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Margaret Cho

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Margaret Moran Cho is a prominent American stand-up comedian, actress, and musician.

Margaret Cho (5826966550)
Margaret Cho (5826966550)

She is widely recognized for her ability to use performance to critique social and political issues. Her routines frequently focus on the complexities of race and sexuality. Through her work, Cho explores themes of identity and belonging. She has used her platform to advocate for various communities. This includes support for women, Asian Americans, and the LGBTQ community. Her career demonstrates how personal storytelling can address broader societal problems.

Cho’s personal history is deeply connected to her creative voice. She was born on December 5, 1968, in San Francisco to a family of Korean descent. Her grandfather, Myung-sook Cho, was a Christian minister who worked as a station master. Following the Japanese withdrawal from Korea after World War II, he was labeled a chinilpa, or traitor, by North Korea. This forced the family to relocate to South Korea. During the Korean War, Myung-sook managed an orphanage in Seoul. These historical and familial roots provided a complex foundation for Cho's upbringing.

Growing up in San Francisco shaped her understanding of diversity. She lived in a neighborhood near Ocean Beach that she described as a melting pot. This community included many different groups, such as drag queens, Chinese and Korean residents, and people from the 1960s counterculture. However, her childhood also included significant hardships. Cho experienced bullying at school for being different. She has also spoken openly about surviving sexual abuse during her childhood. She views the act of sharing these painful experiences as a way to heal herself and others.

Cho’s professional journey began in comedy clubs near her parents' bookstore, Paperback Traffic.

She gained early recognition, winning the American Comedy Award for Best Female Comedian in 1993. In 1994, she starred in the ABC sitcom All-American Girl, which was based on her stand-up material. The production of this show was famously difficult. Network executives pressured her to change her physical appearance. Cho attempted rapid weight loss to meet these demands, which resulted in kidney failure. The show also faced criticism for using stereotypical portrayals of Asian characters. It was eventually canceled after 19 episodes.

Following the cancellation of her sitcom, Cho faced personal struggles with substance abuse. She has described how these challenges impacted her performances, including an incident in 1995 where she was booed off a stage in Louisiana. Despite these setbacks, she refocused her career through writing and acting. In 1999, she released her first one-woman show, I'm the One That I Want. This production, along with her autobiography of the same name, addressed her struggles with body image and addiction. The show earned her a Performance of the Year award from New York magazine.

Cho's acting career has spanned various genres and media. She appeared in the action film Face/Off alongside John Travolta and Nicolas Cage.

Margaret Cho - Cannes (cropped)
Margaret Cho - Cannes (cropped)

In 2012, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. This nomination was for her role as Kim Jong Il on the show 30 Rock. She also appeared in the series Drop Dead Diva as a paralegal named Teri Lee. Her filmography includes the 2022 movie Fire Island, which explores the LGBTQ Asian American experience. These roles show her versatility across television, film, and stage.

Beyond acting, Cho is an entrepreneur and an activist. She has launched her own clothing line and has worked in the fashion industry. Her activism includes speaking at events like the Marriage Equality Rally in 2004. She has also released books, such as her 2005 essay collection, I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight. Cho continues to engage with audiences through modern media, including her weekly podcast, Monsters of Talk.

Margaret Cho at Los Angeles Pride - 20110612
Margaret Cho at Los Angeles Pride - 20110612

Her life and work illustrate the connection between individual experience and the pursuit of social justice.

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File:Margaret Cho (2076404717) (cropped).jpg
Margaret Cho (2076404717) (cropped).jpg
File:Margaret Cho (5826966550).jpg
Margaret Cho (5826966550).jpg
File:Margaret Cho - Cannes (cropped).jpg
Margaret Cho - Cannes (cropped).jpg
File:Margaret Cho February 2026 (cropped).jpg
Margaret Cho February 2026 (cropped).jpg
File:Margaret Cho at Los Angeles Pride - 20110612.jpg
Margaret Cho at Los Angeles Pride - 20110612.jpg
File:MargaretChoBurlesque.jpg
MargaretChoBurlesque.jpg
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