Kelly Hu

Hu was born on February 13, 1968, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of Juanita and Herbert Hu. Her parents divorced during Hu's childhood and her mother married Roy Takara.Okihiro, Gary Y., editor (2013). [https://archive.org/details/asianpacificisla0000unse/page/300/mode/2up?q=%22Kelly+Hu%22+%22February+13+1968%22 Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Volume 1]. Ipswich, Mass. : Salem Press. p. 300. {{ISBN|978-1-58765-861-7}}.Riggs, Thomas, editor (2005). [https://archive.org/details/contemporarythea0000unse_s3g2/page/130/mode/2up?q=%22Kelly+Hu%22+%22February+13+1968%22 Contemporary Theatre, Film & Television, Volume 59 ]. Detroit : Thomson Gale. p. 130. {{ISBN|0787671029}}.{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1804497206/bio |title=Kelly Hu Biography - Yahoo! Movies |publisher=Movies.yahoo.com |date=February 13, 1967 |access-date=January 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114065110/https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1804497206/bio|archive-date=January 14, 2009}} Her brother, Glenn, is a lieutenant colonel and human resources officer in the United States Army.{{cite web |url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/glenn-hu/5/b38/a57 |title=Glenn Hu |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112223206/http://www.linkedin.com/pub/glenn-hu/5/b38/a57 |url-status=live }} She is of Chinese, English, and Hawaiian descent.{{cite web|title=Kelly Hu Biography|url=http://kellyhu.com/bio1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208074524/http://kellyhu.com/bio1.html|archive-date=February 8, 2011}} She attended Ma{{okina}}ema{{okina}}e Elementary School and Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hu has held a lifelong interest in singing and dancing and has also been interested in martial arts since her early childhood. Hu's cousin was a successful model in Japan, and Hu decided to follow her example. Kelly Hu won the title of Miss Hawaii Teen USA and competed in the Miss Teen USA 1985 pageant, becoming the pageant's third titleholder and its first Asian American winner. Hu has mentioned in interviews that her mother had told her America was not ready for an Asian as such a prominent role model. She discovered after winning that she was prohibited from appearing in non-contest related activities for the year of her reign, though this rule was changed in later years.

Image:KellyHuHITUSA.jpg 1985]]

Hu modeled in Japan and Italy and became well known in the latter as the star of a series of television advertisements for Philadelphia brand cream cheese, playing a young Japanese college student named Kaori.

Hu won the title of Miss Hawaii USA in 1993, becoming the first former Miss Teen USA to win a Miss USA state title. In the 1993 Miss USA pageant, held in Wichita, Kansas, Hu entered the top ten in second place, after winning the preliminary interview competition and placing second and third, respectively, in swimsuit and evening gown. She then made the top six, ranked second, winning the top ten evening gown competition and placing second in swimsuit. She was eliminated in fourth place after the judges' questions, just 2/100 of a point from the final three.

Hu moved to Los Angeles and began her acting career in 1987, with a guest starring role as Mike Seaver's Hawaiian love interest on the sitcom Growing Pains. Hu followed this with appearances on various television series, including Night Court, Tour of Duty, 21 Jump Street and Melrose Place. Her first film role was in Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. In 1995, Hu starred as an undercover police officer in the film No Way Back. Hu was cast as Dr. Rae Chang on Sunset Beach for six months in 1997. Afterwards, she was cast as police officers Michelle Chan in the television series Nash Bridges, and Pei Pei "Grace" Chen on Martial Law. Her subsequent film appearances include The Scorpion King (2002) and Cradle 2 the Grave (2003). In X2 (2003), she appeared as Yuriko Oyama/Deathstrike, William Stryker's controlled partner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1651507/lady-deathstrike-kelly-hu-deadpool-and-wolverine-replacement-actress-jade-lye/|title=Deadpool & Wolverine Villain Lady Deathstrike Wasn't Played By X2: X-Men United Star Kelly Hu|first=Sandy|last=Schaefer|date=August 28, 2024|website=SlashFilm}}

She was Agent Mia Chen on the last three episodes of the television series Threat Matrix in 2004. She also starred in 2005's Underclassman alongside Nick Cannon and in 2006's Americanese, Undoing and Devil's Den. During the first quarter of 2007, she completed filming the film Stilletto, followed by Farmhouse.

In January 2007, Hu began appearing in a full-time role on the television series In Case of Emergency. She played Kelly Lee, a Korean American woman who accidentally reunites with her high school classmates and realizes none of them grew up according to their high school plans. The show did not have a successful run, being cancelled after airing 12 episodes and leaving its season finale un-aired. The same year she appeared in films, The Air I Breathe and Shanghai Kiss. By the same year, Hu recurringly voiced Stacy Hirano in the animated series Phineas and Ferb until 2014. The series originally ended in 2015 before it was later revived in 2023, with the revival set to be released in 2025. In 2020, she would reprise her role in the animated film Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe.

In 2009, she appeared in the film The Tournament as Lai-Lai Zhen. In April 2009, Hu developed the character JIA for Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology. She was the first guest actor to cross over between the television series, NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS, playing Lee Wuan Kai in a two-episode arc within both series. In 2010 and 2011, Hu guest-starred as a vampire named Pearl on the CW television series, The Vampire Diaries.{{cite web| url= http://www.tvfanatic.com/2009/11/kelly-hu-to-guest-star-on-the-vampire-diaries/| publisher= TV Fanatic| author= ML House| title= Kelly Hu to Guest Star on The Vampire Diaries| date= November 30, 2009| access-date= June 9, 2010| archive-date= April 30, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100430060959/http://www.tvfanatic.com/2009/11/kelly-hu-to-guest-star-on-the-vampire-diaries/| url-status= live}}

In 2010, Hu began a recurring role on the CBS television series Hawaii Five-0. In 2012, Hu was cast in the role of Karai in the animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She commented: "It wouldn't quite be the first time I played a ninja, I think. Yeah, I don't know why people think I'm dangerous, but for some reason, I keep getting these roles for the ninja, assassin, bodyguard, bad-girl type."{{cite web|url=http://nerdreactor.com/2013/02/01/exclusive-interview-with-kelly-hu-on-tmnt-arrow-and-regrets/|title=Exclusive: Interview with Kelly Hu on TMNT, Arrow, Surf Ninjas, Michael Bay and braces - Nerd Reactor|date=February 1, 2013|website=nerdreactor.com|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=March 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063259/http://nerdreactor.com/2013/02/01/exclusive-interview-with-kelly-hu-on-tmnt-arrow-and-regrets/|url-status=dead}} In 2012 when she was cast as China White/Chen Na Wei in The CW series Arrow. In 2013, she joined the cast of the series Warehouse 13 as Abigail Cho, the new owner of the Warehouse-connected B&B.

She also provided voice talents in video games including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II The Sith Lords as Visas Marr, the Sith woman who joins the Jedi Exile's party, and Batman: Arkham Origins as Lady Shiva, among the eight assassins hired by Black Mask to kill Batman{{cite web|url=http://archive.wired.com/geekmom/2013/02/kelly-hu-interview/|title=Kelly Hu of TMNT: She Loves Playing Tough Chicks|publisher=wired.com|date=February 7, 2013|access-date=November 25, 2014|archive-date=May 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508110410/http://archive.wired.com/geekmom/2013/02/kelly-hu-interview/|url-status=live}} (a role she reprised in the 2021 animated film Batman: Soul of the Dragon). In a personal first, she lent both her face and voice to the in-game character Khai Minh Dao in Battlefield Hardline, who partnered alongside the protagonist in roughly half of the game levels.

Hu has been featured twice in Maxim magazine (May 2002 and May 2005). In 2015, she became the face of Viagra, appearing in the commercials.

In 2023, Hu joined the cast of East New York.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/east-new-york-kelly-hu-cast-season-1-1235252730/|title='East New York' Adds Kelly Hu in Recurring Role|last=Cordero|first=Rosy|date=February 8, 2023|work=Deadline Hollywood}}

Hu is an avid poker fan and has frequently taken part in competitions such as the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour, including the WPT Celebrity Charity match on March 3, 2008.[http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Charities_188/World_Poker_Tour_Celebrity_Charity_-_Commerce_Casino.php World Poker Tour Celebrity Charity - Commerce Casino by Manoj Gera, March 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424100642/http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Charities_188/World_Poker_Tour_Celebrity_Charity_-_Commerce_Casino.php |date=April 24, 2023 }}. Retrieved March 14, 2008 She was part of HollywoodPoker.com's "Celebrity Poker Night" on May 30, 2006,

[http://www.pokerplayer.com.au/news/2006/05/celebrity-poker-night-with-kelly-hu.html Celebrity Poker Night with Kelly Hu, May 25th 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615181645/http://www.pokerplayer.com.au/news/2006/05/celebrity-poker-night-with-kelly-hu.html |date=June 15, 2008 }}. Retrieved March 14, 2008. and in July 2006 placed in the top 200 in the World Series of Poker Ladies Tournament, besting nearly 1,000 other competitors.[http://www.kellyhu.com/k_news.html Sunday July 16, 2006 entry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216120303/http://www.kellyhu.com/k_news.html |date=February 16, 2008 }}. Retrieved March 14, 2008.

File:Kelly Hu on April 10, 2013 (by May S.Young).jpg

Hu has supported the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment{{cite web|url=http://www.apaforprogress.org/new-gotv-psa-cause-features-kelly-hu-george-takei |title=New GOTV PSA From CAUSE Features Kelly Hu, George Takei |publisher=apaforprogress.org |date=August 20, 2008 |access-date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421181548/http://www.apaforprogress.org/new-gotv-psa-cause-features-kelly-hu-george-takei |archive-date=April 21, 2012}} and in 2004 starred in a public service announcement for them titled "The Least Likely"{{cite web |url=http://www.leastlikely.com/ |title=The Least Likely |publisher=The Least Likely |access-date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040923015819/http://www.leastlikely.com/ |archive-date=September 23, 2004}} to encourage young Asian Americans to register and vote.

In 2007, Hu was a driver in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, a national fund-raising program supporting children's hospitals throughout the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.toyotaracing.com/motorsports/pro_celeb/history.html |title=Toyota Motorsports > Toyota Pro/Celebrity > History |publisher=Toyotaracing.com |access-date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820024551/http://www.toyotaracing.com/motorsports/pro_celeb/history.html |archive-date=August 20, 2012}} In April 2011, Hu was a celebrity host for Save the Children's "Caring for Japan's Keiki," a benefit for Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims.{{cite web |url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/20110508_on_the_scene.html |title=On the Scene - Hawaii News - Honolulu Star-Advertiser |publisher=Staradvertiser.com |date=May 8, 2011 |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-date=January 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117182352/http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/20110508_on_the_scene.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.trumpwaikiki.com/blog_post.php?page_id=25&post_id=14 |title=Blog Post |publisher=Trump Waikiki |access-date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513134955/http://www.trumpwaikiki.com/blog_post.php?page_id=25&post_id=14 |archive-date=May 13, 2012}} Also in 2011 she hosted a Celebrity Poker Tournament{{cite web |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8358651.htm |title=Celebrity Poker Tournament at Bartels' Route 66 in Marina Del Rey, CA: The Kelly Hu/Best Buddies Second Annual Charity Poker Tournament Rocked the House |publisher=Prweb.com |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-date=July 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704173722/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8358651.htm |url-status=dead }} in support for Best Buddies International, a charity to which she has given support for several years.{{cite web |url=http://www.bestbuddies.org/press/news-releases/430-challenge-yourself-to-the-eighth-audi-best-buddies-challenge-hearst-castle |title=Best Buddies International |publisher=Bestbuddies.org |date=August 16, 2011 |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329174308/http://www.bestbuddies.org/press/news-releases/430-challenge-yourself-to-the-eighth-audi-best-buddies-challenge-hearst-castle |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.bestbuddies.org/press/news-releases/345-challenge-yourself-to-change-lives-at-the-seventh-audi-best-buddies-challenge-hearst-castle |title=Best Buddies International |publisher=Bestbuddies.org |date=September 1, 2010 |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329174314/http://www.bestbuddies.org/press/news-releases/345-challenge-yourself-to-change-lives-at-the-seventh-audi-best-buddies-challenge-hearst-castle |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

File:Kelly Hu and Obama Delegate Anderson.jpg.]]

In January 2008, Hu participated in a video for Barack Obama produced by will.i.am called "Yes We Can".

{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/jjXyqcx-mYY| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music Video |publisher=YouTube |date=February 2, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2009}}{{cbignore}} She campaigned for Obama in Hawaii in the run-up to the February 19, 2008, Democratic caucuses.[http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Feb/16/ln/hawaii802160347.html Chelsea Clinton, Kelly Hu campaign on Oahu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907003320/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Feb/16/ln/hawaii802160347.html |date=September 7, 2008 }}, The Honolulu Advertiser In February 2008, Hu also appeared in another viral video in support of Obama, "Sí Se Puede Cambiar", written and performed by Andrés Useche, directed by Eric Byler. She was the emcee of the Asian American Action Fund's annual fundraiser on June 10, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.aaa-fund.com/index.php?p=415|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720184758/http://www.aaa-fund.com/index.php?p=415|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 20, 2012|title=AAA-Fund Makes Politico!|date=June 10, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2010|publisher=Asian American Action Fund|location=Washington, DC}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0608/Random_assortment_of_stuff.html|title=Random assortment of stuff|date=June 11, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2010|publisher=Politico|location=Washington, DC|first=Anne|last=Schroeder Mullins|archive-date=July 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707074053/http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0608/Random_assortment_of_stuff.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iauYBrIR1E| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/0iauYBrIR1E| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Kelly Hu for Asian American Action Fund 2008|date=June 17, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2010|publisher=Asian American Action Fund|format=Video|location=Washington, DC}}{{cbignore}} She was present at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYuZJIDaBvc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/EYuZJIDaBvc| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Daniel Dae Kim at the Democratic National Convention 2008|last=Anis Ben Amor Mejri|date=September 10, 2008|access-date=March 20, 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

Hu has been active to protect the Hawaiian ecology. She supported{{cite web |url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/5801334/kelly-hu-lends-star-power-to-protect-hawaiis-reefs |title=Kelly Hu Lends Star Power To Protect Hawaii's Reefs - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL |date=December 12, 2006 |publisher=Hawaii News Now |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-date=April 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403005205/http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/5801334/kelly-hu-lends-star-power-to-protect-hawaiis-reefs |url-status=live }} Reef Check Hawaii{{cite web|url=http://www.reefcheckhawaii.org/default.htm |title=Reef Check Hawaii - www.reefcheckhawaii.org -Home Page |publisher=www.reefcheckhawaii.org |access-date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630131114/http://www.reefcheckhawaii.org/default.htm |archive-date=June 30, 2012}} by running in and successfully completing the Honolulu Marathon to raise awareness for the organization. She also gave support to the Shark Fin Ban which took effect in Hawaii July 2010.{{cite web |author=The Humane Society of the United States |url=http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2010/07/aloha_shark_fin_070910.html |title=Aloha, Shark Fin : The Humane Society of the United States |publisher=Humanesociety.org |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119020722/http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2010/07/aloha_shark_fin_070910.html |url-status=dead }} This made it illegal to possess, sell, or distribute shark fins in Hawaii.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Kelly Hu}}

• {{official website}}
• {{IMDb name|5026}}
• {{TCMDb name|90016%7C0}}
• {{Rotten-tomatoes-person|kelly_hu|Kelly Hu}}

{{Miss Teen USA titleholders}}

{{Miss USA photogenic award}}

{{Miss Universe Organization titleholders

|Year = 1985

|Miss Universe= {{flagicon|Puerto Rico}} Deborah Carthy-Deu

|Miss USA= {{flagicon|Texas}} Laura Herring

|Miss Teen USA= {{flagicon|Hawaii}} Kelly Hu

}}

{{Hawaii Pageant Winners}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hu, Kelly}}

Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:Actresses from Honolulu

Category:Actresses from Los Angeles

Category:American film actresses

Category:American actresses of Chinese descent

Category:American people of Native Hawaiian descent

Category:American soap opera actresses

Category:American television actresses

Category:American video game actresses

Category:American voice actresses

Category:Female models from Hawaii

Category:Hawaii Democrats

Category:Kamehameha Schools alumni

Category:Miss Photogenic at Miss USA

Category:Miss Teen USA winners

Category:Miss USA 1993 delegates

Category:Hawaii people of Chinese descent

Category:Native Hawaiian actresses

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:American people of English descent