Kim Chan, a Chinese-born individual, embarked on a tumultuous journey in 1928, fleeing his homeland alongside his father, Lem, and two older sisters. Initially, they settled in Rhode Island before relocating to New York. However, Kim's life took a dramatic turn when his father discovered him lying about an afternoon spent at the cinema, prompting his father to issue an ultimatum. Kim was forced to leave his family and fend for himself, taking on various day laborer jobs, often finding himself homeless and forced to sleep on vermin-infested ironing boards.
Despite these challenges, Kim Chan remained determined to pursue his passion for acting, securing roles in film, television, and theater. Unfortunately, many of these early roles were limited to racial stereotypes, with Kim frequently cast as a Japanese soldier during the 1940s.
It wasn't until 1983 that Kim Chan landed his breakthrough role as Jonno, the butler to the late-night talk show host Jerry Langford (played by Jerry Lewis),in Martin Scorsese's critically acclaimed film, "The King of Comedy." This pivotal moment marked a significant turning point in Kim's career, as he began to secure more substantial roles and establish himself as a versatile and in-demand actor. Since then, Kim Chan has appeared in numerous projects, seemingly never wanting for work.
