Arden Cho
{{short description|American actress, singer, and model}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Arden Cho
| image = Arden cho01.jpg
| caption = Cho in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|08|16|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BA)
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|singer|model}}
| years_active = 2006–present
| agent = Innovative Artists
| spouse =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| othername =
}}
Arden Lim Cho{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Arden-Cho/nm3036914/ |title=Arden Cho |website=Amazon Prime Video |access-date=June 4, 2021 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701060753/https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Arden-Cho/nm3036914/ |url-status=live }} (born August 16, 1985){{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/arden_cho/status/897874394512412672 |title=Thanks for all the birthday wishes!!! Feeling like I'm 12 today, thank you babiespic.twitter.com/1Kwvj9SPW4 |last=Cho |first=Arden |date=August 16, 2017 |website=@arden_cho |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320213859/https://twitter.com/arden_cho/status/897874394512412672 |url-status=live }} is an American actress, singer and model known for portraying Kira Yukimura in the 2011 MTV television series Teen Wolf{{Cite web |url=http://www.mochimag.com/article/arden-cho-teen-wolf-kira-yukimura-bullying-high-school |title=Actress Arden Cho on Teen Wolf, Being Bullied, and the Friend Zone |last=Low |first=Elaine |date=March 21, 2014 |website=Mochi Magazine |access-date=March 27, 2016 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322040812/http://www.mochimag.com/article/arden-cho-teen-wolf-kira-yukimura-bullying-high-school |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.flaunt.com/content/flaunt-premiere-arden-cho-simply|title=Flaunt Premiere {{!}} Arden Cho "SIMPLY"|last=BJ Panda Bear|date=September 27, 2019|website=Flaunt Magazine|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001022049/https://www.flaunt.com/content/flaunt-premiere-arden-cho-simply|url-status=live}} and Ingrid Yun in the 2022 Netflix television series Partner Track.
Early life and education
Cho was born in Amarillo, Texas to Korean-American parents and was raised in San Antonio and Plano, Texas.{{Cite web |url=https://caamedia.org/blog/2014/10/15/arden-cho-grows-up-and-kicks-butt-on-teen-wolf/ |title=Arden Cho Grows up, and Kicks Butt, on "Teen Wolf" |last=CAAM |date=October 15, 2014 |website=CAAM Home |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018212306/https://caamedia.org/blog/2014/10/15/arden-cho-grows-up-and-kicks-butt-on-teen-wolf/ |url-status=live }} Growing up in areas with few ethnic minorities, she often felt like an outsider. As a child, she was bullied and was hospitalized twice for injuries after being physically attacked. She later attended high school in Apple Valley, Minnesota.{{Cite web |url=http://blog.angryasianman.com/2014/04/angry-reader-of-week-arden-cho.html |title=Angry Reader of the Week: Arden Cho |last=Yu |first=Phil |date=April 11, 2014 |work=Angry Asian Man |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812104741/http://blog.angryasianman.com/2014/04/angry-reader-of-week-arden-cho.html |url-status=live }}
Cho attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with the intentions of becoming a lawyer.{{Cite web |url=http://iamkoream.com/february-cover-story-arden-cho-has-fans-howling/ |title=Arden Cho has fans howling |last=Tseng |first=Ada |date=February 23, 2014 |website=iamkoream.com |publisher=KoreAm Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709233304/http://iamkoream.com/february-cover-story-arden-cho-has-fans-howling/ |archive-date=July 9, 2014 |access-date=March 14, 2020}} It was there that she took her first drama classes and developed an interest in the profession.{{Cite web |url=http://theotherasians.com/2011/07/ardencho/ |title=Arden Cho Interview: "Don't be afraid to fail. Unless you fail, you will never really succeed." |last=Zhan |first=Julie |date=July 21, 2011 |work=The Other Asians|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715013840/http://theotherasians.com/2011/07/ardencho/ |archive-date=July 15, 2015}} There, she also became more exposed to the Asian American culture at large; she also participated in the Asian American Association's Fashion Show.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} She graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and subsequently spent the following summer on a medical missionary trip in Kenya.{{Cite web |url=https://www.meldmagazine.com.au/2016/07/interview-arden-cho-teen-wolf-asians-on-screen/ |title=Interview: Actress Arden Cho talks Teen Wolf, being Asian in Hollywood and proper representation on screen |last=Ng |first=Natalie |date=July 27, 2016 |website=Meld Magazine |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=July 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730173148/https://www.meldmagazine.com.au/2016/07/interview-arden-cho-teen-wolf-asians-on-screen/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.collegefashionista.com/fashion-influencer-arden-cho/ |title=FASHION INFLUENCER—Arden Cho |date=April 6, 2015 |website=College Fashionista |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410004001/https://www.collegefashionista.com/fashion-influencer-arden-cho/ |url-status=live }}
Career
= Acting =
Upon her return from Kenya, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked odd jobs while trying to pursue a career in acting. Although she did not have any screen credits at the time, her first agent took her on due to her resume of musical and physical talents, which included ballet, cello, and piano. Cho has appeared in films, television series, and commercials in the United States and Asia.{{cite web |url=http://www.ardencho.com/ |title=News |website=ardencho.com |access-date=March 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210090254/http://ardencho.com/ |archive-date=February 10, 2011}}
In 2008, Cho played the grown-up lead of Hyori (the younger version being played by Megan Lee) in the short film My First Crush, directed by Rocky Jo.{{cite news |last=Kamel |first=Marina |url=http://www.droku.com/blog/adren-cho-and-megan-lee-cover-forget-you-by-cee-lo-green-glee-version/ |title=Adren Cho and Megan Lee Cover "Forget You" by Cee Lo Green (Glee Version) |date=March 27, 2011 |work=Audrey Magazine |access-date=April 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423101044/http://www.droku.com/blog/adren-cho-and-megan-lee-cover-forget-you-by-cee-lo-green-glee-version/ |archive-date=April 23, 2011}}
In 2011, she appeared in the role of Pru, a friend of Paige McCullers (Lindsey Shaw) in Season 1, Episode 20 ("Someone to Watch Over Me"), of the ABC Family show Pretty Little Liars.{{cite news |first=Melody |last=Surname Undisclosed |title=Arden Cho: A Pretty Little Liar |url=http://audreymagazine.com/arden-cho-is-a-pretty-little-liar/#more-19625 |work=Audrey Magazine |date=March 9, 2011 |access-date=March 30, 2011 |archive-date=April 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406013410/http://audreymagazine.com/arden-cho-is-a-pretty-little-liar/#more-19625 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |first=Emily |last=Anatole |title=New Character to Guest Star on PLL |url=http://www.wetpaint.com/pretty-little-liars/articles/new-character-to-guest-star-on-pll |work=Wetpaint |date=January 2010 |access-date=March 30, 2011 |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722221017/http://www.wetpaint.com/pretty-little-liars/articles/new-character-to-guest-star-on-pll |url-status=dead }} She also appeared in the role of Gia in the monster film Mega Python vs. Gatoroid, directed by Mary Lambert.
In 2014, Cho joined the TV series Teen Wolf as Kira, starting as a recurring character in season 3 but was promoted to a main cast role in season 4. In April 2016, ahead of her talk at University of Illinois at Chicago for Asian American Awareness Month, Cho posted a YouTube video on her personal channel revealing that she would not return for season 6 of Teen Wolf.{{Citation |author=ardenBcho |title=Goodbye Teenwolf |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSqgYQVmXps |publisher=YouTube |date=April 11, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2016 |archive-date=March 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327033603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSqgYQVmXps |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Denise |last=Petski |url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/arden-cho-wont-be-back-teen-wolf-season-6-kira-yukimura-mtv-1201735808/ |title=Arden Cho Says Goodbye To Teen Wolf |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 11, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2016 |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412075922/https://deadline.com/2016/04/arden-cho-wont-be-back-teen-wolf-season-6-kira-yukimura-mtv-1201735808/ |url-status=live }}
In 2017, Cho was cast as a recurring character on season 3 of Chicago Med as Dr. Ethan Choi's sister.{{Cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2017/11/22/chicago-med-casts-arden-cho-ethans-sister-season-3/ |title=Chicago Med Casts Teen Wolf Vet as Ethan's Troublemaker Sister |last=Gelman |first=Vlada |date=November 22, 2017 |website=TVLine |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=November 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122212609/https://tvline.com/2017/11/22/chicago-med-casts-arden-cho-ethans-sister-season-3/ |url-status=live }}
In 2022, Cho starred as the lead character Ingrid Yun in the Netflix series Partner Track. Additionally, she was cast as June in the 2024 Netflix adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
= YouTube =
Cho was previously a part of the "Artichoke and Peachies" joint YouTube blogging channel with Grace Su. The account has since been shut down.{{Cite web |last=Eun |first=Elizabeth |date=November 3, 2010 |title=In Blog We Trust: Part I of III {{!}} iamkoream|url=http://iamkoream.com/asian-am-bloggers-1/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111021149/http://iamkoream.com/asian-am-bloggers-1/ |archive-date=November 11, 2010 |access-date=March 15, 2020|website=iamkoream.com}} She has also appeared in the web series KTown Cowboys.{{cite web |title=The Cast |url=http://ktowncowboys.com/show/casts/ |access-date=March 3, 2011 |work=KTown Cowboys |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007145119/http://ktowncowboys.com/show/casts/ |url-status=live }}
She has her own YouTube channel, ardenBcho, with over 300 videos, predominantly featuring vlogging, song covers, and original music videos. She had over 531,000 subscribers as of May 2025.{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/user/ardenBcho/featured|title = ArdenBcho – YouTube|website = YouTube|access-date = March 23, 2020|archive-date = November 7, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201107124559/https://www.youtube.com/user/ardenBcho/featured|url-status = live}}
=Modeling=
Cho won the 2004 Miss Korea Chicago competition, giving her the opportunity to take part in the Miss Korea Pageant in Seoul. At one point, she was in talks for a television show in Korea but walked away from the opportunity due to weight loss and plastic surgery requirements.
In 2010, the cosmetic brand Clinique announced Cho as the model for their newest advertisement campaign in Asia. The campaign was launched in mid-November 2010.{{cite news |last=Surname Undisclosed |first=Michelle |date=October 6, 2010 |title=The New Face of Clinique |website=iamkoream.com |url=http://iamkoream.com/arden-cho-is-the-new-face-of-clinique/ |access-date=March 30, 2011 |archive-date=March 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315111725/http://iamkoream.com/arden-cho-is-the-new-face-of-clinique/ |url-status=dead }} Cho modeled for Reebok Korea in 2010 and for Nike Japan in 2008. She has also modeled for Apple and Alexander McQueen and appeared in Vogue, Purple Fashion and Nylon Magazine.{{cite web |last=Kim |first=Samuel |date=July 20, 2009 |title=Arden Cho |url=http://www.kacmedia.org/index.php/Profile/Arden-Cho.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405232528/http://www.kacmedia.org/index.php/Profile/Arden-Cho.html |archive-date=April 5, 2011 |access-date=March 28, 2011 |publisher=Korean American Christian Media}}
=Music=
In 2010, Cho and Ktown Cowboys actor Shane Yoon were the MCs for the Korean music group JYJ's tour in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Mai |date=November 30, 2010 |title=Asia Pacific Arts: Behind the Scenes of JYJ's The Beginning tour: an interview with Shane Yoon |url=http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa-behind_the_scenes_of_jyjs_the_beginning_tour_an_interview_with_shane_yoon_16170.aspx.html |access-date=March 15, 2020 |website=Asia Pacific Arts Magazine |publisher=USC |archive-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020051822/http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa-behind_the_scenes_of_jyjs_the_beginning_tour_an_interview_with_shane_yoon_16170.aspx.html |url-status=dead }}
In 2011, Cho released her first single, "I'm Just a Girl". Cho was the co-writer, composer and singer; Ed Huang was co-writer and music producer. On February 25, 2011, Cho released a self-produced music video for the single on YouTube featuring Tim Lacatena.{{cite news |date=February 26, 2011 |title=I'm Just a Girl by Arden Cho |website=channelapa.com |url=http://www.channelapa.com/2011/02/im-just-a-girl-by-arden-cho.html|access-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301024755/http://www.channelapa.com/2011/02/im-just-a-girl-by-arden-cho.html |archive-date=March 1, 2011}} Cho had plans to tour her debut EP My True Happy in 2013 before landing a recurring role on Teen Wolf. Cho premiered her single "Simply" in September 2019.
= Other ventures =
Cho is an avid poker player and has been playing since 2002. She competed in the 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event, placing 662nd with $21,750.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/the-big-stage-actress-arden-cho-moonlights-as-a-poker-player-at-lapc/|title=The Big Stage: Actress Arden Cho Moonlights as a Poker Player at LAPC {{!}} World Poker Tour|last=Chaffin|first=Sean|date=March 1, 2020|website=World Poker Tour|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320213933/https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/the-big-stage-actress-arden-cho-moonlights-as-a-poker-player-at-lapc/|url-status=live}} Her biggest live cash was in January 2024 at the PGT Championship $1,000,000 freeroll: she came in second, winning $200,000.{{Cite web |last=Sofen |first=Jon |date=2024-01-10 |title=Daniel Smiljkovic Rallies to Defeat Arden Cho Heads-Up for PGT Championship Title ($500,000) |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2024/01/daniel-smiljkovic-wins-pgt-championship-45232.htm |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}
On February 6, 2019, it was announced that Cho had become CEO of Leonard & Church, a New York City-based watch company.{{cite tweet |number=1093209794041864194 |user=leonardnchurch |author=Leonard & Church |date=February 6, 2019 |access-date=April 8, 2019 |title=Have you heard? @leonardandchurch has a new CEO — our very own @girlboss : @arden_cho}}
Personal life
Cho is a Christian. Cho has a black belt in taekwondo and grew up training with her father, who is a grandmaster.
In April 2021, in the midst of an uptick in anti-Asian racism regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Cho said she was walking her dog when a man called her slurs and threatened her life. She picked up her dog and ran when he approached her. She said the increase in hate crimes "has triggered a lot of these [childhood] memories".{{Cite journal|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/04/02/teen-wolf-arden-cho-reveals-details-recent-anti-asian-attack/4850534001/|title='I'm still shaking': 'Teen Wolf' star Arden Cho details how racist attack sparked childhood trauma|journal=USA Today|first=Elise|last=Brisco|date=April 2, 2021|accessdate=November 28, 2021|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128105706/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/04/02/teen-wolf-arden-cho-reveals-details-recent-anti-asian-attack/4850534001/|url-status=live}}
Filmography
{{Pending films key}}
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2008
| Hoodrats 2: Hoodrat Warriors | Miriam | |
| 2010
| Taylor | Short film |
| 2011
| Gia | |
| 2012
| | Leukemia awareness short film for the Jubilee Project on YouTube |
| 2013
| data-sort-value="Baytown Outlaws, The" | The Baytown Outlaws | Angel | |
| 2016
| Stuck | Alicia | Also associate producer |
| 2018
| data-sort-value="Honor List, The" | The Honor List | Honor Liang | |
| 2025
| {{pending film|KPop Demon Hunters}} | Rumi (voice) | In production |
=Television=
=Theatre=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2024
| Jiyeon |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Voice role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2013
| Samantha Nishimura / Stephanie / Sun Queen |
=Web series=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2010
| KTown Cowboys | Sarah |
| 2012
| Korean TV hostess | Episode: "Shot Heard Round the World" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name |name=Arden Cho}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/user/ardenBcho/videos Arden Cho] on YouTube
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cho, Arden}}
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American businesswomen
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:Actresses from Dallas
Category:Actresses from Minnesota
Category:American actresses of Korean descent
Category:American female models
Category:American female taekwondo practitioners
Category:American film actresses
Category:American models of Korean descent
Category:American television actresses
Category:American video game actresses
Category:Apple Valley High School (Minnesota) alumni
Category:Female models from Minnesota
Category:Female models from Texas
Category:American female poker players
Category:American poker players
Category:People from Amarillo, Texas
Category:People from Dakota County, Minnesota
Category:University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences alumni