Tina Chen is a Chinese-American stage, film, and television actress best known for her starring roles in the films Alice's Restaurant, Three Days of the Condor, and The Hawaiians.
Early life
Tina Chen lived briefly in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and then came to the United States. While pursuing her acting career, Chen worked for over a decade as a researcher in the Serology & Genetics department at the New York Blood Center. She also co-founded Food Liberation, one of the first health food stores in New York City.
Career
Tina Chen is a Golden Globe, Emmy, and Drama Desk nominee. Her films include the independent feature Almost Perfect and the short film The Potential Wives of Norman Mao. She also starred in The Hawaiians, for which she received a Golden Globe award nomination; Alice's Restaurant, Three Days of the Condor, and Face. Tina has guest starred on numerous TV shows and was nominated for an Emmy for her performance in the CBS Playhouse special The Final War of Olly Winter. Chen has directed plays at various theaters in New York, including Pan Asian Repertory Theatre's production of Fairy Bones starring Lucy Liu in her stage debut. Tina co-produced the Broadway production of the Peter Nichols play, Passion Play, starring Frank Langella, and received a Drama Desk nomination as part of the producing team of the Broadway production of The Rink, by Terrence McNally, starring Chita Rivera and Liza Minnelli.
Chen's lecture, "Heroes of History: Legacy of My Chinese Family" features 158 biographical photos. It is about three generations of her mother's family and their contributions to the history of China. In the lecture, which has been presented at New York City's China Institute, Urban Stages, and the Mirror Repertory Co., she talks about her great-grandfather, who served under three emperors and one empress in the Ching dynasty, her grandfather, who was one of the founders of the Republic of China, and her mother.
Music
Chen is also a composer. She wrote the music for the Christmas song This Tree, which premiered with the Hong Kong Children's Choir at its Silver Jubilee, and flute music for Pan Asian Repertory's production of Fairy Bones. Her other songs include Mother Life, Words Never Said, and a Hanukkah song called Eight Nights.
Activism
An honorary advisor for the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, Tina Chen is also on the National Council of the Aspen Music Festival & School, was one of the founding members of the Women's Project Productions under Julia Miles, and volunteers for Lighthouse International as a reader for the sight impaired.
Awards
Chen received a Golden Globe nomination for her supporting performance in the film The Hawaiians. She received an Emmy nomination for her supporting performance in the CBS Playhouse drama "The Final War of Olly Winter." She also received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Production of a Musical for, The Rink, starring Chita Rivera and Liza Minnelli. Other awards include Urban Stages 25th Anniversary Award for Artistic Brilliance, Women's Project's Women of Achievement Award, Girl ScoutsWoman of Distinction Award, the Anna May Wong Award of Excellence, and Pan Asian Repertory Theatre's Legacy Award.
