For the Taiwanese actor and comedian, see Chen Han-dian.
Hank Chen
Birth nameHenry Hsing Chen
Birth dateNovember 1, 1989 (age 36)
Other namesHankster
Birth placeSilver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
EducationWheaton College (BA)
Pace University (MFA)
OccupationActor · Comedian
Years active2010–present
Hank Chen
T陳興漢
S陈兴汉
PChen Xìng Hàn

Hank Chen (born November 1, 1989) is an American actor and comedian best known for Life-Size 2 and Robin Williams's final theatrical release, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn.

Early life and education

Born as Henry Chen in Silver Spring, Maryland to Taiwanese immigrants, Chen spoke Mandarin Chinese at home before learning English. His parents are engineers. He has a younger sister.

Chen grew up in a religious and conservative household.[1] He is a founding member of advocacy group, OneWheaton[2][3] supporting LGBT students and alumni from his alma mater.[4]

Raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.,[5] Chen graduated with an International Baccalaureate diploma from Springbrook High School. At Wheaton College, he majored in sociology with minors in Communications and English, and studied theatre at the University of Westminster in London. Chen remained near Chicago after graduation to work, take acting classes, and perform comedy.[6] He trained with The Second City and joined Stir Friday Night, a sketch comedy ensemble of Asian-American performers. Other SFN alumni include Danny Pudi and Steven Yeun.[7] He attended the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University MFA program, moving to Brooklyn, New York, where he began his career with a credit on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[8]

Career

Film and television

Chen has appeared on television since 2011 with credits including Blue Bloods, Lopez, and Transparent.

He made his film debut in The Angriest Man in Brooklyn opposite Robin Williams, followed up by roles in Reese Witherspoon-starrer Home Again,[9] and Janicza Bravo's first full-length feature, Lemon.[10]

In 2018, Chen co-starred in Freeform's Life-Size 2 opposite Tyra Banks and Francia Raisa.[11][12][13] In 2021, Chen co-starred in Lifetime's Holiday in Santa Fe opposite Mario Lopez and Emeraude Toubia.

Social media

As a young vlogger, Chen was very active on social media which led to many opportunities including being selected to host Verizon's online campaign for 4G LTE in 2011.[14] Chen was the co-host of RealBeauty.com's comedy and fashion show, Visible Panty Lines from Hearst Corporation in 2012.[15]

In 2013, Chen was among one of 100 influencers selected by Ford Motor Company to participate in the Ford Fiesta Movement in which creators were given a Ford Fiesta and sent on "missions" for 6 months.[16][17] At the conclusion of the campaign, he was awarded "Best Vlog" for his first mission, Fiesta Aqua Agent.

Stand-up comedy

Chen's debut comedy special, Hank Chen: I'm Not Supposed to be Here was taped and produced by Comedy Dynamics at the El Portal Theatre 6 days after he was involved in a motorcycle collision in spring 2023.[18] He was prescribed painkillers, wheeled on-stage, and performed sitting on a couch with a fractured pelvis.[19] The special premiered on streaming platforms and satellite radio later that year.

In 2023, he was recruited by producers, Seven Graham and Alyssa Poteet to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland with LGBTQIA+ comedy show, Alphabet Soup.[20] The show was well-reviewed[21][22] and made additional international festival headlines when it became known the performers were staying at old Second World War base and Cold War nuclear bunker, Barnton Quarry due to the inflated costs of reasonable accommodations during that time of year in Edinburgh.[23][24][25][26][27] Graham made the decision "after being quoted £35,000 on Airbnb for a month’s stay."[28]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014The Angriest Man in BrooklynDamien
2014Queers in the Kingdom: Let Your Light ShineHimselfDocumentary
2015The Dark SidePatrick
2015Bob Thunder: Internet AssassinHank Chen
2016When You Have Big BoobsKevinShort
2016Carry MeAssistantShort
2017LemonLee
2017Home AgainJason G.
2026Ugly Cry

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Law & Order: Special Victims UnitP.A.Episode: "Pursuit"
2011Blue BloodsHarry BellEpisode: "Model Behavior"
2011High MaintenanceHankEpisode: "Elijah"
2012Big Morning Buzz LiveHimselfEpisode: "Deborah Ann Woll/The Lumineers"
2014TransparentClaytonEpisode: "Moppa"
2014Criminal MindsChuck RossEpisode: "Fate"
2015CommunityVarious2 episodes
2015Rizzoli & IslesWaiterEpisode: "Imitation Game"
2015Baby DaddyJonathanEpisode: "What Happens In Vegas"
2015Switched at BirthNew WaiterEpisode: "Borrowing Your Enemy's Arrows"
2015EastsidersHipster Guy #23 episodes
2016DisengagedDeziEpisode: "Dresses"
2016Grace and FrankieEmployeeEpisode: "The Bender"
2016LopezMr. Chen2 episodes
2016NCIS: Los AngelesMinjun RheeEpisode: "Parallel Resistors"
2016Mars 2060: The Colony FilesDennis McAlisterEpisode: "Solar Conjunction"
2017Criminal Minds: Beyond BordersDave McHenryEpisode: "Cinderella and the Dragon"
2017CasualBrentEpisode: "The Table"
2017StrangersHankEpisode: "Couples Counseling"
2017The New 30Joshua4 episodes
2018ScandalJustice Spivey's ClerkEpisode: "Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself"
2018LegionRyanEpisode: "Chapter 14"
2018Alex, Inc.DaleEpisode: "The Rube Goldberg Contraption"
2018Full Frontal with Samantha BeeHimselfEpisode: "3.14"
2018Life-Size 2BrendanTelevision movie
2019The OAHomer's Roommate2 episodes
2021Holiday in Santa FeKevinTelevision movie
2023Hank Chen: I'm Not Supposed To Be HereHimselfStand-Up Special
2024HacksLawrenceEpisode: "Join The Club"

References

  1. ^ Tungol, JR (December 30, 2014). "Gay, Asian and Christian: Hank Chen Shares His Struggles With Family and the Holidays". HuffPost
  2. ^ Maxwell, Carrie (November 2, 2011). "A Gay Group's Homecoming in Wheaton". Windy City Times
  3. ^ Damshenas, Sam (December 7, 2018). "Hank Chen on working with Tyra Banks and being an openly gay actor in Hollywood". Gay Times
  4. ^ Reilly, Emily (September 2, 2020). "LGBTQ+ actor Hank Chen talks OneWheaton, Tyra Banks and Robin Williams". Windy City Times
  5. ^ Riley, John (May 30, 2019). "Comic Hank Chen performs a stand-up set to raise money for the Wanda Alston Foundation". Metro Weekly
  6. ^ Dean, Robert (April 9, 2024). "Mr. Nice Guy: Meet Hank Chen". Big Laugh Comedy
  7. ^ Lee, Traci G. (December 21, 2016). "If You Can't Beat Them, Laugh at Them: How Asian America Responded to Hollywood in 2016". NBC News
  8. ^ Ngo, Tiffany (December 12, 2018). "Actor Hank Chen Discusses New Projects and Building a Life You Love". Mochi
  9. ^ Anderson, Tre'vell (January 10, 2019). "The Newest Generation Of Hollywood Is More Queer Than Ever". Out
  10. ^ D'Arcy, David (January 23, 2017). "'Lemon': Review". Screen Daily
  11. ^ Petski, Denise (July 9, 2018). "Francia Raisa To Co-Star Opposite Tyra Banks In 'Life Size 2' On Freeform". Deadline Hollywood
  12. ^ Dawson, Lamar (December 3, 2018). ""Life Size 2" Star Hank Chen on Being the "Hot Asian Male" Tyra Banks Was Searching For". Logo TV
  13. ^ Jan, Kevin (December 2, 2018). "Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Life-Size 2's Hank Chen". Pop-Culturalist
  14. ^ Lin, John (December 15, 2011). "Asian American Commercial Watch: Hank Chen In Verizon's 4G LTE Campaign". 8asians
  15. ^ Alderman, Abigail (April 23, 2012). "Hearst Partners with YouTube to Launch Two New TV Channels". Hearst Communications
  16. ^ Cohen, Joshua (September 26, 2013). "#SMWLA Preview: How The Ford Fiesta Movement Is Rethinking Branding". Tubefilter
  17. ^ Zaccone, Alison (December 3, 2013). "The Fiesta Movement". NYC Recessionista
  18. ^ Paul, Tyson (November 13, 2023). "Hank Chen Talks New Comedy Special "I'm Not Supposed To Be Here" w/ We Own The Laughs.com". We Own The Laughs
  19. ^ Jan, Kevin (January 7, 2024). "Exclusive Interview: Hank Chen Discusses Debut Comedy Special 'I'm Not Supposed To Be Here,' Overcoming Adversities, and Bringing Authenticity to His Humor". Pop-Culturalist
  20. ^ Rye, Amy (July 6, 2023). "Fringe in 5 – Seven Graham AKA 7G". Lost In Theatreland
  21. ^ Charles, David (August 11, 2023). "Alphabet Soup, Le Monde - Shanghai, Review". EdinburghGuide.com
  22. ^ Pheonix, Bronwen Winter (August 15, 2023). "A Review of Alphabet Soup, Fringe 2023". Edinburgh Reviews
  23. ^ Quinn, kevin (July 18, 2023). "Edinburgh Fringe Festival: LGBTQIA+ performers to stay at disused nuclear bunker". Edinburgh Evening News
  24. ^ Kennedy, Vanessa (August 6, 2023). "US performers staying in disused bunker to avoid Fringe rent costs". STV News
  25. ^ Beresford, Paige (August 8, 2023). "'Super Spooky' Accommodation in Edinburgh is so expensive we've been forced to sleep in nuclear bunker". The Scottish Sun
  26. ^ Farr, Jacob (August 8, 2023). "Edinburgh Fringe performers from US sleep in nuclear bunker to avoid paying for hotels". Edinburgh Live
  27. ^ Logan, Brian (August 15, 2023). "The Edinburgh fringe is back! But is it still the heart of the comedy scene?". The Guardian
  28. ^ Al-Hassan, Aliya (August 11, 2023). "Fringe Performers ALPHABET SOUP Stay in Nuclear Bunker to Combat Accommodation Costs". Broadway World UK