Ming Chen
Ming Chen | |
---|---|
![]() Chen at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2022 | |
Born | Cliff Ming-Si Chen[1] (1974-08-01) August 1, 1974 (age 50)[2] Euclid, Ohio, U.S[2] |
Nationality | Chinese-American[3] |
Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Occupation(s) | Actor, podcaster, reality television personality, webmaster |
Years active | 1999–present |
Cliff Ming-Si Chen, better known as Ming Chen, is an actor, podcaster, reality television personality, and webmaster associated with Kevin Smith.[1][3][4] He co-hosts the I Sell Comics! and Ming & Mike Show podcasts with Mike Zapcic and also starred in the AMC reality series Comic Book Men.[1][5][6]
Early life
Ming Chen was born in Ohio to parents born in China, but raised in Taiwan.[clarification needed] The family frequently moved due his father being an upstart engineer, but spent significant time in Jackson, Michigan and Ann Arbor, Michigan.[3][7] Chen attended the University of Michigan (class of 1996), graduated with a degree in communications, and he at one point also worked at a video shop.[4][7][8]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/10.12.12ComicBookMenByLuigiNovi1.jpg/220px-10.12.12ComicBookMenByLuigiNovi1.jpg)
Career
Chen became involved with Kevin Smith after making a fansite dedicated to the movie Clerks in 1996.[4][9] Smith asked Chen to build the View Askew Productions website.[4] Chen served as an extra in the movie Dogma.[3] After working around the Washington, D.C. area, and LivePlanet for two years, he joined Kevin Smith's company in 2002.[3][4] Chen became the full-time webmaster of View Askew after moving to New Jersey.[4] One of the oddest requests from Kevin Smith has been to drive eight hours and deliver a copy of Red State to a critic from the Los Angeles Times in Maine.[3][10]
Chen has participated in several podcasts for SModcast Internet Radio including Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!, Puck Nuts, and co-hosts I Sell Comics! with Mike Zapcic.[5] In 2012, he began starring with co-workers from Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash including Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Mike Zapcic, and Bryan Johnson on Comic Book Men.[3] Ming is often made fun of as part of his role on Comic Book Men, due to his long friendships with Bryan and Walt.[9][11] Comic Book Men would be cancelled after seven seasons in 2018.[1][6]
Chen partnered with Hunter Pence and others to create Coral Sword: Coffee, Comics & Games in Houston, Texas, which opened in February 2018.[12][13][14] Chen partnered with Mike Zapcic to open A Shared Universe PodcaStudio in 2018, with a second location opening in 2020.[6]
Personal life
Chen is married to Debbie and has two children.[3] His favorite baseball team is the Baltimore Orioles.[5] Two of his favorite comic books include Ex Machina and Preacher. Chen's favorite book as a kid was Avengers #214.[15] On Comic Book Men, Chen was able to purchase the USS Flagg, a toy his parents could not afford.[16] He has also participated in several marathons.[17] Chen also does work for two non-profits, Street Poets Inc. and The Kenny Gordon Foundation.[10][18] Chen joined The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County as a board member in 2021.[19]
Filmography
- Dogma (1999) (uncredited) as Club Patron
- Big Helium Dog (1999)
- Vulgar (2000)
- Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie! (2013) (voice) as Shower Bully 1
- Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019) as himself
Television
- Comic Book Men (2012–2018) as himself
References
- ^ a b c d Graff, Gary (February 1, 2019). "Ming Chen got his geek on during Michigan childhood". The Oakland Press. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ a b Ming, Chen. "The life of Ming Si-Chen". ViewAskew.com. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "How Ming Chen Became One of the Comic Book Men". Pacific Citizen. April 6, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Tebeau, John (Spring 2013). "The Amazing, Real-Life Adventures of Ming Chen" (PDF). LSA Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Dietsch, TJ (February 10, 2012). "Comic Book Men's Ming Chen on Podcasts, Collectibles & Reality TV". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ a b c James, Jai-Leen (January 31, 2020). "Asbury Park boardwalk: A Shared Universe PodcaStudio opens second location". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ a b McAllister, Bill (May 14, 2016). "'Comic Book Men' Star Ming Chen Says The Bad Boys Era Pistons Are The Best Of All-Time". WXYT. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "'Comic Book Men' Michael Zapcic and Ming Chen at Fantasticon". WJBK. November 6, 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ a b Natale, Dan. "Red Bank: Ming Chen Flies Without a Cape". redbankgreen.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ a b Hackett, Keisha (July 3, 2013). "Ming Chen to address I Sell Comics at Supercon". Teenlink South Florida. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ Van Embden, Edward (February 13, 2012). "Comic Book Men Revealed". RedBank-Shrewsbury Patch. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ Guillen, Darla (June 5, 2017). "Houston restaurant and bar news bites of the week". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ hris Cwik, Chris (May 25, 2017). "Hunter Pence goes full nerd, opens coffee, comics and games store". Big League Stew. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ Sandler, Eric (February 1, 2018). "The Avengers of coffee and gaming unite for new East End cafe devoted to geek culture". CultureMap Houston. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Messer, Adam (May 6, 2016). "Saturday is Free Comic Book Day". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ Tramel, Jimmie (February 11, 2017). "Pop culture: Q&A with Ming Chen of AMC's 'Comic Book Men' reality show". Tulsa World. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ Meyer, Craig (April 17, 2014). "Why I Run: Ming Chen of AMC's 'Comic Book Men'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ F. Disbrow, Warren (February 4, 2013). "An Interview With Ming Chen Of Comic Book Men". The Rag Rocks. Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ "YMCA Welcomes New Board Members". Red Bank-Shrewsbury, NJ Patch. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Ming Chen at IMDb
- Ming Chen on the View Askew site
- I Sell Comics! official site
- AMC official Comic Book Men site