Keiko Agena


Christine Keiko Agena is an American actress. She is mostly known for playing Lane Kim in Gilmore Girls. She currently plays NYPD medical examiner Dr. Edrisa Tanaka on FOX's crime drama Prodigal Son.

Personal life

Agena, a Japanese-American, was born in Honolulu, and began acting at the age of 10. She attended Mid-Pacific Institute preparatory school in O‘ahu, and Whitman College for one year as a drama major.
Agena married Shin Kawasaki in a helicopter over Las Vegas, Nevada on December 19, 2005.

Career

Agena is best known for her role in Gilmore Girls, where she played Lane Kim, a Korean-American teenager who is the best friend of Rory Gilmore, one of the lead characters. Agena played this role despite being significantly older than her character, who was 16 at the start of the series when Agena was 27. Agena has also played the role of Mearing's Aide, Mearing being played by Frances McDormand, in . Agena also appeared in three episodes of Felicity as Leila Foster, a girl who comes to the lead character for assistance in acquiring the morning-after pill and participates in a protest when denied said medication. She was a recipient of the Best Female Actor award in the Ammy Awards, which honor Asian and Asian-American achievement in film or television. She also provided the voice of Yori in the Disney cartoon series Kim Possible in seasons 2, 3, and 4 of the show. Also, Agena played Jun Ni in the movie Hair Show starring Mo'Nique. She guest-starred on Private Practice, Castle, and episode 12 of the final season of ER. She also appeared in Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous alongside Jessica Simpson as an army private. In 2010 she appeared onstage in No-No Boy in Santa Monica, California. She later appeared in an episode of House as Dr. Cheng.
While in Austin, Texas for the Gilmore Girls reunion panel at the 2015 ATX Television Festival, she also participated in two live tapings of the podcast Gilmore Guys, as well as a live performance by Lane Kim's band Hep Alien.
In September 2015, Agena launched Drunk Monk Podcast with fellow improv comedian Will S. Choi, wherein they watch every episode of the television series, Monk, while consuming alcohol. Agena plays a high school teacher in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.
She was featured in commercials for Verizon Wireless in 2015 and UnitedHealthcare in 2016.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993RenegadeMitsukoEpisode: "Samurai"
1995Sister, SisterStudent InterviewerEpisode: "Kid in Play"
1998, 2009ERMrs. Shimahara
Mrs. Vasquez
Episodes: "Good Luck, Ruth Johnson", "Dream Runner"
1999Beverly Hills, 90210The CompetitorEpisode: "Agony"
2000FelicityLeila FosterEpisodes: "Revolutions", "Party Lines", "Running Mates"
2000–2007Gilmore GirlsLane KimMain cast; 102 episodes
2001The Nightmare RoomJanet BinghamEpisodes: "School Spirit", "Full Moon Halloween"
2001Strong MedicineAn-Soo "Alison" KimEpisode: "Control Group"
2003–2007Kim PossibleYori 4 episodes
2006Without a TraceKimikoEpisode: "Odds or Evens"
2007Private PracticeSister AmyEpisode: "In Which Cooper Finds a Port in His Storm"
2010CastleKellyEpisode: "The Mistress Always Spanks Twice"
2010HouseDr. ChengEpisode: "Unplanned Parenthood"
2011The HomesNamiUnknown role
2012ScandalWhite House Press Secretary Britta KaganEpisode: "Happy Birthday, Mr President"
2013–14TwistedApril Tanaka2 episodes
2013ShamelessBrittany Sturgess3 episodes
2016GrimmMadoka AkagiEpisode: "Inugami"
2016'Lane Kim4 episodes
2017ColonyBetsy3 episodes
2017Sweet/ViciousTitle IX Officer2 episodes
2017'TaraEpisode: "Getaway"
2017–1813 Reasons WhyPam Bradley7 episodes
Recurring role ; Guest role
2017Bajillion Dollar Propertie$TamamaraEpisode: "Chelsea Leight-Leigh Lately"
2018This CloseDorinda2 episodes
2018Here and NowSonni Little2 episodes
2018Better Call SaulViola Goto3 episodes
2018Dirty JohnNancyRecurring
2018The FirstAiko HakariSeries regular
2019Prodigal SonDr. Edrisa TanakaSeries regular

Video games

Awards and nominations