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John Cho's Gnarly Trip from Stoner to Starship Helmsman
By James Moreau | 12 Jun, 2025
From his early comedic roles to franchise sci-fi roles John Cho’s acting evolution has spanned the Hollywood galaxy.
Actor John Cho (born Cho Yo-Han) won fame through his breakthrough role as Harold Lee in the three Harold & Kumar buddy stoner comedy movies, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle in 2004, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay in 2008, and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas in 2011. The franchise grossed over $103 million — about $230 million in 2024 dollars — or about 2.5 times their budget.
Cho contributed to the American vernacular as the MILF guy in the successful American Pie comedy series screening in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2012. The four movies grossed just under a billion dollars.
In the rebooted Star Trek sci-fi film series Cho portrayed Hikaru Sulu — reprising a role made famous by George Takei — first with Star Trek in 2009, then in 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness and 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. The three Paramount Pictures franchise films grossed $1.2 billion dollars.
Cho’s first dramatic lead role came in the 2018 internet mystery thriller Searching. This role marked a significant milestone, making him the first Asian American actor to headline a mainstream Hollywood thriller. Made for under $1 million, the film delivered a surprising $75 million in global box office.
Now 52, the Seoul-born actor immigrated with his family at the age of 6. His father, who is originally from North Korea, was a minister in the Church of Christ in Los Angeles.
Cho attended UC Berkeley, graduating in 1996 with a BA in English Literature. His involvement in theater gave him the opportunity to tour with a stage production. At Cal he also met actor Kerri Higuchi to whom he has now been married to for almost 20 years. They have two kids and reside in Los Angeles.
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