Lori Tan Chinn
BornJuly 7, 1948 (age 75)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1970–present

Lori Tan Chinn (born July 7, 1948) is an American actress and comedian. She played a recurring character in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black and currently stars as Awkwafina's grandmother on Comedy Central's Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (2020–present). Chinn began her acting career on Broadway, where she played Miss Higa Jiga in Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen (1970). She was also a notable member of the Katherine Dunham Company and performed African dance with Syvilla Fort.

Early life

Chinn was born on July 7, 1948 in Seattle, Washington. She is of Hoisan Chinese descent. Chinn moved to New York City by herself in 1969.[1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Author! Author! Mrs. Woo
1985 Brass Hilda TV movie
1989 She-Devil Vesta Rose Woman
1990 Revealing Evidence: Stalking the Honolulu Strangler Pua TV movie
1991 What About Bob? Bus driver
1992 Glengarry Glen Ross Coat check girl
1995 Living in Oblivion Costume Designer
1996 Ransom Woman on Street #3
1999 Mickey Blue Eyes Restaurant Owner
2001 South Pacific Bloody Mary 2003 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Resident Musical
2004 From Other Worlds Mrs. Kim
2007 Security Mrs. Pong Short
2007 Year of the Fish Shuk Yee (voice) Animated film
2008 The Guitar Mrs. Tzu
2012 Miss D Mrs. Ling Short
2013 Final Recipe Mrs. Wang
2015 Chloe and Theo Landlady
2022 Turning Red Auntie Chen (voice) Animated film
2023 Joy Ride[2] Nai Nai
2024 Kung Fu Panda 4 Granny Boar (voice) Animated film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Roseanne Iris 4 episodes
1992 Mathnet Miss Jessica Episode: "The Case of the Smart Dummy"
1999 It's Like, You Know... Daisy Episode: "Lost in America"
2000 Spin City Samaritan Nun Episode: "Mike's Best Friend's Boyfriend"
2000 Law & Order SEC Investigator Episode: "High & Low"
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Mrs. Park Episode: "The Line"
2013–19 Orange is the New Black Mei Chang 27 episodes
2020–present Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens Nora's grandmother starring role
2023 Strange Planet Voice role
2024 Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld Voice role; in production

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1970–1971 Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen Miss Higa Jiga
1979 G. R. Point Mama-San
1988–1990 M. Butterfly Comrade Chin, Suzuki, Shu Fan [3]
2015 Gotta Dance Mae [4]
2015 Triassic Parq Twin velociraptor [5]

References

  1. ^ Chow, Andrew R. (January 24, 2020). "Lori Tan Chinn Is a Scene-Stealer in Awkwafina's New Series. But the Role Comes After Decades of Harassment and Discrimination". Time. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  2. ^ "2023's must-see film: meet the talented Asian-American stars of Joy Ride". South China Morning Post. May 21, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Richards, David (February 11, 1988). "Chinese Puzzle; At the National, a Curious 'M. Butterfly'". The Washington Post (subscription required). Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Cox, Gordon (June 29, 2015). "Stefanie Powers, Georgia Engel Join Cast of Broadway-Bound 'Gotta Dance'". Variety. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  5. ^ Gioia, Michael (October 31, 2011). "Mitchell Jarvis and Lori Tan Chinn Will Lead a Dinosaur Revolution in Triassic Parq NYC Readings". Playbill. Retrieved July 4, 2015.

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