John Cho

John Cho (born Cho Yo-Han) is an American actor best known for his roles as Harold Lee in the Harold & Kumar films and Hikaru Sulu in the rebooted Star Trek film series. He has also notably stood out for his performances in movies such as Better Luck Tomorrow, Columbus, and Searching. In the 21st century, Cho was identified as the first Asian American actor cast as a romantic lead in a television series through the sitcom, Selfie in 2014. Throughout his career, Cho has also had lead roles in series like FlashForward, Off Centre, and The Afterparty, and recurring roles in Sleepy Hollow and Difficult People.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Cho moved to the United States in 1978 and was raised in Los Angeles. Receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley, Cho then went on to act in various plays and films. He achieved recognition through his role in the fantasy television series Charmed. His acting career greatly expanded with performances in films like Better Luck Tomorrow, and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. Later, Cho was successfully cast as the character Hikaru Sulu in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. With the exemplary role in the biographical drama Columbus and the thriller Searching, he has continuously raised the bar in the industry. In the realm of television series, his character Henry Higgs in the sitcom Selfie marked a significant milestone for an Asian American man in a U.S. romantic comedy series. However, his journey was not devoid of challenges, Cho faced and overcame issues related to stereotyping and representation. Furthermore, his attributes are not limited to acting, as he is also the lead singer for Viva La Union.