Lauren Tom
{{short description|American actress (born 1961)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lauren Tom
| image = Lauren Tom Photo Op Animate! Raleigh 2025 (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Tom at Animate! Raleigh in 2025
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|8|4}}
| birth_place = Highland Park, Illinois, U.S.
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1978–present
| spouse = Glenn Lau-Kee (divorced)
{{marriage|Curt Kaplan|1999}}
| children = 2
| relations = Tom Y. Chan (grandfather)
Ping Tom (uncle)
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Lauren Tom (born August 4, 1961) is an American actress. She began her career on stage, winning an Obie Award, and gained recognition for her role in The Joy Luck Club (1993). On television, she is known for her roles in the NBC sitcom Friends (1995–96), the ABC shows Grace Under Fire (1997–98) and Men in Trees (2006–08), The CW series Supernatural (2012–14), and the Disney Channel series Andi Mack (2017–19).
In animation, Tom has voiced Amy Wong in Futurama, and had other voice roles in shows including Batman Beyond, Teen Titans, King of the Hill, Rocket Power, W.I.T.C.H. and Codename: Kids Next Door.
Early life
Tom was born in the Chicago suburb Highland Park, Illinois, on August 4, 1961,{{cite AV media |url= https://youtube.com/watch?v=hfNWV2cGiUE | last= Tom | first = Lauren |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/hfNWV2cGiUE |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status= live| title=Lauren Tom (Untold Stories)| publisher=Chinese American Museum| date=August 1, 2013| access-date=July 29, 2017| time= 00:03}}{{cbignore}} the daughter of Nancy (née Dare) and Chan Tom, Jr.{{cite book | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=S0FvDwAAQBAJ&dq=lauren+tom+born+1961&pg=PA277 | title= Asian American History Day by Day: A Reference Guide to Events| first= Jonathan H. X. | last= Lee| year= 2018| page = 277| publisher = Abc-Clio| isbn= 978-0-313-39928-2}} She has a brother, Chip. Her parents were born in Chicago, and their grandparents came from Kaiping, Guangdong, China. She was raised in a largely Jewish neighborhood.{{cite news| url= http://laurentom.com/articles_detour.htm |title=Lauren Tom: China Girl| first= Tim|last=Pryor|work=Detour|date= October 1993| archive-date= July 5, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070705144545/http://laurentom.com/articles_detour.htm}}
Career
=Theatre=
At age 17, Tom landed a spot with a touring company of A Chorus Line and was cast in the Broadway production of the show less than a year later in the role of Connie.{{cite magazine | url= http://laurentom.com/articles.htm | title = House of the Spirits| magazine = In Style Magazine| last= Trachtenberg | first= Michael |date = May 2001| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100210022321/http://www.laurentom.com/articles.htm |archivedate=2010-02-10 |accessdate= 7 February 2010}} She won an Obie Award for her Off-Broadway acting and was cast in the Broadway shows Hurlyburly and Doonesbury. In Chicago, she starred in the Goodman Theater's production of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore.{{cite news |last=Bommer |first= Lawrence |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/03/09/updated-tis-pity-set-in-mussolinis-italy/ |title= Updated 'Tis Pity' Set In Mussolini's Italy |work=Chicago Tribune |date= 1990-03-09 }}
=Film=
Tom has played several supporting roles in films including Wall Street, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Blue Steel. Her role as a waitress in the Robin Williams/Tim Robbins film Cadillac Man led to her being a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Tom's lead roles in films include a key role in the 1984 film Nothing Lasts Forever, and a lead in the 1993 The Joy Luck Club. After this, she continued to receive supporting roles in other films such as When a Man Loves a Woman and North.
Since the mid-1990s, Tom has focused primarily on voiceover roles. She has appeared in a few live-action films, including the 2003 comedy Bad Santa and the 2004 film In Good Company.
=Television=
Lauren Tom's first role in television was that of Miko Wakamatsu on The Facts of Life. She subsequently appeared on The Equalizer, Vengeance Unlimited, Catfish With Black Bean Sauce, thirtysomething, Quantum Leap, Chicago Hope, Homicide: Life on the Street, Grace Under Fire, Friends, The Nanny, The Middle, DAG, The Division, Monk, My Wife and Kids, Barbershop: The Series, Grey's Anatomy, The Closer, and Men in Trees. She also had a supporting role on the 8th and 9th season of the drama series Supernatural as prophet Kevin Tran's mother, Linda Tran. In 2018, she appeared in the second season of the Amazon Prime drama series Goliath. She also appeared in the 2nd season of Friends as Julie.
=Voice acting=
File:Lauren Tom by Gage Skidmore.jpg]]
Tom began vocal work in the animated series Superman: The Animated Series playing Angela Chen. From there on, she voiced Dana Tan in Batman Beyond and had minor roles on Pinky and the Brain, Extreme Ghostbusters, and The Zeta Project before landing her regular roles on King of the Hill, where she voiced Minh and Connie Souphanousinphone and later Futurama, where she voices Amy and Inez Wong.
Since first playing the character on stage in the 1983 Doonesbury musical, Tom has periodically voiced the character Honey Huan in media related to Doonesbury, most notably in a series of animated shorts satirizing the 2000 U.S. presidential election.
She has also lent her voice to All Grown Up!, Rocket Power, Max Steel, Handy Manny as Mrs. Lee and Nelson, Samurai Jack, Johnny Bravo, Justice League Unlimited, Kim Possible, and Legion of Super Heroes.
She has also voiced the villains Gizmo and Jinx on Teen Titans, Yan Lin, Susan, Alchemy on W.I.T.C.H., Tasumi on The Replacements, Jake's mom, Counselor Chang on American Dragon: Jake Long, and as Joo Dee on Avatar: The Last Airbender. She also guest-starred in The Penguins of Madagascar as Chuck Charles's co-anchor, Bonnie Chang, in "Gator Watch" and "All Tied Up With a Boa".
In 2010, she provided the voice of Song, Bai Li, and Ming on the animated series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and played the role of Jessica in the animated film Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare.
Other animated films Tom has voiced in include Mulan II, Kim Possible: The Secret Files, Kim Possible Movie: So The Drama, Kung Fu Panda 2, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and the four Futurama television films: Bender's Big Score, The Beast with a Billion Backs, Bender's Game, and Into the Wild Green Yonder.
She voiced Li Li Stormstout in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria{{cite tweet| user= LaurenTom9000| first=Lauren |last= Tom| number= 253290933456609280 |date=3 October 2012|title=@erictbar @LaurenTom9000 Yep! Glad you had fun with the Monk! :)}} and played Hayaku on an episode of Turbo FAST.
Personal life
Tom was previously married to Glenn Lau-Kee. She has since married actor Curt Kaplan in October 1999, with whom she has two sons.{{cite tweet |user=LaurenTom9000 |first=Lauren |last=Tom |number=1008440352636690432|date=June 17, 2018 |title=#HappyFatherDay to @Curtkap Funny, smart, handsome and a fantastic dad to our boys. #hockeydad #footballcoach #myrock Circa 2015. And Happy Father's Day to all dads everywhere. Thanks for all you do!|access-date=February 12, 2022}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1984
|Eloy | |
| rowspan="2" |1987
|Magic Sticks |Redhead | |
| Wall Street
|Lady Broker | |
| rowspan="2" |1989
|Audry | |
| See No Evil, Hear No Evil
|Mitzie | |
| rowspan="2" |1990
|Marjolene Ping the Female Reporter | |
| Cadillac Man
|Helen | |
| 1992
|Adele Bliss | |
| rowspan="2" |1993
|{{sortname|The|Joy Luck Club|The Joy Luck Club (film)}} |Lena St. Clair | |
| Mr. Jones
|Amanda Chang | |
| rowspan="2" |1994
|Amy | |
| North
|Mrs. Ho | |
| rowspan="3" |1998
|Yolanda Chin | |
| Susan's Plan
|Carol | |
| SubZero
|Mariko |Voice, direct-to-video |
| 1999
|Mai | |
| 2000
|Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker |Dana Tan |
| 2001
|Angel | |
| rowspan="2" |2003
|Bambi | |
| Bad Santa
|Lois | |
| rowspan="2" |2004
|Younghee |
| In Good Company
|Obstetrician | |
| 2005
|Su |
| 2006
|God's Waiting List |Sylvia | |
| 2007
|Amy Wong |Voice, direct-to-video |
| rowspan="2" |2008
|Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs |Amy Wong, Inez Wong |Voice, direct-to-video |
| Futurama: Bender's Game
|Amy Wong |Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2009
|Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder |Amy Wong, Inez Wong, Trixie |Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2010
|Jessica |
| 2011
|Market Sheep |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|Roxanne | |
| Justice League: Gods and Monsters
|Lara |Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2017
|Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown |Sharon |
| 2021
|Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans |Nomura |
| 2023
| Ann | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1982
|{{sortname|The|Facts of Life|The Facts of Life (TV series)}} |Miko |2 episodes |
| 1984
|Sarah |Episode: "Mom's on Strike" |
| rowspan="4" |1985
|Kim |Episode: "The Exchange Student" |
| {{sortname|The|Equalizer|The Equalizer (1985 TV series)}}
|Mrs. Tom | Episode: "China Rain" |
| Spenser: For Hire
| |Episode: "Children of a Tempest Storm" |
| {{sortname|The|Cosby Show}}
|Mrs. Gwynne |Episode: "Denise's Friend" |
| rowspan="2" |1990
|Angel of Death |Julie |Television film |
| thirtysomething
|Gail |Episode: "The Distance" |
| rowspan="4" |1991
|Nurse |Episode: "G.I. Joe" |
| Quantum Leap
|Sophie |Episode: "Southern Comforts" |
| Palace Guard
| |Episode: "Eye of Newt" |
| Anything but Love
| |Episode: "First Lady Sings the Blues" |
| rowspan="3" |1994
|Margaret |Episode: "Triskaidekaphobia" |
| Homicide: Life on the Street
|Emma Zoole |2 episodes |
| Chicago Hope
|Nurse Julia |2 episodes |
| rowspan="5" |1995
|{{sortname|The|Puzzle Place}} |Julie's Mom |Episode: "Family Fun" |
| Kidnapped: In the Line of Duty
|Lily Yee |Television film |
| Escape to Witch Mountain
|Claudia Ford |Television film |
| {{sortname|The|Nanny}}
|Kim |Episode: "The Chatterbox" |
| If Not for You
|Claire |Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1995–1996
|7 episodes |
| 1996–1999
|Superman: The Animated Series |Angela Chen |
| rowspan="6" |1997
|{{sortname|The|Blues Brothers Animated Series|nolink=1}} |Soon-He, Mrs. Fun |Voice, 3 episodes |
| Tell Me No Secrets
|Connie Ching |Television film |
| Murder Live!
|Marge Fong |Television film |
| Tracey Takes On...
|Weng |Episode: "Race Relations" |
| Pinky and the Brain
|Shopper |
| {{sortname|The|New Batman Adventures}}
|Ice Maiden #3 |
| 1997–1998
|Dot |12 episodes |
| 1997–2010, 2025
|Connie, Minh, various |Voice, 98 episodes |
| rowspan="3" |1998
|Adventures from the Book of Virtues |Mother |Voice, episode: "Charity" |
| Dexter's Laboratory
|Teacher |Voice, episode: "Last But Not Beast" |
| Vengeance Unlimited
|Samantha |Episode: "Dishonorable Discharge" |
| 1999
|Amy Hunter |Episode: "Play It Again, Sammo" |
| 1999–2004
|Trish, Sherry, various |Voice, 21 episodes |
| 1999
|Y2K |Ann Lee |Television film |
| rowspan="2" |1999–2001
|{{sortname|The|Kids from Room 402}} |Jordan |Voice |
| Batman Beyond
|Dana Tan, Kai-Ro, Agent Lee |
| 1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–present
|Amy Wong, Inez Wong, various |Voice, main role |
| rowspan="3" |2000
|Younghee, additional voices |Voice |
| {{sortname|The|Weekenders}}
|Candace |
| Pepper Ann
|Alice Kane |Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2000–2001
|DAG |Ginger Chin |17 episodes |
| rowspan="3" |2001
|Laura Chen |Voice, episode: "Strangers" |
| Johnny Bravo
|Ting |
| No P in the O.O.L.
|Numbuh 3 |Voice, television film |
| rowspan="2" |2001–2002
|{{sortname|The|Zeta Project}} |Agent Lee |
| Lloyd in Space
| Trixie, Sirenia | Voice, 3 episodes |
| rowspan="3" |2002
|Flunke, Robin |Voice, 1 episode |
| The Division
|Nora Chen |6 episodes |
| What's New, Scooby-Doo?
|Various |
| 2002–2005
|Yoshiko |Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2002–2003
|Carla “Lady Dragon” Wong, Keiko, Sunny Day |Voice, 3 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |2002–2004
|Karen Tehama, various |
| My Wife and Kids
|Hostess/ Annie Hoo |4 episodes |
| 2002–2008
|Kuki Sanban / Numbuh 3, additional voices |
| rowspan="6" |2003
|Bean |Voice, episode: "Interview with a Campfire" |
| Monk
|Mrs. Ling |Episode: "Mr. Monk and the 12th Man" |
| Duck Dodgers
|Dr. Yoshimi |
| Samurai Jack
|Samurai Jack's mother, Kuni, Yamako |
| Line of Fire
|Korean Jury Member |Episode: "This Land Is Your Land" |
| Justice League
|Chung |
| 2003–2005
|6 episodes |
| 2003–2006
|Shun, Lucy |
| rowspan="3" |2004
|{{sortname|The|Infinite Darcy|nolink=1}} |Darcy Chang |Voice |
| 30 Days Until I'm Famous
|Carla |Television film |
| W.I.T.C.H.
|Yan Lin |Voice, 51 episodes |
| rowspan="4" |2005
|Yoshiko |Voice, television film |
| Danger Rangers
|Various |
| Barbershop
|Dana |4 episodes |
| Threshold
|Janet Tam |Episode: "The Order" |
| rowspan="2" |2005–2006
|Joo Dee, additional voices |
| Justice League Unlimited
|Dr. Light, Dana Tan |
| 2005–2007
|Susan Long, Counselor Chang |Voice, 25 episodes |
| rowspan="6" |2006
|Jan |Episode: "Everything I Know About Men" |
| Let Go
|Beverly |Television film |
| Grey's Anatomy
|Audrey |Episode: "Begin the Begin" |
| In from the Night
|Dr. Myra Chen |Television film |
| Codename: Kids Next Door - Operation: Z.E.R.O.
|Kuki Sanban / Numbuh 3 |Voice, television film |
| {{sortname|The|Closer}}
|Dr. Tann |Episode: "Borderline" |
| 2006–2008
|Mai Washington |26 episodes |
| 2006–2009
|{{sortname|The|Replacements|The Replacements (TV series)}} |Tasumi |Voice, 43 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |2007
|Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure |Kuki Sanban / Numbuh 3 |
| {{sortname|The|Grim Adventures of the KND|nolink=1}}
|Numbuh 3 |Voice, television film |
| 2007–2008
|Zyx, White Witch |
| 2008
|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |Bae Chin |Episode: "Say Uncle" |
| rowspan="2" |2009
|Kim Tan |Episode: "Devotion" |
| Hawthorne
|Mrs. Tanaka |Episode: "The Sense of Belonging" |
| 2010–2011
|{{sortname|The|Penguins of Madagascar}} |Bonnie Chang |Voice, 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |2010
|Additional Voices |Episode: "Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You!" |
| Fish Hooks
|Barb |
| 2010–2013
| Agent Ping, Dinky |
| rowspan="2" |2011
|Mei |Voice |
| Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
|Song, Ming, Bai Li |
| 2012
|Tokiko |Voice, episode: "Scantronica Love" |
| 2012–2014
| Mrs. Linda Tran |3 episodes |
| 2013
|Kathy Ling |2 episodes |
| 2013–present
| Gizmo, Jinx |
| 2013–2014
|It's a Small World: The Animated Series | Marmura, Ling |Voice |
| 2014–2016
| Hayaku, Translator |
| 2014
|Amy Wong |Voice, episode: "Simpsorama" |
| rowspan="3" |2015
|Sashi's Mom |
| Pretty Little Liars
|3 episodes |
| DC Super Hero Girls
|Aliki, Margot, Professor Minerva |
| rowspan="2" |2016
|Various Characters |3 episodes |
| Transformers: Rescue Bots
|Meili Szeto, Citizen #2 |
| 2016–2018
| Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia | Mary Wang, Nomura |
| 2017–2019
|Celia Mack |Main role |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|Toni Sento |Voice, episode: "Let's Team Up Because We Aren't Bad Friends" |
| Big City Greens
|Various |Voice |
| 2018–2022
|Stacy LeBlatt, Miri the Mop Girl, Trixy, Mermaid Queen, additional voices |Voice, 11 episodes |
| rowspan="3" |2018–2019
|Cici, Ms. Pham, Burping Burger Mom |
| 3Below: Tales of Arcadia
|Mary Wang |
| Goliath
|Applebees |5 episodes |
| 2019
|Bus Driver, Tina |
| 2019–2021
|Traci Thirteen, Celia Woodward, Penny Randall |
| 2019
|Mrs. Chen |Episode: "Tough Love" |
| 2020
|Fiona |Episode: "Keep the Change" |
| 2020–2022
|U.S.S. Vancouver Captain |Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021
|Various |Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021–present
|Jiayi |Voice, "What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?" |
| 2021–2023
|DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms |May Wong |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|Voice, episode: "Kiss Kiss Fall In Portal" |
| Hailey's On It!
|Steal Teal, Aurora Fedora, Felicia, additional voices |
| 2024
|Betty | |
= Video games =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2000
|Connie Souphanousinphone | |
| 2002
|Superman: Shadow of Apokolips |Angela Chen, Mercy Graves |
| 2003
|Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour | | |
| 2004
| | |
| rowspan="2" |2005
|Codename: Kids Next Door – Operation: V.I.D.E.O.G.A.M.E. |Kuki Sanban (Numbuh 3) |
| Teen Titans
|Jinx, Gizmo |
| 2009
|Numbuh 3 | |
| 2012
|World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria |Li Li Stormstout | |
| 2015
|Li Li | |
| 2016
|Li Li Stormstout | |
| 2017
|Amy Wong, Inez Wong, Jrrr |Mobile game; uncredited |
| 2018
|Gizmo, Jinx, Dr. Poison | |
| 2020
|Lady Masako Adachi |Voice and motion capture |
Stage
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1975
|Connie |Tour; Shubert Theatre, Broadway |
| 1983
|Ching 'Honey' Huan |Original cast; Biltmore Theater, Broadway |
| 1984
|Donna |Ethel Barrymore Theater, Broadway |
| 1988
|American Notes |Pauline |The Public Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 1990
|Annabella |Goodman Theater, Chicago |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography|Television}}
{{Commons category|Lauren Tom}}
- {{official website}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{IBDB name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tom, Lauren}}
Category:Actresses from Chicago
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles
Category:American actresses of Chinese descent
Category:American film actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American video game actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:Obie Award recipients
Category:20th-century American actresses