Rosalind Chao (/ˈrɒzəlɪnd ˈtʃaʊ/; simplified Chinese: 赵家玲; traditional Chinese: 趙家玲; pinyin: Zhào Jiālíng; born September 23, 1957 (1957-09-23)) is an American actress. Chao's best-known roles have been as a star of CBS's AfterMASH portraying South Korean refugee Soon-Lee Klinger for both seasons, and the recurring character Keiko O'Brien with twenty-seven appearances on the syndicated science fiction series Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.Chao is married to actor Simon Templeman.
What Dreams May Come, The Joy Luck Club, Freaky Friday, Just like Heaven, I Am Sam, The Big Brawl, The End of Violence, Thousand Pieces of Gold, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Enemies of Laughter, Nanking, Love Affair, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, Stockholm, Pennsylvania, Mysterious Island Of Beautiful...
TV Shows
Intelligence, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, AfterMASH, Anna and the King
Star Sign
Libra
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Quote
1
[on how the "ST:DS9" producers let her do The Joy Luck Club (1993) before committing to the series] I'm very grateful to the "Star Trek" people because they made it possible for me to participate in a movie that really made a difference to Asian-Americans, and it made a difference in my life as well.
2
[on filming a scene in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) episode "Times Orphan"] We were shooting at Griffith Park when we were doing the picnic scene. I had some speech to make, and I noticed people talking behind the camera, which was very unusual because the "Deep Space Nine" crew was very professional. And I noticed people moving around. It turned out that a rattler had been, like, this far away from me, as we were shooting. And nobody cut and had me move! Colm [Colm Meaney] just got up and got out of the way, they got the kid out of the way, and nobody said word one to me! Can you imagine?
3
[about Colm Meaney] I adore Colm. We're old friends by now, so that's great. Also, we bicker like a real husband and wife do.
4
When they offered me the role as a regular on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), I was actually pregnant with my first child and I was also getting ready to do The Joy Luck Club (1993). So I had to say no to the producers at that point. I wanted to be able to spend time with my husband and with my first child right after he was born. And I did. I really think it worked out well for everyone.
5
When I leave Los Angeles to do something, that's when I notice how into "Star Trek" and how loyal to the shows' actors the fans are. The fans will notice me on the street and ask me questions about Keiko's personal relationships, especially the female fans. They're very concerned, because they want her to maintain her career. They always talk to me about that. It's very funny.
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Fact
1
George Cukor's "My Fair Lady" is her favorite film.
2
Born in Anaheim, California as a first-generation Californian, her parents ran a successful Chinese American pancake restaurant, Chao's, right across the street from Disneyland, and she worked there from an early age. After moving from Garden Grove to Villa Park, California, Chao was enrolled at Marywood Central Catholic High School, an all-girls school in Orange, California where she was the only non-Caucasian student.
3
Made her first appearance at a Star Trek Convention in August 2005 at Vegas Con.
4
While auditioning for the part of Keiko O'Brien on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), she was up against actress Patti Yasutake, who also auditioned for the role. Rosalind eventually got the role, and Patti got the part of "Nurse Allysa Ogawa" on the same show.
Her parents ran a successful restaurant near Disneyland.
7
Was enrolled in the communications department at U.S.C. where she hoped to go into broadcasting. After a disillusioning year at the CBS-owned radio station in Hollywood, Rosalind decided to return to acting.
8
Rosalind's father encouraged her to audition for what would be her first television role on the 70s TV sitcom Here's Lucy (1968).
9
Turned down the chance to work full-time on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) so that she could spend more time with her family. But, she instead agreed to do recurring roles in episodes each season.
10
Has two children with husband Simon Templeman. A son named Roland and a daughter named Isabelle.
11
Her ethnicity is Chinese
12
Graduated from Pomona College, (Claremont, California) in 1978.
$2 Million
