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Michael Paul Chan

Michael Paul Chan

Actor · Born June 26, 1950 (76) · San Francisco, California, USA

Michael Paul Chan (born June 26, 1950) is an American television and film actor. Some of his recent television work includes Judge Lionel Ping on Arrested Development, Robbery Homicide Division, Dr. Lee in the Joel Schumacher directed "Batman & Robin," the voice of Jimmy Ho on The PJ's, and Detective Michael Tao on the TNT series The Closer. He had a recurring role in The Wonder Years as Mr. Chong. He also played the role of Dr. Louis Rob in Mrs. Harris and appears in the independent film, Americanese. Chan also played the part of the convenience store owner in the 1993 film Falling Down, where he refused to give a discount to Michael Douglas' character when he attempted to purchase a can of soda to get change for the pay telephone outside the store. Recently, he was seen playing the bookie "Andy" on the daytime drama the Young and the Restless. He also provided the voice for an agent of the C.I.A. (Chinese Intelligence Agency) on a 2011 episode of "The Simpsons." He made an appearance on the crime/drama/comedy series "Bones". In 1994, Chan played the character "Roberts" in the episode "The War Prayer" of US TV series Babylon 5. Some of his other movie roles were the Chinese Premier in Megiddo: The Omega Code 2, and as a CIA official, Vincent Vy Ngo, in Spy Game. Chan, a third generation Chinese American, was born in San Francisco, California. He is a founding member of the Asian American Theater Company. He is married with one child. Description above from the Wikipedia article Michael Paul Chan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 26, 1950 (76)
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
66 on MovieCove · 96 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

What are Michael Paul Chan's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
19%
Self
19%
Bonds
19%
Survival
16%
Society
13%
Power
10%
Ideas
3%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 7 · Dark 8

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 3 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 9 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
7
Hopeful
4
Warm
6
Thrilling
4
Other
20

How their films linger

Hopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Michael Paul Chan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 66 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Paul Chan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

96 credits, 66 with a MovieCove page.

  • Between Borders(2024)

    as The Judge

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Ba(2024)

    as Sonny

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as The Lion (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Hello Tomorrow!(2023)

    Show 5 episodes · as Walter Greene

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Boy Genius(2019)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Resident(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as Yee Austin

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Vincent Park

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • MacGyver(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Dahn Nguyen

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Major Crimes(2012)

    Show 105 episodes · as Lt. Mike Tao

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Americanese (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Jimmy Chan

  • Mrs. Harris(2005)

    as Dr. Louis Roh

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Shi Jon Chen

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 109 episodes · as Mike Tao

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Arrested Development(2003)

    Show 6 episodes · as Judge Ping

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Larry Chen · as Mr. Zhao

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Masked and Anonymous(2003)

    as Guard

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Boomtown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Lobo Chan

  • Robbery Homicide Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 10 episodes · as Det. Ron Lu

  • Spy Game(2001)

    as Vincent Vy Ngo

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Yoshi

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Glass House(2001)

    as Mr. Kim

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Megiddo: The Omega Code 2(2001)

    as Chinese Premier

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Inspector Wu

  • Once in the Life(2000)

    as Buddha

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Nikki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Cheng

  • Static Shock(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Kim (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Dexter Chen

  • Black and White(1999)

    as Witness

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Big Tease(1999)

    as Clarence

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Insider(1999)

    as Norman the Cameraman

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Molly(1999)

    as Domingo

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The PJs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 43 episodes · as Jimmy Ho (voice)

  • V.I.P. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Go

  • U.S. Marshals(1998)

    as Chen

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Protector (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Dr. Anthony Mane

  • Brooklyn South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Keith Chan

  • Double Tap(1997)

    as Fung Suk

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Batman & Robin(1997)

    as Observatory Scientist

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Suddenly(1996)

    as Mr. Chow

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Early Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Han

  • Sudden Terror: The Hijacking of School Bus #17(1996)

    as Harry Kee

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Arli$$(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Woo

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Tommy Luck

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Paper Dragons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Lee Hongpo

  • The Immortals(1995)

    as Mifune

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Sonsiri

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Body Chemistry 4: Full Exposure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Judge Hakawa

  • Galaxis(1995)

    as Manny Hopkins

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Batman Forever(1995)

    as Executive

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Death of a Cheerleader(1994)

    as Mr. Kwan

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Party of Five(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Conductor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • One West Waikiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Valley of the Dolls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick Chen

  • Maverick(1994)

    as Riverboat Poker Player

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders(1994)

    as Lester Kuriyama

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Capt. Lin

  • Babylon 5(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Roberts

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Heaven & Earth(1993)

    as Interrogator

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Chester Paladin

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • The Joy Luck Club(1993)

    as Harold

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Joshua Tree(1993)

    as Jimmy Shoeshine

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Falling Down(1993)

    as Mr. Lee

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • 2000 Malibu Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rapid Fire(1992)

    as Carl Chang

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Fatal Friendship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Mr. Kee

  • Thousand Pieces of Gold(1990)

    as Hong King

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Under Cover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 14 episodes · as Dr. Lee

  • Northern Exposure(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Masuto

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Chinese Agent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Hardball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Wonder Years(1988)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mr. Chong

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Stranger on My Land(1988)

    as Eliot

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Three Kings(1987)

    as Second Cop

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Jake and the Fatman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Tour of Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Victor Charles

  • Quicksilver(1986)

    as Asian Gang Member #2

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu: The Movie(1986)

    as Ching

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Colbys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Banker

  • The Goonies(1985)

    as Data's Father

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Runaway(1984)

    as Wilson

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Trevor Han

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Male Nurse

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Seduction of Gina(1984)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Hong King

  • Thief(1981)

    as Waiter at Chinese Restaurant

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cardiac Arrest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Wylie Wong

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Tomita

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Up Yours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Yellow / Grocery Boy (as Mike Chan)

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Earl Sakai

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 96 titles from 1974 to 2025; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

Spy Game (2001)

$143M worldwide

Highest rated

The Joy Luck Club (1993)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The Closer (2005)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19742025

Peak 1994 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting96 of 96: 96 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score48th

By decade

1970s4 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s41 · acting2000s19 · acting2010s6 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
849499

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Michael Paul Chan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 38th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 42nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 66 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th26
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 66 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · actor

Boy Genius (2019)

92nd percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Insider (1999)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 34. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Michael Paul Chan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles56–91 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles24–59 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles45–79 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles25–49 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles52–72 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Michael Paul Chan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Paul Chan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; G.W. Bailey shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers

Mixed roles