Vic Chao

Victor Chao is an American actor, voice actor, gymnast, and martial artist best known for his versatile performances in film, television, video games, and animation, including roles such as Dr. Seiji Shimada in the 2009 film Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus and multiple characters like Kenshi, Goro, Sektor, and Triborg in the 2015 video game Mortal Kombat X.^[1]^[2] Born and raised in Chicago by a single mother after his father's death at age four, Chao graduated from Stanford University with a degree in mechanical engineering before working on medical devices and transitioning to a career in entertainment after moving to Los Angeles.^[3] A skilled athlete with decades of experience in gymnastics and martial arts, he served as the Chicago Bulls mascot, competed as a contender on American Gladiators, and performed as a crowd entertainer and slam-dunker for the LA Clippers.^[4] Chao's on-screen career spans notable television appearances, including CTU Agent McCallan and FBI Agent Mark Dornan on the series 24 across Seasons 4 and 7, as well as roles in Grey's Anatomy, the 2018 reboot of Heathers, and Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One.^[4]^[1] In recent years, he has portrayed District Attorney Daniel Chen on the long-running soap opera General Hospital and contributed to projects like the 2024 animated film Kung Fu Panda 4 and the Netflix series Physical: Asia (2025).^[1]^[4] His voice acting portfolio is extensive, featuring over 30 roles, such as Tseng in Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020), Chiu in the Netflix animated series Seis Manos (2019), and additional voices in titles such as Eyes of Wakanda (2025) and Ghost of Yōtei (2025).^[2]^[1] Chao's athletic background has informed his action-oriented roles, blending physical prowess with dramatic and vocal performances across genres.^[4]

Early life and education

Early years

Vic Chao, born Victor Chao, grew up in the Chicago area as part of a Chinese-American family.^[5] His father passed away when Chao was four years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his two siblings single-handedly; she remains a profound influence and hero in his life.^[5] Raised in a predominantly Caucasian neighborhood that was approximately 90% Jewish, Chao navigated challenges related to his ethnic identity as one of the few Asian children in his community.^[5] From an early age, Chao was exposed to Chinese cultural elements through his family's heritage, though specific details on traditional practices are limited in available accounts. His mother's encouragement of performative activities, such as family skits, laid subtle groundwork for his later interests, but it was during high school that Chao's passion for physical pursuits emerged prominently. In high school, Chao also served as president of the National Honor Society and the math team, showcasing his academic leadership. At age 14, standing at 4'11" and weighing 94 pounds, he began training in gymnastics, quickly excelling to become captain of his high school team and fostering a lifelong commitment to athletic discipline.^[5] This early involvement highlighted his natural agility and set the stage for further development in sports.^[5]

Academic background

Vic Chao attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.^[6] During his time at Stanford, Chao participated in university athletics as a cheerleader, leveraging his gymnastic skills to support school spirit.^[6]^[5] Following graduation, Chao relocated to the Chicago area and spent two years working as an engineer developing medical devices for Baxter Healthcare.^[6]^[7] This role provided him with practical experience in mechanical engineering applications within the healthcare sector, though he ultimately found the work unfulfilling.^[5]

Athletic career

Gymnastics and martial arts training

Vic Chao began his gymnastics training in high school at the age of 14, motivated by his small stature of 4 feet 11 inches and 94 pounds, which made him well-suited for a sport emphasizing agility and flips rather than size.^[5] This early involvement evolved into a lifelong commitment spanning four decades, with a primary emphasis on upper body strength—accounting for approximately 80% of his training regimen—to support skills like tumbling and handstands.^[8] In recent years, Chao has shifted focus toward leg training to address previous imbalances and maintain overall fitness into later decades.^[9] Complementing his gymnastics, Chao pursued martial arts as an avocational interest, training in tae kwon do to build agility, coordination, and discipline.^[10] This practice, which he excelled in during his youth in the Chicago area, enhanced his physical precision and performance capabilities without pursuing competitive levels.^[10] Together, these disciplines formed a robust athletic foundation, allowing him to apply his skills practically during his time as a cheerleader at Stanford University, where the role demanded acrobatic routines that were less taxing than pure gymnastics.^[6]^[5] Chao's dedication to gymnastics and martial arts profoundly influenced his career trajectory, equipping him with the physical prowess essential for stunt work and portraying athletic characters in media.^[4] These skills provided authenticity to his performances, particularly in action-oriented roles and voice acting for dynamic figures in video games and animations.^[11]

Sports entertainment roles

Following his graduation from Stanford University with a degree in mechanical engineering and a brief career in medical device development, Vic Chao relocated to Chicago to pursue acting, where his athletic background led to a two-year engagement as "Da Bull," the energetic mascot for the Chicago Bulls basketball team.^[5]^[12] In this role, Chao performed acrobatic routines and interacted with fans during games, capitalizing on his gymnastics training to entertain crowds amid the excitement of Michael Jordan's era with the team; he later described it as "the most fun job ever" due to the anonymity and physical freedom it afforded.^[5] This mascot position coincided with his early theater performances in Chicago, blending his emerging acting ambitions with public athletic displays.^[12] During his undergraduate studies at Stanford University, Chao also appeared as a contender on the syndicated television competition series American Gladiators, showcasing his agility in events like rock wall climbing and evading tennis balls fired from cannons.^[13]^[5] Although he faced challenges in other challenges such as Powerball, his participation highlighted his martial arts and gymnastic prowess in a high-profile sports entertainment format.^[5] After moving to Los Angeles to further his acting career, Chao served as a crowd entertainer and mini-trampoline slam-dunker for the LA Clippers NBA team, performing high-flying dunks and leading fan interactions to energize arenas.^[4] This role leveraged his ongoing athletic skills to support game atmospheres, marking a continuation of his sports entertainment involvement in a new city.^[7]

Entertainment career

Transition to acting

After graduating from Stanford University with a degree in mechanical engineering, Vic Chao worked for two years developing medical devices in the Chicago area before deciding around 2002 to leave his engineering career and pursue acting full-time, driven by a desire for a more dynamic profession.^[6]^[13] He had begun exploring acting while still employed, leveraging his athletic background in gymnastics and martial arts to secure initial opportunities that aligned with his physical skills.^[5] Chao made his acting debut in 2000 with a small role as a gang member in the film Hammerlock, produced by Castle Hill Productions.^[14] Over the following two years in Chicago, he built experience through theater productions and minor on-screen roles, supplementing his income with performance gigs such as serving as the Chicago Bulls mascot.^[6] These early efforts allowed him to hone his craft locally before seeking broader opportunities. In pursuit of greater access to film and television work, Chao relocated to Los Angeles around 2002, marking a pivotal shift in his career trajectory.^[13] His move paid off quickly, as he landed a minor recurring role as CTU Agent McCallan in Season 4 of the Fox series 24 in 2005, appearing in multiple episodes and establishing his presence in network television. This breakthrough highlighted his transition from regional performances to scripted media in Hollywood.

Film roles

Vic Chao's entry into feature films came with a supporting role as Huong Lo's Gang Member in the action thriller Hammerlock (2000), an early showcase of his physicality in combat scenes informed by his martial arts training.^[15] In subsequent years, he took on minor but memorable parts in ensemble casts, including the Japanese doctor in Michael Bay's war epic Pearl Harbor (2001), where he portrayed a medical professional amid historical drama. Chao continued in genre fare with roles like the engineer in the comedy Rat Race (2001) and the thug in the action-comedy American Ultra (2015), often embodying Asian-American figures in high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled narratives. A pivotal performance in Chao's career was as Dr. Seiji Shimada in the sci-fi monster movie Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus (2009), where he played a Japanese oceanographer serving as the primary scientific advisor and romantic counterpart to lead actress Deborah Gibson's marine biologist. This role in the Asylum production elevated his visibility, blending intellectual authority with romantic tension and action sequences against prehistoric sea creatures.^[16] Chao later appeared in Steven Spielberg's sci-fi adventure Ready Player One (2018), providing the voice for the video game avatar Goro, contributing to the film's immersive virtual reality world and bridging his voice work with blockbuster cinema.^[17] Across these films, Chao frequently portrayed Asian-American professionals—such as doctors, scientists, and engineers—or action-driven antagonists, roles that capitalized on his background as a gymnast and martial artist to deliver authentic physical performances in sci-fi and action genres.^[3]

Television roles

Vic Chao's television career spans multiple genres, demonstrating his versatility in high-intensity action, supernatural horror, and serialized drama. One of his breakthrough roles came in the FOX series 24, where he portrayed FBI Agent Mark Dornan in Season 7 (2009), contributing to the show's signature real-time counter-terrorism plotlines amid escalating threats. This appearance showcased Chao's ability to embody authoritative figures in fast-paced, sci-fi-infused thrillers.^[18] In the realm of horror, Chao led an episode of the Syfy anthology series Superstition in 2017, playing Eric Sangsorn in "You're Not My Momma" (Season 1, Episode 8). The story centered on a vengeful demonic doll terrorizing its surrogate family, blending supernatural suspense with emotional family dynamics, and highlighted Chao's skill in conveying vulnerability under eerie circumstances. His performance in this guest-lead spot underscored his adaptability to genre-bending narratives. Chao has maintained a prominent presence in daytime drama through his recurring role as District Attorney Daniel Chen on ABC's General Hospital, beginning in 2012. As the no-nonsense prosecutor, he navigates complex legal battles and interpersonal tensions in Port Charles, often intersecting with the show's core families and mysteries, which has allowed him to explore layered dramatic arcs over multiple seasons. This ongoing portrayal exemplifies his strength in sustained character development within soap opera formats.^[1] Beyond these, Chao's television credits include a guest spot as Commissioner Greg in the FOX action-comedy Lethal Weapon (Season 2, Episode 21, 2018), where he supported the investigative duo in a family-oriented case. In the dark satire Heathers on Paramount Network (2018), he recurred as Mr. Finn across two episodes, delving into parenting challenges and familial strain amid the series' exploration of high school cliques and social issues. He also appeared as Co-Pilot Phillip Tran in a 2014 episode of CBS's Criminal Minds (Season 10, Episode 3), adding tension to a storyline involving mid-air threats and psychological profiling. These roles collectively illustrate Chao's range from procedural dramas to genre hybrids.

Voice acting and video games

Vic Chao has established a notable presence in voice acting, particularly in video games and animated projects, where his performances often draw on his martial arts expertise to portray dynamic, action-oriented characters. With a career spanning over 30 voiced roles, Chao's work emphasizes intense, martial arts-inspired deliveries that enhance interactive and animated narratives.^[2] In video games, Chao first gained recognition for voicing Dr. Shinji Shimada in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising (2009), a role that showcased his ability to blend scientific authority with dramatic tension. He later expanded into fighting game franchises, providing voices for multiple characters including Kenshi Takahashi and Goro in Mortal Kombat X (2015), roles he reprised in Mortal Kombat 1 (2023). He also voiced Tseng in Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020). Additionally, Chao contributed motion-capture performances, such as for Takeshi in Ghost of Tsushima (2020), leveraging his athletic background to inform physical authenticity in undisclosed projects as well. His video game voice work in Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020), where he voiced Tseng, further highlighted his versatility in epic, story-driven titles. Chao's animation credits include voicing goons and the Jin impersonator in the DreamWorks film Abominable (2019), contributing to its adventurous tone with ensemble energy. He continued in the genre with multiple roles in Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024), such as the Bear Crime Boss, Last Ram, and a tavern patron, infusing the characters with robust, comedic flair rooted in martial arts physicality. Beyond games and animation, Chao provided the English dub voice for Indonesia's Igedz Executioner in Netflix's reality competition series Physical: Asia (2025), adding intensity to the athlete's portrayal in this high-stakes physical challenge. He has also contributed additional voices to upcoming projects including Eyes of Wakanda (2025) and Ghost of Yōtei (2025).

Personal life

Family

Vic Chao married actress Reenu Yu on November 10, 2015.^[19] He is a father of children, a detail he shared during a 2020 interview where he mentioned a baby napping nearby and discussed the challenges of keeping his young child indoors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.^[20] Residing in Los Angeles to pursue his acting career, Chao balances the demands of frequent auditions, voice work, and on-set commitments with family responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of providing essentials like food and diapers during uncertain times.^[20]^[21] His move to the city after working in Chicago's medical device industry allowed him to build a stable home life while engaging in high-profile projects in film, television, and video games.

Ongoing interests

Chao has sustained his gymnastics practice well into 2025, marking four decades of training primarily focused on upper-body strength, with a recent emphasis on building leg power to support long-term mobility.^[8] As a mechanical engineering graduate from Stanford University, he maintains strong ties to the institution's athletic programs, describing himself as a dedicated "Stanford sports nut" who cheers on Cardinal teams.^[6]^[22] Active on social media platforms including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, Chao regularly posts humorous content, fitness progress, and updates on his professional endeavors, fostering engagement with fans and peers.^[8]^[23]^[22] His avocational pursuits in martial arts continue as key hobbies that bolster both physical fitness and mental well-being, informed by influential instructors from his earlier years.^[20]^[4]