Kieu Chinh
Encyclopedia
Kieu Chinh is a Vietnamese American
actress best known for her role in The Joy Luck Club
. She currently lives in Garden Grove, California
.
In the 1960s, in addition to Vietnamese films, she also appeared in several American productions including A Yank in Viet-Nam
(1964) and Operation C.I.A.
(1965), the latter opposite Burt Reynolds
. Kieu Chinh also produced a war epic Nguoi Tinh Khong Chan Dung (Faceless Lover) (1970), which later would be remastered and shown in the U.S. at the 2003 Vietnamese International Film Festival
.
In 1975, while Kieu Chinh was on the set in Singapore, communist North Vietnamese overran Saigon
. Kieu Chinh left for the U.S. where she resumed her acting career in a 1977 episode of M*A*S*H "In Love and War" of written by Alan Alda
and loosely based on her life story.
Kieu Chinh subsequently acted in feature films as well as TV-movies including The Children of An Lac (TV), Hamburger Hill
(1987), Riot
(1997), Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (1999), Face (2002).
From 1989 to 1991, she had a recurring role as Trieu Au on the ABC Vietnam War drama series China Beach
.
In her best known role, she starred as Suyuan, one of the women in Wayne Wang
’s The Joy Luck Club in 1993. In 2005, Kieu Chinh starred in Journey from the Fall
, an epic feature film tracing a Vietnamese family through the aftermath of the fall of Saigon
, the re-education camps, the boat people
experience, and the initial difficulties of settling in the U.S.
Kieu Chinh is also active in philanthropic work. Together with journalist Terry Anderson, she co-founded the Vietnam Children’s Fund
, which has built schools in Vietnam attended by more than 12,000 students. Kieu Chinh and Anderson continue to serve as the Fund’s co-chair.
, Kieu Chinh received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Also in 2003, at the Women's Film Festival in Turin, Italy, Kieu Chinh was awarded the Special Acting Award. In 2006, the San Diego Asian Film Festival
honored Kieu Chinh with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A documentary based on her life, Kieu Chinh: A Journey Home by Patrick Perez / KTTV
, won the Emmy in 1996.
In 2009, Chinh was honored as the 2009 Woman of the Year for her work in film and community service by State Senator Lou Correa
.
Vietnamese American
A Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
actress best known for her role in The Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Club (film)
The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American film about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers. It is based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Amy Tan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bass. The film was produced by Oliver Stone and directed by Wayne Wang...
. She currently lives in Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
.
Career
Kieu Chinh began her acting career in her native Vietnam, starting with a starring role in Hoi Chuong Thien Mu (The Bells of Thien Mu Temple) (1957). Kieu Chinh soon became one of Vietnam's best-known personalities.In the 1960s, in addition to Vietnamese films, she also appeared in several American productions including A Yank in Viet-Nam
A Yank in Viet-Nam
A Yank in Viet-Nam is a 1964 war drama film. It was filmed entirely in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.The film follows a U.S. Marine Corps pilot who is shot down over the Vietnamese jungle...
(1964) and Operation C.I.A.
Operation C.I.A.
Operation C.I.A. is a 1965 black-and-white spy thriller set in Saigon but filmed in Bangkok. It is Burt Reynolds' first lead role. The screenplay is by author Bill S. Ballinger who was writing a series of spy thrillers at the time...
(1965), the latter opposite Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
. Kieu Chinh also produced a war epic Nguoi Tinh Khong Chan Dung (Faceless Lover) (1970), which later would be remastered and shown in the U.S. at the 2003 Vietnamese International Film Festival
Vietnamese International Film Festival
First started in 2003, the Vietnamese International Film Festival is a biennial film festival organized by the non-profits Vietnamese-American Arts & Letters Association and UCLAs VietNamese Language and Culture...
.
In 1975, while Kieu Chinh was on the set in Singapore, communist North Vietnamese overran Saigon
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
. Kieu Chinh left for the U.S. where she resumed her acting career in a 1977 episode of M*A*S*H "In Love and War" of written by Alan Alda
Alan Alda
Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo , better known as Alan Alda, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H...
and loosely based on her life story.
Kieu Chinh subsequently acted in feature films as well as TV-movies including The Children of An Lac (TV), Hamburger Hill
Hamburger Hill
Hamburger Hill is a 1987 American war film about the actual assault of the U.S. Army's 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 'Screaming Eagles', on a well-fortified position, including trenchworks and bunkers, of the North Vietnamese Army on Ap Bia...
(1987), Riot
Riot (1997 film)
Riot is a 1997 television movie starring Luke Perry, Mario Van Peebles, and Lucy Liu. It was written and directed by four writers and directors of four different racial groups prominent in Los Angeles...
(1997), Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (1999), Face (2002).
From 1989 to 1991, she had a recurring role as Trieu Au on the ABC Vietnam War drama series China Beach
China Beach
China Beach is an American dramatic television series set at an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War. The title refers to My Khe beach in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam, which was nicknamed "China Beach" by unknown foreigners, most likely Americans...
.
In her best known role, she starred as Suyuan, one of the women in Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang is a Chinese American film director.-Biography:Wang was born and raised in Hong Kong, and named after his father's favorite movie star, John Wayne...
’s The Joy Luck Club in 1993. In 2005, Kieu Chinh starred in Journey from the Fall
Journey from the Fall
Journey from the Fall is a 2006 independent film by writer/director/editor Ham Tran, about the Vietnamese reeducation camp and boat people experience following the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. This drama was released on March 23, 2007, by ImaginAsian to sold-out screenings...
, an epic feature film tracing a Vietnamese family through the aftermath of the fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
, the re-education camps, the boat people
Boat people
Boat people is a term that usually refers to refugees, illegal immigrants or asylum seekers who emigrate in numbers in boats that are sometimes old and crudely made...
experience, and the initial difficulties of settling in the U.S.
Kieu Chinh is also active in philanthropic work. Together with journalist Terry Anderson, she co-founded the Vietnam Children’s Fund
Vietnam Children's Fund
Vietnam Children’s Fund is a non-profit organization based in Unionville, Virginia, United States, helping the children of Vietnam.It builds “turnkey” schools to modern standards, ready for occupation....
, which has built schools in Vietnam attended by more than 12,000 students. Kieu Chinh and Anderson continue to serve as the Fund’s co-chair.
Filmography
- A Yank in Viet-NamA Yank in Viet-NamA Yank in Viet-Nam is a 1964 war drama film. It was filmed entirely in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.The film follows a U.S. Marine Corps pilot who is shot down over the Vietnamese jungle...
1964 - Operation C.I.A.Operation C.I.A.Operation C.I.A. is a 1965 black-and-white spy thriller set in Saigon but filmed in Bangkok. It is Burt Reynolds' first lead role. The screenplay is by author Bill S. Ballinger who was writing a series of spy thrillers at the time...
1965 - The Evil Within 1970
- SwitchSwitch (TV series)Switch is an American action-adventure, tongue-in-cheek detective series starring Eddie Albert and Robert Wagner, who worked as private eyes, for a deceptive sting operation...
- "The 100,000 Ruble Rumble" 1976
- Cover Girls 1977
- The Hostage Heart 1977
- M*A*S*H
- "In Love and War" (1977)
- The Lucifer Complex 1978
- Hamburger HillHamburger HillHamburger Hill is a 1987 American war film about the actual assault of the U.S. Army's 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 'Screaming Eagles', on a well-fortified position, including trenchworks and bunkers, of the North Vietnamese Army on Ap Bia...
1987 - Gleaming the CubeGleaming the CubeGleaming the Cube is an American movie released in 1989. It featured Christian Slater as Brian Kelly, a 16-year-old skateboarder investigating the death of his adopted Vietnamese brother.The Skating Technical Advisor for the film was original Z-Boy, Stacy Peralta...
1988 - Vietnam-Texas 1989
- Welcome Home 1989
- The Joy Luck ClubThe Joy Luck Club (film)The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American film about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers. It is based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Amy Tan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bass. The film was produced by Oliver Stone and directed by Wayne Wang...
1994 - Catfish in Black Bean SauceCatfish in Black Bean SauceCatfish in Black Bean Sauce is a 1999 comedy-drama film about a Vietnamese brother and sister raised by an African American couple. The film stars Chi Muoi Lo, Paul Winfield, Sanaa Lathan, and Mary Alice.-Plot:...
1999 - Journey from the FallJourney from the FallJourney from the Fall is a 2006 independent film by writer/director/editor Ham Tran, about the Vietnamese reeducation camp and boat people experience following the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. This drama was released on March 23, 2007, by ImaginAsian to sold-out screenings...
2006 - 2121 (2008 film)21 is a 2008 drama film directed by Australian director Robert Luketic and stars Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, and Aaron Yoo. The film is inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in Bringing Down the House, the...
2008 - 21 and a Wake-Up21 and a Wake-Up21 and Wake-Up is a 2010 American war film starring Amy Acker, Danica McKellar, Faye Dunaway, and was directed and written by producer, director, and writer Chris McIntyre....
Honors and awards
At the 2003 Vietnamese International Film FestivalVietnamese International Film Festival
First started in 2003, the Vietnamese International Film Festival is a biennial film festival organized by the non-profits Vietnamese-American Arts & Letters Association and UCLAs VietNamese Language and Culture...
, Kieu Chinh received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Also in 2003, at the Women's Film Festival in Turin, Italy, Kieu Chinh was awarded the Special Acting Award. In 2006, the San Diego Asian Film Festival
San Diego Asian Film Festival
The San Diego Asian Film Festival is an annual event organized by the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. The festival was first held in 2000 at the University of San Diego by the Asian American Journalists Association of San Diego.-Organization Overview:...
honored Kieu Chinh with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A documentary based on her life, Kieu Chinh: A Journey Home by Patrick Perez / KTTV
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
, won the Emmy in 1996.
In 2009, Chinh was honored as the 2009 Woman of the Year for her work in film and community service by State Senator Lou Correa
Lou Correa
Jose Luis Correa is a California Democratic Party Legislator. He is serving his second term as a member of the California State Senate, representing the 34th Senate District...
.