Tim Kang

Tim Kang
Born
Yila Timothy Kang

(1973-03-16) March 16, 1973 (age 51)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Education
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present
SpouseGina May
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
강일아
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGang Il-a
McCune–ReischauerKang Ira

Yila Timothy Kang (born March 16, 1973) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Kimball Cho in the television series The Mentalist and Gordon Katsumoto in the reboot series Magnum P.I.

Early life and education

Kang was born in San Francisco, California, and is the eldest of three brothers.[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Fine Arts from Harvard's Institute for Advanced Theater Training at the American Repertory Theater and the Moscow Art Theatre.[2][3]

Kang began acting at age 26.[4] He had been working in the finance industry at the Pacific Exchange when he passed by the American Conservatory Theater and signed up for night acting classes on a whim.[5] In an interview with the Korea Society, he stated that he decided to switch to acting full-time when he realized that he could no longer concentrate on his day job at the exchange.[6]

Career

Kang was a series regular on CBS's The Mentalist as Special Agent Kimball Cho. He appeared in Rambo (2008) and on TV shows like The Office, Chappelle's Show, The Vampire Diaries, and Monk. He returned to his theater roots for Julia Cho's new play Aubergine, playing one of the lead characters, Ray. It premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in February 2016 before touring to various theatres.[7][8][9]

In 2012, Kang launched a production company named One Shoot Films with its first film project focusing on child abduction and sexually abused children.[10][11] Kang recurred as Ivan Hess on Marvel's Cloak & Dagger. He is a series regular as Detective Gordon Katsumoto in the 2018 reboot of Magnum P.I.. After four seasons led to cancellation on CBS, he continued in the role following the series's pickup by NBC.[12]

Personal life

Kang has a black belt in Taekwondo.[13][14]

With wife actress Gina Marie May, Kang has a daughter, Bianca Jooyung Kang, born November 7, 2009.[15][16]

Kang is a national spokesman and active supporter for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.[17][18]

Filmography

Film

Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Two Weeks Notice Paul the attorney
2003 Robot Stories Young John
Justice Bodega owner
2004 The Forgotten Agent Alec Wong
2006 Spectropia Client
What Remains Ender
2008 Rambo En-Joo
2010 Mister Green Mason Park
2018 A Wrinkle in Time School superintendent

Television

Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Sopranos Dr. Harrison Wong Episode: "Whoever Did This"
2003 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Murakami Episode: "Legion"
2004 Third Watch Detective Gary Yoshimura Recurring role, 5 episodes
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Dr. Liam Kelly Episode: "Baby Boom"
2006 Chappelle's Show Car wash manager / Mummy's probation officer Episodes 3.1 & 3.3
Ghost Whisperer Warren Chen (burning ghost) Episode: "The Night We Met"
2007 Monk William Lee Episode: "Mr. Monk Is Up All Night"
The Office Koh Episode: "Local Ad"
The Unit Chaplain Alan Lantz Episodes: "Gone Missing", "Play 16"
2008–15 The Mentalist Agent Kimball Cho Main role, 151 episodes
2015 The Vampire Diaries Oscar Episodes: 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5
2015 Criminal Minds Charlie Senarak Episode: "The Witness"
2017 Chicago Justice Detective Steve Kim Episode: "Fool Me Twice"
American Horror Story: Cult Tom Chang Episode: "Election Night"
2018 Lethal Weapon Mike Serrano Episode: "Diggin' Up Dirt"
2018 Madam Secretary Neal Shin Episode: "The Things We Get to Say"
2018 Cloak & Dagger Ivan Hess Recurring role, 4 episodes
2018–24 Magnum P.I. Detective Gordon Katsumoto Main role

Video games

Video game voice roles
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Mirror's Edge Catalyst Dogen
2017 Prey Morgan Yu / January (male)

References

  1. ^ Profile at allthingsgirl.com
  2. ^ CBS.com Archived 2010-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Kang biodata at thementalisttvshow.com
  4. ^ Conversations with Ross Carey profile
  5. ^ "Commercial Appeal". KoreAm. June 1, 2008.
  6. ^ "Actor Tim Kang at The Korea Society". YouTube (thekoreasociety). November 6, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  7. ^ "'Aubergine': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. September 12, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Isherwood, Charles (September 12, 2016). "Review: 'Aubergine,' a Stew of Regret and Impending Loss". The New York Times.
  9. ^ McNulty, Charles (March 1, 2016). "In 'Aubergine,' Julia Cho turns choked-off emotions into a tale of sustenance". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ "New Film Project Launched By CBS "The Mentalist" Actor Tim Kang Praised By the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children". 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  11. ^ "Crime Stopper: Interview with The Mentalist 's Tim Kang". 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 30, 2022). "'Magnum P.I.' Rescued By NBC With 2-Season, 20-Episode Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: The Mentalist's Tim Kang Straight and Narrow". People. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  14. ^ "The Mentalist's Tim Kang Is All About Pushing The Limits". KoreAm. September 13, 2011.
  15. ^ Kroll, Justin. "Bianca Jooyung Kang". variety.com. Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Tim Kang". tv.com. CBS Interactive, Inc. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  17. ^ "New Film Project Launched by CBS "The Mentalist" Actor Tim Kang Praised by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children". 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  18. ^ "The Mentalist Star Tim Kang on Child Safety". Retrieved 2013-11-19.