Irvine -- A Korean American recent graduate of a local high school, after just two years in the entertainment industry, has managed to get a regular role on a mainstream TV series.
Justin Chon currently appears as Tony Lee, a teenaged basketball player and best friend of an actor starring in the title role, JUST JORDAN. It's a comedy set in a high school, airing Sunday evenings on Nickelodeon channel.
Raised in OC, where he graduated from University High School in Irvine, Chon talks about his acting career on the next edition of KUCI's Subversity show, broadcasting this Monday, 5 February, 2007, from 9-10 am on KUCI, 88.9 Fm in Orange County, Calif. The show is also simultaneously webcast via kuci.org.
Next up for Chon is a starring role in the Weinstein Company feature film, CROSSING OVER. Directed by Wayne Kramer, shooting began recently.
Chon just completed a starring role in the feature film comedy, GARY THE TENNIS COACH opposite Sean William Scott and Randy Quaid. Chon plays Joe Chang, a member of the tennis team under the direction of Scott.
In addition, he has another starring role in the yet to be released comedy-horror movie HACK opposite Danica McKeller, William Forsythe and a host of other recognizable names.
He also appeared in the Disney Channel tele-film, WENDY WU: HOMECOMING WARRIOR., where he appeared as Wendy's older brother, Peter Wu. He also had a role in the THE OC.
Chon also attended Bonita Canyon Elementary School and Rancho San Joaquin Middle School. He later studied business at USC but realized he didn't want such a career.
Chon's parents emigrated from South Korea where his father was a well-known television and film actor and his mother was an accomplished pianist. A typical Californian, he grew up on the beach while surfing, skateboarding, playing tennis and hitting the golf course. He also plays the guitar, piano, violin and the saxophone.
He was recently featured in the Orange County Register: "Racking Up Screen Credits": www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1558752.php
He told the OC Register: "It's been tough but it made me a better actor, by allowing me to adapt to different characters. Some of the characters I've played are a gay guy, a football player, a skateboarder, a transvestite and a high school kid. But in the last four years things have started to change. There are more opportunities for ethnic roles."
Photos and credits appear in the IMDb database: www.imdb.com/name/nm2014390/
Thanx for listening!
dan