John Cho

A lanky, affable presence in features and television from the late 1990s onward, actor John Cho delivered sharp-witted, often manic comedy in popular film franchises "American Pie" (1999) and "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" (2004) before shifting gears to play the determined Mr. Sulu in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" (2009). A former literature student and English teacher, he fell in love with acting in college, and worked his way up from bit player in films and television to featured support as energized young men in "American Pie" and its first two sequels (2001, 2003). Cho became a go-to for laughs in movies and TV, enjoying both top billing and considerable fan praise as one half of the hapless stoner duo in "Harold and Kumar" and its 2008 sequel. In 2009, he once again found himself the center of attention by assuming one of science fiction's most celebrated roles in "Star Trek," which attempted to provide an origin story for the legendary franchise. His ability to shift between broad comedy and high drama made Cho one of the more adaptable and likeable performers in screen entertainment.