James Chen (Chinese: 陳清仁) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Kal on The Walking Dead. Chen also played Samuel Chung on the Netflix series Iron Fist.[1]

James Chen
Born
New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BA)
Yale University (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active2004–present

Early life and education

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Chen was born and raised in New York and is of Chinese descent.[2] After earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, Chen earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. He was awarded with the Dexter Wood Luke Memorial Prize for his work there.[3][4]

Career

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In 2011, he played the recurring character Adrian Sung in the crime series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He appeared in The Walking Dead, playing Kal in the shows' sixth through ninth seasons.[2]

In 2015, he co-starred in the LGBT drama Front Cover opposite Jake Choi.[5]

Since 2018 he plays Ian Lim, an FBI Analyst in the CBS drama FBI.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Murder Below the Line Pete Richards
2010 Boy Wonder Roy
Five Minarets in New York Agent Lee
2011 We Need to Talk About Kevin Dr. Foulkes
Mr. Popper's Penguins Fish and Game Officer
2012 Watching TV with the Red Chinese Tzu
Archaeology of a Woman Desk Officer
The Amazing Spider-Man Police Officer
2013 Run Into You Brady Short film
Labor Day Paramedic
2014 Before I Disappear Chinese Man Uncredited
Amira & Sam Donnie
2015 Front Cover Ning
2019 Fluidity Eric

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Evan and Gareth Are Trying to Get Laid Larry TV movie
Mercy Ben Shin 1 episode
2010 Blue Bloods Nelson Chiu 1 episode
Running Wilde Pathologist 1 episode
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit CSU Adrian Sung Recurring (7 episodes)
2012 NCIS: Los Angeles Cadeo Hoang 1 episode
2014 The Blacklist Lee Chung 1 episode
2015 Sleepy Hollow Lorenzo Chang 1 episode
2016 Person of Interest James Ko 1 episode
2016–2019 The Walking Dead Kal Recurring
2017 Elementary Lt. Morrison 1 episode
2018 Iron Fist Samuel Chung 4 episodes
Madam Secretary Mr. Usuki 1 episode
2018–present FBI Ian Lim Recurring
2019–2024 9-1-1 Kevin Lee 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ "Featured: Actor James Chen Says Sam in Marvel's "Iron Fist" is Loyal, Hard-working, and More". Occhi Magazine. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  2. ^ a b NaludaMagazine (2018-11-06). "Interview with Netflix/Marvel "Iron Fist" actor James Chen". naludamagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  3. ^ "YSD Annual Magazine 2008". issuu. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  4. ^ "About". James Chen. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  5. ^ Merry, Stephanie. "In 'Front Cover' a gay Chinese American comes to terms with his cultural identity". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
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