Margaret Cho
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
Margaret Cho grew up in San Francisco in the 1970s, a childhood that helped to fuel her stand-up comedy, acting, and activism. Her childhood was fraught with pain, as she dealt with bullying, sexual abuse, and racism throughout her teen years. By the time she turned in 20 in 1988, Cho started to form what would become her future career as she started to dabble in stand-up comedy. It took time, but by 1992, her star started to shine as she landed a guest role on Golden Girls spin-off "The Golden Palace" (CBS 1992-93). Around the same time, her stand-up started taking off as she performed alongside everyone from Jerry Seinfeld to Bob Hope. This all led to "All-American Girl" (ABC 1994-95), a sitcom starring Cho that was centered around her comedy and life. The show only lasted a single season and the failure of the project led Cho to drug addiction. She recovered, returning stand-up and acting, appearing in the John Travolta and Nicolas Cage action movie "Face/Off" (1995) and even making appearances on "Sex and the City" (HBO 1998-2004) and "The Nanny" (ABC 1993-99). At the turn of the century, Cho released the one-woman show "I'm the One That I Want" (2000). It was the first of numerous well-received specials, followed up by "Notorious C.H.O." (2001) and "Assassin" (2005). Later on, she even dabbled in music with "Cho Dependent" (2010) and "American Myth" (2016), which both netted Grammy nominations. She returned to television in 2009 on the dramedy "Drop Dead Diva" (Lifetime 2009-2014) as well as an Emmy-nominated performance as Kim Jong-Il on "30 Rock" (NBC 2006-2013).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Writer (Special)
Special Thanks (Special)
Life Events
1979
Changed her first name from Moran to Margaret at age ten
1981
Began performing in children's theater at age 13
1988
Debuted her first stand-up routine
1989
Began performing stand-up comedy at Rose & Thistle, a club above her parents' bookstore
1991
Moved to Los Angeles
1991
Named West Coast Division Champion of the US College Comedy Competition
1991
Launched her stand-up comedy career with a stint on "Star Search"
1992
Appeared as one of "Six Comics in Search of a Generation" (Lifetime)
1992
Appeared on the NBC comedy special "Bob Hope Presents the Ladies of Laughter"
1992
Made TV debut in "The Golden Palace"
1993
Featured in the Showtime comedy special "Pair of Jokers: Margaret Cho & Bobby Collins"
1994
Spoofed CBS news anchor Connie Chung on "Tonya: The Battle of Wounded Knee," a segment of the Julie Brown special, "Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 Women"
1994
Made feature debut in "Angie" starring Geena Davis in the title role
1994
Headlined the cable showcase, ""HBO Comedy Half-Hour: Margaret Cho"
1994
Starred on the ABC sitcom, "All-American Girl," becoming the first Asian-American to have the lead role in a sitcom
1996
Appeared in the AIDS-themed feature "It's My Party"
1997
Appeared opposite John Travolta and Nicolas Cage in the action drama "Face/Off"
1999
Made New York theatrical debut with the Off-Off-Broadway show "I'm the One That I Want"; filmed for release in 2000
2001
Toured with new comedy show "The Notorious C.H.O."
2001
Guest-starred on an episode of HBO's "Sex and the City" as a fashion show director
2002
Released her live concert film "The Notorious C.H.O." in theaters
2003
Received a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album, for <i>Revolution</i>
2005
Headlined (also produced) the live concert film "Margaret Cho: Assassin"
2005
Wrote first feature, the low-budget comedy "Bam Bam and Celeste"; shared writing credit with with friend and co-touring act Bruce Daniels; film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival
2007
Hosted the summer's True Colors Tour with Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and Erasure
2008
Returned to series TV as the creator and star of VH1's "The Cho Show"
2009
Appeared in the comedy "17 Again," starring Matthew Perry and Zac Efron
2009
Co-starred opposite Brooke Elliott on the Lifetime comedy series "Drop Dead Diva"
2010
Joined the 11th season of Dancing with the Stars" (ABC) as a contestant
2010
Earned a Grammy nomination for her comedy album, <i>Cho Dependent</i>
2011
Portrayed Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-Un on "30 Rock"
2014
Appeared on "Sullivan & Son"
2015
Landed a supporting role in "Tooken"
Family
Companions
