Tamlyn Tomita

Tamlyn Naomi Tomita (born January 27, 1966) is a Japanese-American actress and singer. She made her screen debut as Kumiko in The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and reprised the character for the streaming web series Cobra Kai (2021). She is also well known for her role as Waverly in The Joy Luck Club (1993). Additional films include Come See the Paradise (1990), Picture Bride (1994), Four Rooms (1995), Robot Stories (2003), The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and Gaijin 2: Love Me as I Am (2005).

Tamlyn Tomita
Tamlyn Tomita on April 5, 2010
Born
Tamlyn Naomi Tomita

(1966-01-27) January 27, 1966
EducationUCLA
OccupationActress, singer
Years active1986–present

Tomita also has played several recurring roles on television series, including 24, Glee, Teen Wolf and How to Get Away with Murder. She starred on the Epix drama series Berlin Station (2016), and in 2017 began starring in the ABC medical drama The Good Doctor. In 2020, she had a recurring role in Star Trek: Picard.

Early life

Tomita was born on a military base in Okinawa, but grew up in Los Angeles.[1][2][3] Her Japanese-American father was in an internment camp during World War II.[2][1] He met her mother while stationed in Okinawa between the Korean and Vietnam Wars.[3] Her mother was half-Japanese, half-Filipino (Ilocano), born in Manila and had emigrated to Okinawa after World War II.[3][1] Her father became an LAPD officer upon returning to Los Angeles.[1]

Tomita graduated from Granada Hills Charter High School[1] and attended UCLA, where she studied history and planned to become a history teacher.[1][4] While a junior at UCLA, she participated in Nisei Week (where she was crowned its 1984 queen).[1][5] It was during this time that she responded to “Helen Funai, a former 1963 queen of the pageant and also a dancer, actress, singer,”[6] who made a request that she audition for a part in The Karate Kid II.[1][6] She promised her parents that she would finish UCLA, and then explore acting.[6]

Career

Film

After The Karate Kid II, Tomita had major roles in a number of independent movies. Her biggest role was in the 1990 drama film Come See the Paradise.[7] In 1993, she co-starred opposite Ming-Na Wen in the ensemble cast drama The Joy Luck Club and the next year she had a role in the 1994 independent film Picture Bride. In 1995 Tomita appeared alongside Antonio Banderas in the Robert Rodriguez-directed segment of the vignette anthology comedy Four Rooms.[8]

In the 21st Century, Tomita has had roles in other independent films and co-starred in several major Hollywood productions, including playing Janet Tokada in The Day After Tomorrow. In 2005, she starred in the Brazilian drama film Gaijin 2: Love Me as I Am and also had a leading roles in the independent films Robot Stories in 2003. She was also in Only the Brave about the Japanese American segregated fighting unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of World War II, which included two other Karate Kid stars, Yuji Okumoto and Pat Morita.[9]

Television

Tomita appeared as a character named Ming Li on the NBC daytime soap opera Santa Barbara from May to September 1988.[10] In 1994, she guest-starred in the first episode of season 3 of Highlander: The Series. In 2008, she made her return to daytime soaps with a recurring role on ABC's General Hospital.[11] In 2012, she had another recurring role on NBC's Days of Our Lives.

From 1996 to 1997, Tomita was a regular cast member in the short-lived UPN drama series, The Burning Zone as well as the pilot movie for Babylon 5. During her career she has guest starred on shows such as Seven Days; Quantum Leap; Living Single; Murder, She Wrote; Chicago Hope; Will & Grace; Nash Bridges; The Shield; Strong Medicine; Stargate SG-1; Stargate: Atlantis; The Mentalist; Private Practice; True Blood; Zoo; Tour of Duty; Criminal Minds; and many other dramas and comedies. She had longer term recurring roles on Crossing Jordan, JAG, 24, Eureka, Heroes, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Glee, Teen Wolf, Resurrection, How to Get Away with Murder, and Chasing Life.

In 2016, Tomita played a series regular role on the Epix drama series Berlin Station. From 2017 to 2019 she was a series regular on the ABC medical drama The Good Doctor.[12]

Tomita began a recurring role as the Vulcan/Romulan hybrid Commodore Oh on the CBS All Access web television series Star Trek: Picard in 2020.

In 2021, she reprised her 1980s role as Kumiko for 2 episodes in Season 3 of Cobra Kai, a modern television sequel to the Karate Kid movies.[13][14][4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986The Karate Kid Part IIKumikoDebut role
1987Hawaiian DreamKarren Saito
1990Vietnam, TexasLan
Come See the ParadiseLily Yuriko Kawamura / McGann
1993The Joy Luck ClubWaverly Jong
1994Picture BrideKana
Notes on a Scale
1995Four RoomsWifeSegment "The Misbehavers"
RequiemFongShort film
1997The Killing JarDiane Sanford
TouchProsecutor
1998Hundred PercentThaise
SoundmanButch's Wife
Living Out LoudMrs. Nelson
1999Life Tastes GoodJulie Sado
2000Betty AndersonDetective MiyamotoShort film
2003Robot StoriesMarcia
Day of IndependenceChoir MemberShort film
2004The Perfect PartyMom
The Day After TomorrowJanet Tokada
2005Gaijin 2: Love Me as I AmMaria Yamashita Salinas
True Love & Minosa TeaRebecca NakasoneShort film
2006Only the BraveMary Takata
PeaceSandy SakaiShort film
2007PandemicMelissa LoShort film
2008The EyeMrs. Cheung
Finding MadisonBeth
2009Why Am I Doing This?Donna
TekkenJun Kazama
2010The Mikado ProjectViola
Nómadas
Starlight InnGrace KimShort film
2011The Charles Kim ShowHerselfShort film
2012White Room: 02B3FiveShort film
2014Awesome Asian Bad GuysTamlyn / Pamlyn (2013)
Teacher of the YearVivian Lew
Operation MarriageLeeShort film
2015DaddySharlene Hong
2016The Good NeighborHeather Cromwell
The UnbiddenLauren Lee
SeppukuLindaShort film
2017Real ArtistsAnne PalladonShort film
2019 The Living Worst Chita Montague
2020 I Will Make You Mine Julia

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987Tour of DutyVC Peasant WomanEpisode: "Sitting Ducks"
1987–1988Santa BarbaraLily Murakami, Ming Li31 episodes
1988Hiroshima MaidenMiyeko MatsudaTelevision film
1988To Heal a NationMaya Ying LinTelevision film
1989The Karate KidAdditional Characters (voices)Episode: "My Brother's Keeper"
1990Hiroshima: Out of the AshesSallyTelevision film
1992Quantum LeapTamlyn MatsudaEpisode: "Temptation Eyes - February 1, 1985"
1992RavenKim TanakaEpisode: "Return of the Black Dragon"
1993Babylon 5: The GatheringLt. Cmdr. Laurel TakashimaTelevision film
1994Time TraxToshiEpisode: "Return of the Yakuza"
1994Vanishing Son IILanchiTelevision film
1994One West WaikikiTaylor ChunEpisode: "'Til Death Do Us Part"
1994Highlander: The SeriesMidori Kent/Maia KotoEpisode: "The Samurai"
1994Living SingleMaryEpisode: "Bristle While You Work"
1994Vanishing Son IVLanchiTelevision film
1994Murder, She WroteDet. Sharon MatsumotoEpisode: "Death in Hawaii"
1995Vanishing SonLan ChiEpisode: "Single Flame"
1995SistersKiri AdamsEpisodes: "For Everything a Season: Part 1", "Renaissance Woman"
1996Chicago HopeTina - Sutton's Ex #3Episode: "Ex Marks the Spot"
1996–1997The Burning ZoneDr. Kimberly ShiromaSeries regular, 11 episodes
1997The SentinelSuzane TomakiEpisode: "Smart Alec"
1997Raven: Return of the Black DragonsKim TanakaTelevision film
1998Chicago HopeJennifer WatanabeEpisode: "McNeil and Pray"
1999Seven DaysMichelleEpisode: "Walter"
1999Will & GraceNaomiEpisode: "I Never Promised You an Olive Garden"
1999The Last Man on Planet EarthAgent Kara HastingsTelevision film
2000Runaway VirusMonique ChaoTelevision film
2000Nash BridgesAmy ChinEpisodes: "Man Hunt", "Blow Out"
2000The Michael Richards ShowMingEpisode: "USA Toy"
2001DestinyTelevision film
2001FreakyLinksEmma ReedEpisode: "Subject: The Final Word"
2001Walking ShadowRikki WuTelevision film
2001ProvidenceMary CassidyEpisode: "Civil Unrest"
2001Crossing JordanDr. Grace YakuraEpisodes: "The Dawn of a New Day", "You Can't Go Home Again", "Digger, Part 1"
2002The ShieldWanda HigoshiEpisode: "Pilot"
2002For the PeopleDr. ChaneyEpisode: "Come Blow Your Whistle"
2002–2003JAGLt. Cmdr. Tracy ManettiRecurring role, 7 episodes
2002–200324Jenny DodgeRecurring role, 5 episodes
2003The AgencyElizabeth—Female KidnapperEpisodes: "Our Man in Korea", "Our Man in Washington"
2003Threat MatrixSpecial Agent Nicole HillEpisode: "Under the Gun"
2004Strong MedicineDr. NashEpisode: "Goodbye/Rest in Peace"
2004–2005North ShoreXiaoEpisodes: "Illusions", "The End"
2005Jane Doe: Now You See It, Now You Don'tHelen MorrisonTelevision film
2006Commander in ChiefRandyEpisode: "No Nukes Is Good Nukes"
2006Stargate SG-1Shen XiaoyiEpisodes: "The Scourge", "Crusade"
2006, 2008Stargate AtlantisShen XiaoyiEpisodes: "No Man's Land", "Remnants"
2006–2007, 2009EurekaKim AndersonRecurring role, 5 episodes
2007Women's Murder ClubSachiko JohannesEpisode: "Maybe Baby"
2007–2008, 2010HeroesIshi NakamuraEpisodes: "Chapter Nine: Cautionary Tales", "Chapter Twelve: Our Father", "Chapter Fifteen: Pass/Fail"
2008–2009General HospitalGiselle6 episodes
2008Saving GraceTori ChenEpisode: "Have a Seat, Earl"
2008Twenty Good YearsEpisode: "Come Fly with Me"
2008Two SistersShaktiTelevision film
2009MonkEileen HillEpisode: "Mr. Monk Fights City Hall"
2009The MentalistLauri MedinaEpisode: "Bloodshot"
2009Criminal MindsDr. Linda KimuraEpisode: "Amplification"
2009CSI: MiamiDr. Sarah FordhamEpisode: "Seeing Red"
2009Private PracticeKatie's LawyerEpisode: "Strange Bedfellows"
2010Memphis BeatNoreen DrakeEpisode: "I Want to Be Free"
2010–2011Law & Order: LAMiwako NishizawaRecurring role, 10 episodes
2011The Chicago CodeProsecutorEpisode: "Bathhouse & Hinky Dink"
2011The ProtectorKatrinaEpisode: "Bangs"
2011GleeJulia ChangEpisode: "Asian F"
2012Days of Our LivesDr. Ellen Yu6 episodes
2012Make It or Break ItDr. LimEpisode: "Listen to the Universe"
2012TouchKazuko OsugiEpisode: "Gyre, Part 1"
2012Hollywood HeightsSarah MedeirosEpisodes: "Jetsetter", "Fresno"
2013BonesDr. Alice CrawfordEpisode: "The Doll in the Derby"
2013True BloodMs. SuzukiEpisodes: "Who Are You, Really?", "Dead Meat"
2014–2017Teen WolfNoshiko YukimuraRecurring role, 16 episodes
2014ResurrectionDr. Toni WillisRecurring role, 5 episodes
2014–2015How to Get Away with MurderJudge Carol MarrowEpisodes: "He Deserved to Die", "Hello Rasholnikov"
2014NCIS: Los AngelesHomeland Security Agent Shana RollinsEpisode: "Leipei"
2015Chasing LifeDr. Mae LinRecurring role, 5 episodes
2015ZooMinako OzEpisode: "The Silence of the Cicadas"
2016Berlin StationSandra AbeSeries regular, 10 episodes
2017–2019The Good DoctorAllegra AokiSeries regular (season 1–2)
Special guest (season 3)
23 episodes
2018The Man in the High CastleTamiko WatanabeRecurring role, 6 episodes
2020 Star Trek: Picard Commodore Oh Episodes: "Maps and Legends", "The End is the Beginning,", "Nepenthe"
2020 DuckTales Inspector Tezuka Episode: "Astro B.O.Y.D."
2021 Cobra Kai Kumiko Season 3, 2 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002James Bond 007: NightfireMakiko Hayashi

References

  1. Block, Jenny (2018-04-23). "'Good Doctor' Star Tamlyn Tomita Says "Stop Treating Me As A Woman: Treat Me As An Equal"". swaay.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  2. Adato, Alison (1991-01-25). "Close-up on Tamlyn Tomita -- We talk to the actress from Come See the Paradise". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  3. "Tamlyn Tomita Reveals Her Parents' Love Story". Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  4. Yamato, Jen (2021-01-01). "To reprise her 'Karate Kid' role in 'Cobra Kai,' Tamlyn Tomita had some ground rules". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  5. "Past Queens & Courts". Nisei Week. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  6. "TALKING WITH TAMLYN TOMITA: THE ACTRESS DISHES ON INDEPENDENT CINEMA AND WHITEWASHING". Center for Asian American Media. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  7. "Tamlyn Tomita". EW.com. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  8. "FILM REVIEW;Hellish Guests in Kinky Spats in 'Four Rooms'". 26 December 1995. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  9. "Meet Yuji Okumoto". konakitchen.com. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  10. "Ming Li". santabarbara-online.com. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  11. "General Hospital: Tamlyn Tomita Cast As Kate Howard Rival". Daytime Confidential. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  12. Petski, Denise (22 September 2017). "'The Good Doctor': Tamlyn Tomita Upped To Series Regular On ABC Drama". Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  13. Ng, Phillana (2021-01-07). "'Cobra Kai': Tamlyn Tomita on Returning as Kumiko More Than 30 Years After 'Karate Kid' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  14. Meeks, Karen (2020-12-31). "'Karate Kid II' kicked off Tamlyn Tomita's career. Now she's back, 34 years later, in 'Cobra Kai.'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
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