Justin Chon was born in Garden Grove, Orange County, California, and spent his formative years in Irvine, California, where he was raised by his parents, Kyung, a pianist, and Sang Chon, a former child actor. As a result of his heritage, Justin is of Korean descent.
As a multi-talented individual, Justin Chon is a writer, director, and actor who has made a significant impact in the film industry. One of his most notable works is the '90s LA Riots drama Gook, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won the NEXT category. Gook went on to receive critical acclaim, with Justin being awarded the Independent Spirit award for "someone to watch" in 2018.
Justin continued to showcase his talent with his contemporary Koreatown sibling drama MS. PURPLE, which also premiered at Sundance. His latest project, Blue Bayou, is a deportation drama that he wrote, produced, and directed, and in which he also plays the lead role opposite Alicia Vikander.
