's Immigration Story|website=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|first=E. Alex|last=Jung|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-date=March 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327062538/https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/alan-yangs-tigertail-tells-his-fathers-immigration-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Over the Moon (2020 film)|Over the Moon]]'' 
| Ba Ba (voice)
|<ref name="btva2" />
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Wish Dragon]]''
| Long (voice)
| English dub<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jackie Chan, China's BaseFX Making 'Wish Dragon' for Sony Animation |date=April 23, 2018 |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/china-wish-dragon-sony-jackie-chan-basefx-1202780374/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307033153/https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/china-wish-dragon-sony-jackie-chan-basefx-1202780374/ |archive-date=March 7, 2022 |access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref><ref name="btva2" />
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Don't Make Me Go (film)|Don't Make Me Go]]''
| Max Park
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2023
| ''[[Ghosted (2023 film)|Ghosted]]''
| The Leopard
| Cameo
|-
| data-sort-value="Graduates, The" | ''[[The Graduates (2023 film)|The Graduates]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=April 18, 2023 |title=Tribeca Film Festival 2023: New Movies From Michael Shannon, Jacob Elordi and Chelsea Peretti to Premiere |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/tribeca-film-festival-lineup-premiere-1235585985/ |access-date=April 19, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418154149/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/tribeca-film-festival-lineup-premiere-1235585985/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| John
| Also executive producer
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Afraid (film)|Afraid]]''
| Curtis
|
|-
| {{TableTBA}}
| {{Pending film|[[Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother]]}}
| {{TableTBA}}
| Post-production
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1997
| data-sort-value="Jeff Foxworthy Show, The" | ''[[The Jeff Foxworthy Show]]''
| Pizza delivery man
| Episode: "Twister of Fate"
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Felicity (TV series)|Felicity]]''
| Larry
| Episode: "The Last Stand"
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Charmed]]''
| Mark Chao
| Episode: "Dead Man Dating"
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Static Shock]]''
| Thomas Kim / Tantrum, Navigator (voices)
| 2 episodes<ref name="btva2" />
|-
| 2001–2002
| ''[[Off Centre]]''
| Chau Presley
| Main role
|-
| 2002
| data-sort-value="Jamie Kennedy Experiment, The" | ''[[The Jamie Kennedy Experiment]]''
| Himself
| 1 episode
|-
| 2005
| data-sort-value="Men's Room, The" | ''[[The Men's Room]]''
| Bob
| 4 episodes
|-
| 2005
| ''[[House (TV series)|House M.D.]]''
| Harvey Park
| Episode: "[[Love Hurts (House)|Love Hurts]]"
|-
| 2005–2006
| ''[[Kitchen Confidential (TV series)|Kitchen Confidential]]''
| Teddy Wong
| Recurring role
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]''
| Marshall Stone
| Episode: "Damage Case"
|-
| 2006–2023
| ''[[American Dad!]]''
| Vince Chung (voice)
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2007
| ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]''
| Jefferson Coatsworth
| Episode: "[[I'm Not That Guy]]"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Ugly Betty]]''
| Kenny
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2007
| data-sort-value="Til Death" | ''[['Til Death]]''
| Lucas Bender
| Episode: "Come Out and Play"
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Hollywood Residential]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "It Happens"
|-
| 2009–2010
| ''[[FlashForward]]''
| Demetri Noh
| Main role
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Childrens Hospital]]''
| Park
| Episode: "Frankfurters. Allman Brothers. Death. Frankfurters"
|-
| 2011
| data-sort-value="Thirty Rock" | ''[[30 Rock]]''
| Lorne
| Episode: "[[Double-Edged Sword]]"
|-
| 2011
| ''[[NTSF:SD:SUV::]]''
| Chip
| Episode: "The Birthday Part That Was Neither"
|-
| 2012–2013
| ''[[Go On (TV series)|Go On]]''
| Steven
| Main role
|-
| 2013–2014
| ''[[Sleepy Hollow (TV series)|Sleepy Hollow]]''
| Andy Brooks
| 7 episodes
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Selfie (TV series)|Selfie]]''
| Henry Higgs
| Main role
|-
| 2015
| ''[[BoJack Horseman]]''
| Lead improv-er (voice)
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2015
| data-sort-value="Mindy Project, The" | ''[[The Mindy Project]]''
| Big Murder
| Episode: "Lahiri Family Values"
|-
| 2016
| ''[[New Girl]]''
| Daniel
| Episode: "Jury Duty"
|-
| 2016
| ''[[House of Lies]]''
| Sean Chew
| Episode: "Holacracy"
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Drunk History]]''
| [[William Shakespeare]]
| Episode: "Landmarks"
|-
| 2016 
| ''[[Lip Sync Battle]]'' 
| Himself
| Episode: "[[Ben Kingsley]] vs. John Cho"
|-
| 2016
| data-sort-value="Hindenburg Explodes!, The" | ''The Hindenburg Explodes!''
| Reggie
| Pilot
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Difficult People]]''
| Todd Ross
| 4 episodes
|-
| 2017
| data-sort-value="Exorcist, The" | ''[[The Exorcist (TV series)|The Exorcist]]''
| Andrew Kim
| Main role (season 2)
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Do You Want to See a Dead Body?]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "A Body and Some Quicksand"
|-
| 2019
| data-sort-value="Twilight Zone, The" | ''[[The Twilight Zone (2019 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]''
| Raff Hanks
| Episode: "The Wunderkind"<ref>{{cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |title='The Twilight Zone': John Cho, Allison Tolman & Jacob Tremblay To Star In Episode Of CBS All Access Reboot |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/the-twilight-zone-john-cho-allison-tolman-jacob-tremblay-to-star-in-episode-of-cbs-all-access-reboot-1202512838/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=December 3, 2018 |date=December 3, 2018 |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204004224/https://deadline.com/2018/12/the-twilight-zone-john-cho-allison-tolman-jacob-tremblay-to-star-in-episode-of-cbs-all-access-reboot-1202512838/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Home Movie: The Princess Bride]]''
| [[Inigo Montoya]]
| Episode: "Chapter Nine: Have Fun Storming The Castle!"
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Cowboy Bebop (2021 TV series)|Cowboy Bebop]]''
| [[Spike Spiegel]]
| Main role
|-
| 2023
| data-sort-value="Afterparty, The" | ''[[The Afterparty (TV series)|The Afterparty]]''
| "Funcle" Ulysses Zhu
| Main role (season 2)<ref name="afterparty1" /><ref name="afterparty2" />
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Praise Petey]]''
| Bandit (voice)
|
|-
|2023
|''Artbound''
|Himself
|Season 14, episode 6: "[[East West Players]]: A Home on Stage";<ref>{{Citation |title=Artbound {{!}} East West Players: A Home on Stage {{!}} Season 14 {{!}} Episode 6 {{!}} KQED |date=October 19, 2023 |url=https://video.kqed.org/video/east-west-players-a-home-on-stage-xnwanj/ |access-date=October 19, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> documentary
|-
|2024
| data-sort-value="Sympathizer, The" | ''[[The Sympathizer (miniseries)|The Sympathizer]]''
| James Yoon
| Miniseries<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Tolentino |first=Jia |date=April 8, 2024 |title=Park Chan-wook Gets the Picture He Wants |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/04/15/park-chan-wook-profile |access-date=April 8, 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref>
|-
|2025
| ''[[Poker Face (TV series)|Poker Face]]''
| Guy
| Season 2, episode 8: "The Sleazy Georgian"<ref name=":6" />
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Murderbot (TV series)|Murderbot]]''
| Eknie Jef Chem (playing Captain Hossein)
| Cameo<ref name=":7" />
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Long Story Short (TV series)|Long Story Short]]''
| TAMIT Boss (voice)
| Episode: "There's A Mattress In There"
|-
|2025
| ''[[Tempest (TV series)|Tempest]]''
|Anderson Miller
|Korean drama<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Korean Spy Drama ''Tempest'' Adds John Cho, Chris Gorham, Alicia Hannah-Kim & Jacob Bertrand |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/tempest-cast-john-cho-chris-gorham-alicia-hannah-kim-jacob-bertrand-1236034306/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| {{TableTBA}}
| {{Pending series|Rhona Who Lives by the River}}
| D'John
|
|}

=== Stage ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Year
!Title
|-
|1994
| data-sort-value="Woman Warrior, The" | ''The Woman Warrior''<ref name="UCLA" />
|-
|1995
|''Ikebana''
|-
|1996
| data-sort-value="Taste of Kono Coffee, The" |''The Taste of Kono Coffee''
|-
|1997
|''F.O.B.''
|-
|2000
|''My Broke Ass Pontificating Slapstick Funk''
|}

===Web series===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
|-
| 2015
| ''Parallel Man: Infinite Pursuit''
| Agent Nick Morgan
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Voice role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[D.A. Pursuit of Justice]]''
| Lu Sun
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/person/198870/john-cho/ |title=John Cho - MobyGames|publisher=[[MobyGames|MobyGames.com]] |access-date=August 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu]]''
| Additional characters
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Star Trek (2013 video game)|Star Trek]]''
| Hikaru Sulu
| <ref name="btva2" />
|}

=== Audiobooks ===

* ''Troublemaker'' (2022) - author and narrator
* ''Drop Dead'' (2024) - narrator

== Discography ==
Band: Left of Zed
* Demo tape (1998)
* Album: Furious Bloom (2004)

Band: Viva La Union
* Album: Viva La Union (2009)

== Bibliography ==
* ''Troublemaker'' (March 22, 2022) – middle school grade novel for younger readers<ref name=":5" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Wikiquote-inline}}
* {{Twitter}}
* {{Instagram}}
* {{IMDb name}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cho, John}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:American male actors of Korean descent]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Glendale, California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Seoul]]
[[Category:South Korean emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]