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Hank Chen

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For the Taiwanese actor and comedian, see Chen Han-dian.

Hank Chen
Hank Chen performing stand up
Born
Henry Hsing Chen

(1989-11-01) November 1, 1989 (age 35)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Other namesHankster
EducationWheaton College (BA)
Pace University (MFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Comedian
Years active2010–present
Hank Chen
Traditional Chinese陳興漢
Simplified Chinese陈兴汉
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChen Xìng Hàn

Hank Chen (born November 1, 1989) is an American actor and comedian best known for Life-Size 2 and Robin Williams's final theatrical release, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn.

Early life

Born as Henry Chen in Silver Spring, Maryland to Taiwanese immigrants, Chen spoke Mandarin Chinese at home before learning English. His parents are engineers. He has a younger sister.

Chen grew up in a religious and conservative household.[1] He is a founding member of advocacy group, OneWheaton[2][3] supporting LGBT students and alumni from his alma mater.[4]

Raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.,[5] Chen graduated with an International Baccalaureate diploma from Springbrook High School. At Wheaton College, he majored in Sociology with minors in Communications and English, and studied theatre at the University of Westminster in London. Chen remained near Chicago after graduation to work, take acting classes, and perform comedy.[6] He trained with The Second City and joined Stir Friday Night, a sketch comedy ensemble of Asian-American performers. Other SFN alumni include Danny Pudi and Steven Yeun.[7] He attended the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University MFA program, moving to Brooklyn, New York, where he began his career with a credit on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[8]

Career

Film and television

Chen has appeared on television since 2011 with credits including Blue Bloods, Lopez, and Transparent.

He made his film debut in The Angriest Man in Brooklyn opposite Robin Williams, followed up by roles in Reese Witherspoon-starrer Home Again,[9] and Janicza Bravo's first full-length feature, Lemon.[10]

In 2018, Chen co-starred in Freeform's Life-Size 2 opposite Tyra Banks and Francia Raisa.[11][12][13] In 2021, Chen co-starred in Lifetime's Holiday in Santa Fe opposite Mario Lopez and Emeraude Toubia.

Social media

As a young vlogger, Chen was very active on social media which led to many opportunities including being selected to host Verizon's online campaign for 4G LTE in 2011.[14] Chen was the co-host of RealBeauty.com's comedy and fashion show, Visible Panty Lines from Hearst Corporation in 2012.[15]

In 2013, Chen was among one of 100 influencers selected by Ford Motor Company to participate in the Ford Fiesta Movement in which creators were given a Ford Fiesta and sent on "missions" for 6 months.[16][17] At the conclusion of the campaign, he was awarded "Best Vlog" for his first mission, Fiesta Aqua Agent.

Stand-up comedy

Chen's debut comedy special, Hank Chen: I'm Not Supposed to be Here was taped and produced by Comedy Dynamics at the El Portal Theatre 6 days after he was involved in a motorcycle collision in spring 2023.[18] He was wheeled on-stage and performed sitting on a couch with a fractured pelvis.[19] The special premiered on streaming platforms and satellite radio later that year.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2014 The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Damien
2015 The Dark Side Patrick
2017 Lemon Lee
2017 Home Again Jason G.

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit P.A. Episode: "Pursuit"
2011 Blue Bloods Harry Bell Episode: "Model Behavior"
2011 High Maintenance Hank Episode: "Elijah"
2014 Transparent Clayton Episode: "Moppa"
2014 Criminal Minds Chuck Ross Episode: "Fate"
2015 Community Various 2 episodes
2015 Rizzoli & Isles Waiter Episode: "Imitation Game"
2015 Baby Daddy Jonathan Episode: "What Happens In Vegas"
2015 Switched at Birth New Waiter Episode: "Borrowing Your Enemy's Arrows"
2016 Grace and Frankie Employee Episode: "The Bender"
2016 Lopez Mr. Chen 2 episodes
2016 NCIS: Los Angeles Minjun Rhee Episode: "Parallel Resistors"
2017 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Dave McHenry Episode: "Cinderella and the Dragon"
2017 Casual Brent Episode: "The Table"
2017 Strangers Hank Episode: "Couples Counseling"
2018 Scandal Justice Spivey's Clerk Episode: "Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself"
2018 Legion Ryan Episode: "Chapter 14"
2018 Alex, Inc. Dale Episode: "The Rube Goldberg Contraption"
2018 Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Himself Episode: "3.14"
2018 Life-Size 2 Brendan Television movie
2019 The OA Homer's Roommate 2 episodes
2021 Holiday in Santa Fe Kevin Television movie
2024 Hacks Lawrence Episode: "Join The Club"

References

  1. ^ Tungol, JR (December 30, 2014). "Gay, Asian and Christian: Hank Chen Shares His Struggles With Family and the Holidays". HuffPost.
  2. ^ Maxwell, Carrie (November 2, 2011). "A Gay Group's Homecoming in Wheaton". Windy City Times.
  3. ^ Damshenas, Sam (December 7, 2018). "Hank Chen on working with Tyra Banks and being an openly gay actor in Hollywood". Gay Times.
  4. ^ Reilly, Emily (September 2, 2020). "LGBTQ+ actor Hank Chen talks OneWheaton, Tyra Banks and Robin Williams". Windy City Times.
  5. ^ Riley, John (May 30, 2019). "Comic Hank Chen performs a stand-up set to raise money for the Wanda Alston Foundation". Metro Weekly.
  6. ^ Dean, Robert (April 9, 2024). "Mr. Nice Guy: Meet Hank Chen". Big Laugh Comedy.
  7. ^ Lee, Traci G. (December 21, 2016). "If You Can't Beat Them, Laugh at Them: How Asian America Responded to Hollywood in 2016". NBC News.
  8. ^ Ngo, Tiffany (December 12, 2018). "Actor Hank Chen Discusses New Projects and Building a Life You Love". Mochi.
  9. ^ Anderson, Tre'vell (January 10, 2019). "The Newest Generation Of Hollywood Is More Queer Than Ever". Out.
  10. ^ D'Arcy, David (January 23, 2017). "'Lemon': Review". Screen Daily.
  11. ^ Petski, Denise (July 9, 2018). "Francia Raisa To Co-Star Opposite Tyra Banks In 'Life Size 2' On Freeform". Deadline Hollywood.
  12. ^ Dawson, Lamar (December 3, 2018). ""Life Size 2" Star Hank Chen on Being the "Hot Asian Male" Tyra Banks Was Searching For". Logo TV.
  13. ^ Jan, Kevin (December 2, 2018). "Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Life-Size 2's Hank Chen". Pop-Culturalist.
  14. ^ Lin, John (December 15, 2011). "Asian American Commercial Watch: Hank Chen In Verizon's 4G LTE Campaign". 8asians.
  15. ^ Alderman, Abigail (April 23, 2012). "Hearst Partners with YouTube to Launch Two New TV Channels". Hearst Communications.
  16. ^ Cohen, Joshua (September 26, 2013). "#SMWLA Preview: How The Ford Fiesta Movement Is Rethinking Branding". Tubefilter.
  17. ^ Zaccone, Alison (December 3, 2013). "The Fiesta Movement". NYC Recessionista.
  18. ^ Paul, Tyson (November 13, 2023). "Hank Chen Talks New Comedy Special "I'm Not Supposed To Be Here" w/ We Own The Laughs.com". We Own The Laughs.
  19. ^ Jan, Kevin (January 7, 2024). "Exclusive Interview: Hank Chen Discusses Debut Comedy Special 'I'm Not Supposed To Be Here,' Overcoming Adversities, and Bringing Authenticity to His Humor". Pop-Culturalist.
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