Margaret Cho | |
|---|---|
.png) Cho in 2011 | |
| Born | Margaret Moran Cho (1968-12-05)December 5, 1968 (age 57) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | San Francisco State University |
| Spouse | |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Medium |
|
| Genres | |
| Subjects | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 조모란 |
| Hanja | 趙牡丹 [1] |
| RR | Jo Moran |
| MR | Cho Moran |
| Website | margaretcho |
Margaret Moran Cho (born December 5, 1968)[2] is an American stand-up comedian, actress and musician.[3] In herstand-up routines she critiques social and political problems, especially about race and sexuality. She starred in theABC sitcomAll-American Girl (1994–95).
As an actress, she has played such roles as Charlene Lee inIt's My Party andJohn Travolta's FBI colleague in the action filmFace/Off. Cho was part of the cast of the TV seriesDrop Dead Diva on Lifetime Television, in which she appeared as Teri Lee, a paralegal assistant. For her portrayal ofKim Jong Il on30 Rock, she was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2012.
In 2022, Cho co-starred in the filmFire Island, a portrayal of theLGBTQ Asian American experience onFire Island.
Cho has worked in fashion and music and owns her own clothing line. She has frequently supported LGBTQ rights and has won awards for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of women, Asian Americans, and the LGBTQ community.
Cho was born inSan Francisco on December 5, 1968, to a family of Korean descent.[4] Her paternal grandfather Myung-sook Cho, aChristian minister, worked for the Japanese as a station master during theiroccupation of Korea. When Japan withdrew from Korea at the end of World War II, he was denounced as achinilpa, a traitor, by North Korea and forced to move with his family, including his son, Margaret's father Seung-hoon Cho, to South Korea.[5] During theKorean War, Myung-sook ran an orphanage inSeoul.
According to Margaret, she was raised in "a very Christian family."[6] Cho grew up in a racially diverse neighborhood near theOcean Beach section of San Francisco,[4] which she described as a community of "oldhippies, ex-druggies, burn-outs from the 1960s,drag queens, Chinese people and Koreans. To say it was a melting pot – that's the least of it. It was a really confusing, enlightening, wonderful time."[7] Cho's parents, Young-Hie and Seung-Hoon Cho,[8] ran Paperback Traffic, a bookstore on Polk Street atCalifornia Street in San Francisco. Her father writes joke books and a newspaper column published in Seoul, South Korea.[9]
At school, Cho was bullied, saying that "I was hurt because I was different and so sharing my experience of being beaten and hated and called fat and queer and foreign and perverse and gluttonous and lazy and filthy and dishonest and yet all the while remaining invisible heals me, and heals others when they hear it – those who are suffering right now."[10]
Cho has revealed sexual abuse in her past. Between the ages of five and twelve, she was "sexually molested by a family friend". On an episode ofLoveline, she talked about being raped by her uncle while during the same time period he was raping his three-year-old daughter.[11] She often skipped class and got bad grades in ninth and tenth grades, resulting in her expulsion fromLowell High School.[11]
Cho has said she was "raped continuously through my youngest years" (by another acquaintance) and that, when she told someone else about it and her classmates found out, she received hostile remarks justifying it. She was accused of being "so fat" that only a crazy person would have sex with her.[11]
After Cho expressed interest in performance, she auditioned and was accepted into theSan Francisco School of the Arts, a San Francisco public high school for the arts. While at the school, she became involved with the school'simprovisational comedy group[12] alongside future actorsSam Rockwell andAisha Tyler.
At age 15, she worked as aphone sex operator.[13] She later worked as adominatrix.[14] After graduating from high school, Cho attendedSan Francisco State University, studying drama, but she did not graduate.[15]
After doing several shows in a club adjacent to her parents' bookstore, Cho launched astand-up comedy career and spent several years developing her material in clubs. Cho's career began to build after appearances on television and university campuses. In 1992, she appeared on the unsuccessfulGolden Girls spin-offThe Golden Palace in a small role. In 1993, Cho won theAmerican Comedy Award for Best Female Comedian.[16] In 2010, onThe View, she discussed her nervousness about doingThe Golden Palace and thankedRue McClanahan posthumously for her help with rehearsing. She secured a coveted spot as opening act forJerry Seinfeld; at about this time, she was featured on aBob Hope special, and was a frequent visitor toThe Arsenio Hall Show.[17]
That same year,ABC developed and airedAll-American Girl, a sitcom based on Cho's stand-up routine. Cho has expressed subsequent regret for much of what transpired during the production of the show. After network executives, especiallyexecutive producerGail Berman, criticized her appearance and the roundness of her face, Cho starved herself for several weeks. Her rapidweight loss, done to modify her appearance by the time the pilot episode was filmed, causedkidney failure.[18] The show suffered criticism from within the U.S. East Asian community over its perception ofstereotyping. Producers told Cho at different times during production both that she was "too Asian" and that she was "not Asian enough." At one point during the course of the show, producers hired a coach to teach Cho how to "be more Asian."[17] Much of the humor was broad and coarse, and at times, stereotypical portrayals of her close Korean relatives and gay bookshop customers were employed. The show was canceled after suffering poor ratings and the effect of major content changes over the course of its single season (19 episodes).[19]
After the show's 1995 cancellation, Cho became addicted to drugs and alcohol. As detailed in her 2002 autobiography,I'm the One That I Want, in 1995, her substance abuse was evident during a performance inMonroe, Louisiana, where she was booed off the stage by 800 college students after going on the stage drunk.[20]
Though her career and personal life were challenging after the show's cancellation, Cho sobered up, refocused her energy, and developed new material. She hosted theNew Year's Rockin' Eve 95 show withSteve Harvey.[21][22][23] In 1997, she had a supporting role in the thriller filmFace/Off starringNicolas Cage andJohn Travolta, playing Wanda, one of the fellow FBI agents of Travolta's primary character.
In 1999, she wrote about her struggles withAll-American Girl in her first one-woman show,I'm the One That I Want. That year,I'm the One That I Want wonNew York magazine's Performance of the Year award and was named one of the Great Performances of the year byEntertainment Weekly.[24] At the same time, Cho wrote and published an autobiographical book with the same title, and the show itself was filmed and released as a concert film in 2000. Her material dealt with her difficulties breaking intoshow business because of her ethnicity and weight and her resulting struggle with and triumph over body image issues and drug and alcohol addiction.[25] Cho appeared in an episode ofSex and the City's fourth season. The episode, titled "The Real Me", first aired on June 3, 2001, and also guest-starredHeidi Klum.
In 2004, the showNotorious C.H.O. (the title was derived from rapperThe Notorious B.I.G.) referred to Cho having been reared in 1970s San Francisco and herbisexuality. After completingNotorious C.H.O., she made another stand-up film,Revolution, released in 2004, and subsequently work on her first self-written film in which she starred.Bam Bam and Celeste, a low-budget comedy about a "fag hag" and her gay best friend, co-starred Cho's friend and co-touring act Bruce Daniels. The film premiered at theToronto International Film Festival in 2005. On Valentine's Day of 2004, Cho spoke at theMarriage Equality Rally at theCalifornia State Capitol. Her speech can be seen in the documentaryFreedom to Marry.[26][27]
In 2005, Cho released her second book,I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight, a compilation of essays andprose aboutglobal politics, human rights, and other topical issues. Cho launched a national book tour in support of the collection. An audio reading of the book was also released. A DVD of a live taping of herAssassin tour was released in conjunction with the book. The same year, Cho started promoting and touring with her new show,Assassin. The show became her fourth live concert film and premiered on the gay and lesbian premium cable networkHere! TV in September 2005. InAssassin, she includes herself when talking about gay people, saying "we" and "our community." Posters forAssassin featured Cho in paratrooper gear and holding a microphone in the style of an automatic rifle, a reference to the infamous 1974 photo of heiressPatty Hearst.
Cho launched "The Sensuous Woman",[28] aburlesque-style variety show tour, in Los Angeles on August 10, 2007, with tour dates scheduled through November 3, as of October 10.[29] Scheduled tour stops meant to follow Los Angeles were Chicago, Illinois and New York City.[29] On August 10, 2007 theSan Francisco Chronicle reviewed the show, Cho's work, key events in her personal life and characterized the show thus: "In fact, as bawdy and bad-behaving as the cast gets, the whole show feels more like a crazy family reunion than a performance."[30]
Also in 2007, Cho appeared inThe Dresden Dolls' video of their song "Shores of California",[31] and inThe Cliks's video for "Eyes in the Back of My Head", in which she appeared asLucas Silveira's lover.[32] She provided the character voice for a character named Condie Ling on the Logo animated seriesRick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World. Her episodes began airing in 2007.
The premiere performance of Cho's "Beautiful" tour was on February 28, 2008, in Sydney, Australia as part of theGay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Cho was theChief of Parade for the festival's annual parade alongOxford Street on March 1. During her stay in Sydney, Cho was filmed shopping for parade outfits in adrag store withKathy Griffin andCyndi Lauper for Griffin's Bravo seriesMy Life on the D-List. The episode featuring Cho aired on June 26, 2008.
Cho and her family and friends appeared in an episode of NBC's seriesCelebrity Family Feud, which premiered on June 24, 2008. Later that summer, she appeared in her own semi-scripted reality sitcom forVH1,The Cho Show, which premiered on August 21, 2008[33] and lasted one season. She next appeared in the supporting cast of the seriesDrop Dead Diva, which debuted in July 2009.[34]
In April 2011, Cho guest starred on the comedy30 Rock in the episode "Everything Sunny All the Time Always". She portrayedKim Jong Il, then the leader of North Korea, that required her to speak both Korean and English. She was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.[35] She later returned to portray Kim Jong Il's son,Kim Jong Un. In 2010, Cho was a contestant on the 11th season ofDancing with the Stars.[36]
Also in 2011, Cho played a lead role inAmerica 2049,[37] a Facebook-integrated game highlighting social inequities in a dystopian future.[38]
Since January 2013, Cho has been the co-host of the weekly podcastMonsters of Talk along withJim Short. Cho embarked on her "Mother" tour in the fall of 2013 and slated it for engagements in Europe in 2014. The title of the tour refers not to Cho's impressions of her own mother, but to Cho herself. It is her nickname for the figure she has played to her many gay friends over the years.[39] In 2014, she participated inDo I Sound Gay?, a documentary film directed and produced by David Thorpe. The film is about stereotypes of gay men's speech patterns.[40]
In January 2019, Cho competed inseason one ofThe Masked Singer as "Poodle". She was eliminated in Episode 4.[41]
In July 2019, Cho started a solo podcast calledThe Margaret Cho, which features guests who primarily work in show business. Guests have includedQueer Eye'sJonathan Van Ness, tattooist and reality TV figureKat Von D, screenwriterDiablo Cody, drag queenJackie Beat, and comedian and TV hostMichael Yo.[42][43] Cho has a chapter giving advice inTim Ferriss' bookTools of Titans.
In February 2022, Cho contributed original poetry toEating Salad Drunk, a comedianhaiku anthology (edited by authorGabe Henry) that benefitedComedy Gives Back, a nonprofit supporting comedians facing financial hardship from theCovid-19 pandemic.[44][45]
In February 2022, she was cast in the documentary seriesEverything's Gonna Be All White, airing onShowtime.[46]
In June 2022, Cho co-starred in aromantic comedy film,Fire Island, directed byAndrew Ahn, airing onHulu.[47]
In November 2023, Cho was a guest onToday with Hoda & Jenna, as they recounted her career and celebrated her life's work and inspiration to other comedians.[citation needed]
In June 2025, it was announced that Cho would headline Belly Laughs, a new comedy and food festival inLos Angeles.[48]
Cho has discussed her relationship with her mother openly, imitating her mother's heavily accented speech. Her depictions of "Mommy" have become a popular part of her routine. Cho's comedy routines are often explicit. She has covered substance abuse,eating disorders, her bisexuality and obsession with gay men, and Asian-American stereotypes, among other subjects, in her stand-up routines.
A substantial segment of her material and advocacy addresses LGBTQ issues. In addition to her shows, Cho developed an additional outlet for her advocacy with the advent of her website and her daily blog. When San Francisco MayorGavin Newsom directed that San Francisco's city hall issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco in 2004 (until reversed by the state supreme court), Cho started Love is Love is Love,[49] a website promoting the legalization ofgay marriage in the United States.
Cho's material often features commentary on politics and contemporary American culture. She has been outspoken about her dislike of former PresidentGeorge W. Bush. She began to draw intense fire fromconservatives over her fiercely anti-Bush commentary; a live performance inHouston, Texas, was threatened with picketing. Although protesters never showed up, she held a counter-protest outside the club until security told her she had to go inside.[50]
In 2004, Cho was performing at a corporate event in a hotel when, after ten minutes, her microphone was cut off and a band was instructed to begin playing. Cho claims that this was because the manager of the hotel was offended by anti-Bush administration comments. Cho's payment, which was issued by way of check directly to a non-profit organization, a defense fund for theWest Memphis Three, initiallybounced but was eventually honored.[51]
In July 2004, during theDemocratic National Convention, Cho was disinvited to speak at aHuman Rights Campaign/National Stonewall Democrats fundraiser out of fear that her comments might cause controversy. In November 2005, she campaigned to pardonStanley Tookie Williams, an earlyCrips gang leader, for his death sentence for four murders, but this campaign failed; on December 13, 2005, after exhausting all forms of appeal, Williams was executed bylethal injection atSan Quentin State Prison, California.[52]
In 2007, Cho hosted the multi-artistTrue Colors Tour,[53] which traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada. The tour, sponsored by theLogo channel, began on June 8, 2007. Headlined byCyndi Lauper, the tour includedDebbie Harry,Erasure,The Gossip,Rufus Wainwright,The Dresden Dolls,The MisShapes,Rosie O'Donnell,Indigo Girls,The Cliks, and other special guests. Profits from the tour helped to benefit theHuman Rights Campaign as well asPFLAG and TheMatthew Shepard Foundation.
On January 25, 2008, Cho gave her support toBarack Obama for the nomination on the Democratic ticket for the2008 U.S. presidential election.[54] AfterRepublican Presidential candidateJohn McCain announced his running mate, GovernorSarah Palin ofAlaska, Cho said of her, "I think [Palin] is the worst thing to happen to America since9/11."[55]
Aftersame-sex marriage became legal in California in May 2008, Cho was deputized by the City of San Francisco to perform marriages there.[56]
In 2003, Cho founded a clothing line with friend and fashion designer Ava Stander called High Class Cho.[57] The company eventually went defunct.
In 2004, Cho took upbellydancing and in 2006 started her own line of bellydancing belts and accessories called Hip Wear;[58] these she sold through her website. She had extensive tattooing done[59][60] to cover the majority of her back.
In November 2006, Cho joined the board ofGood Vibrations, a sex toy retailer.[61] With fellow comedian Diana Yanez, she co-wrote "My Puss", a rap song which they recorded as the duo of Maureen and Angela. Cho appeared in and directed the music video for the song.[62] In December 2006, Cho appeared on theSci-Fi Channel's miniseriesThe Lost Room as Suzie Kang.[63]
On an episode ofThe Hour with hostGeorge Stroumboulopoulos, Cho mentioned that she lovedBroken Social Scene and wishes to be a part of the band (offering to play therainstick or the triangle). On air, Stroumboulopoulos called band memberKevin Drew from his cell phone, and Cho made her request to join the band via his voicemail.[64]
In April 2009, Cho was photographed by photographerAustin Young and appeared in aBettie Page–inspired "Heaven Bound" art show.[65]
In September 2008, Cho released her single, "I Cho Am a Woman," oniTunes. The song, produced byDesmond Child,[66] was featured on herVH1 series.
Throughout 2010, she worked on a full-length album, going through the titles "Guitarded" and "Banjovi" before finally settling onCho Dependent.[67] Released on August 24, 2010, the album was supported by music videos for "I'm Sorry," "Eat Shit and Die," and "My Lil' Wayne;"Liam Kyle Sullivan directed the first two. It was nominated for a 2010 Grammy award for Best Comedy Album.[68] In 2011Showtime released a stand-up comedy special, titledMargaret Cho: Cho Dependent, which featured musical performances from the album.[69]
In May 2010, Cho directed and appeared in the music video for "I Wanna Be a Bear", a song by Pixie Herculon, a pseudonym ofJill Sobule. In 2011, Cho sang theBob Mould song "Your Favorite Thing" at the tribute concert See A Little Light withGrant-Lee Phillips. In the same year she appeared in some of Liam Kyle Sullivan's YouTube videos.
In July 2014, she appeared in"Weird Al" Yankovic's music video for "Tacky."[70]
In April 2016, Cho released her second album,American Myth.[citation needed]
In May 2016, she rapped on and made an appearance in the music video for "Green Tea", a song by rapperAwkwafina. Both play with stereotypes of people of East Asian descent in hopes that "women of color embrace their quirkiness, their sexuality, their inner child and their creativity with passion."[citation needed]
Also in 2016, Cho was featured on the track "Ride or Die" on the albumSweet T by American drag queen and singer/artist Ginger Minj.[citation needed]
On December 6, 2024 Cho released the single "Lucky Gift". Produced byGarrison Starr, the track went out to digital platforms in advance of Cho's forthcoming album of the same name.[citation needed]
In July 2019, Cho started a podcast calledThe Margaret Cho. It features guests who primarily work in show business and features original music byGarrison Starr.[citation needed]
Cho married Al Ridenour, an artist involved in TheCacophony Society and theArt of Bleeding, in 2003.[71] Cho was featured in an Art of Bleeding performance in March 2006.[72] She described her marriage as "very conventional and conservative, I think. I mean we're such weird people that people just can't imagine that we would have a conventional marriage. But yeah, we are very conventional."[73] They separated in September 2014, and Cho confirmed their separation in December.[74][75] Cho referred to herself as "divorced" in an April 2015 profile inThe New York Times, but actually filed for divorce in August 2015.[75][76] In April 2019, it was reported that the divorce was finalized.[77]
In the early 1990s, Cho dated directorQuentin Tarantino.[78] She also dated musicianChris Isaak.[79][80]
As of 2008[update], in a profanity-laced blog post, Cho self-identified as a Christian, although she does not agree with nor align ideologically with mainstream Christianity.[81]
As of 2009[update], Cho was living inPeachtree City, Georgia,[82] asDrop Dead Diva was filmed in the Atlanta area.
Cho is openlybisexual[83] and has stated that she has "a lot of experience in the area ofpolyamory and alternative sexuality in general."[84] When discussing her sexuality in a 2018Huffington Post interview, Cho said, "I don't know using 'bisexual' is right because that indicates there's only two genders and I don't believe that. I've been with people all across the spectrum of gender and who have all kinds of different expressions of gender so it's so hard to say. Maybe 'pansexual' is technically the more correct term but I like 'bisexual' because it's kind of '70s."[85] Cho states that she "loves"Fire Island and spends summers there.[86] She first learned about sexuality in the 1970s from her parents, who had bought a gay bookstore. In the 1980s, she identified as a lesbian, saying the title at that time had the stereotype of "wearing jean shorts, Doc Martens, a bike chain, a messenger bag and a portable CD player spinning Ani DiFranco".[87]
Cho was a guest on comedianBobby Lee'sTigerbelly Podcast Episode 71, which was uploaded on December 16, 2016.[88] In that episode, she recounted an incident between her and actressTilda Swinton. According to Cho, Swinton contacted her via email to discuss the Asian American community's reaction to the news that Swinton had been cast to play theAncient One, who in comic books isTibetan, in the filmDoctor Strange.[89] Cho found the inquiry odd, since she did not know Swinton and had never talked to her before nor did she have anything to do with the film or casting.[88] On December 21, Swinton released the email exchange between her and Cho to the websiteJezebel.[90] According to Swinton, she had contacted Cho to better understand why Asian Americans were upset about the casting.[91] In response to the release, Cho stated that she stands by her words both onTigerBelly and in the email exchange.[92][93][clarification needed]
Cho revealed in a panel discussion that after doing genealogy testing, she discovered that she had some Chinese ancestry.[94]
[N]ot all women comedians are dangerous; some are just very funny: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are too relatable, Joan Rivers was too firmly ensconced in the society that she mocked. Amy Schumer relies a little too much on the word "pussy" to be any kind of threat, though she would like very much to be a bad person. On the other hand, ... Margaret Cho know[s] no boundaries and inspire[s] palpable fear anytime [she] begin[s] one of [her] riffs.[101]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Angie | Admissions Nurse No. 2 | |
| 1995 | The Doom Generation | Clerk's Wife | |
| 1996 | It's My Party | Charlene Lee | |
| 1997 | Pink as the Day She Was Born | Donna | |
| Face/Off | Wanda | ||
| Fakin' da Funk | May-Ling | ||
| Sweethearts | Noreen | ||
| 1998 | Ground Control | Amanda | |
| The Thin Pink Line | Asia Blue / Terry | ||
| The Rugrats Movie | Lt. Klavin | Voice[102] | |
| 1999 | Can't Stop Dancing | JoJo | |
| The Tavern | Carol | ||
| 2000 | $pent | Travel Agent (Shirley) | |
| 2002 | Grocery Store | Store Clerk | Video short |
| 2003 | Nobody Knows Anything! | Rental Car Agent | |
| 2005 | Bam Bam and Celeste | Celeste / Mommy | Writer |
| 2006 | Falling for Grace | Janie | |
| 2007 | Love Is Love | Jealous Girlfriend at movie | Short film |
| 2008 | One Missed Call | Det. Mickey Lee | |
| The Snake | The Expert | ||
| Prop 8: The Musical | California Gays and The People That Love Them | Short film | |
| 2009 | 17 Again | Mrs. Dell | |
| 2011 | Mindwash. The Jake Sessions | Dr. Francine Kovinsky | Voice, short film |
| Thugs, the Musical! | Yvette | Short film | |
| 2012 | The Immigrant | Margaret | Short film |
| 2013 | Amelia's 25th | Babs | |
| Wedding Palace | The Shaman | ||
| Fish Power | Queen Tilapia | Short film | |
| 2014 | Senior Project | Ms. Ghetty | |
| 2015 | Tooken | Brownfinger | |
| 2016 | Hurricane Bianca | Wig Shop Owner | Cameo |
| 2017 | Bright | Sergeant Ching | |
| Sharknado 5: Global Swarming | Simone | ||
| 2020 | Faith Based | Jane | |
| Over the Moon | Auntie Ling, Gretch | Voice[102] | |
| Friendsgiving | Fairy Gay Mother | ||
| 2021 | Hysterical | Herself | Documentary |
| Good on Paper | Margot | ||
| 2022 | Sex Appeal | Ma Deb | |
| Fire Island | Erin | ||
| The Listener | Corinne | Voice | |
| 2023 | Cora Bora | Electra | |
| Prom Pact | Ms. Chen | ||
| 2024 | All That We Love | Emma | [103] |
| 2025 | Queens of the Dead | Pops | |
| 2026 | I Want Your Sex | TBA | |
| Run Amok | TBA | Post-production | |
| TBA | Better Life | TBA | Post-production[104][105] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Move the Crowd | Television film | |
| The Golden Palace | Dr. Fong | Episode: "One Old Lady to Go" | |
| 1993 | Red Shoe Diaries | Phone Sex Worker | Episode: "Hotline" |
| 1994 | The Critic | Voice, episode: "The Pilot" | |
| Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 Women | Connie Tong | Television film | |
| 1994–95 | All-American Girl | Margaret Kim | 19 episodes |
| 1995 | Duckman | Mai Lin | Voice, episode: "In the Nam of the Father" |
| Bill Nye the Science Guy | Self | Episode: "Populations" | |
| 1995–97 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Queen, Hul Muh Ni | Voice, 2 episodes[102] |
| 1998 | Five Houses[106] | Television film | |
| The Nanny | Caryn | Episode: "Mom's the Word" | |
| 1999 | Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist | Margaret | Voice, episode: "Wisdom Teeth"[102] |
| 2001 | Sex and the City | Lynne | Episode: "The Real Me" |
| 2002 | One on One | Coach | Episode: "Me & My Shadow" |
| 2003 | The Anna Nicole Show | Herself | Episode: "Holiday Special" |
| 2006 | The Lost Room | Suzie Kang | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | 'Til Death | Nicole | 3 episodes |
| 2007–09 | Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World | Condie Ling / Various | Voice, 9 episodes |
| 2008 | Two Sisters | Television film | |
| Sordid Lives: The Series | Therapist No. 17 | Episode: "The Day Tammy Wynette Died – Part 1" | |
| The Cho Show | Herself | Writer, Producer and Executive Producer | |
| Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Herself | Episode: "Fly the Super Gay Skies" | |
| 2009–14 | Drop Dead Diva | Teri Lee | Main role, 72 episodes |
| 2010 | Ghost Whisperer | Prof. Avery Grant | 3 episodes |
| The A-List: New York | Herself | Episode: "Texting and Tears" | |
| 2011–12 | 30 Rock | Kim Jong Il | 3 episodes Nominated –Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series |
| 2013 | Where the Bears Are | Mistress Lena | Episode: "Bears in Chains" |
| Pound Puppies | Mrs. Wattana | Episode: "Rebound's First Symphony" | |
| 2014 | Cabot College | Laura | Television film |
| Hell's Kitchen | Herself – Restaurant Patron | Season 13 Episode 16: "Winner Chosen" | |
| Sullivan & Son | Jenny | Episode: "Monkey Plate" | |
| 2015 | Beat Bobby Flay | Herself | Season 6 Episode 12: "Rules Are Ment to Be Broken" |
| Celebrity Wife Swap | Herself | Episode: "Margaret Cho/Holly Robinson Peete" | |
| All About Sex[107] | Co-host | 2 episodes | |
| Dr. Ken | Dr. Wendi | Episode: "Dr. Wendi: Coming To L.A.!" | |
| 2016 | Family Guy | Sujin | Voice, episode: "Candy, Quahog Marshmallow" |
| TripTank | Ling, Dump | Voice, episode: "Deuce Ex Machina"[102] | |
| 2013–17 | Fashion Police[108] | Co-host | 21 episodes |
| 2017 | The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show | Hua Mulan | Voice, episode: "Mulan"[102] |
| 2018 | Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh | Georgia | Voice, episode: "Trashbassador"[102] |
| 2019 | The Masked Singer | Poodle/Herself | |
| High Maintenance | Doc Lee | Episode: "Pay Day" | |
| Law & Order: SVU | Evelyn Lee | Episode: "Counselor, it's Chinatown" | |
| Miracle Workers | God's Mom | Episode: "1 Day" | |
| 2020 | The Bachelorette | Herself | Episode: "Week 3" |
| Mike Tyson Mysteries | Michelle | Voice, episode: "Your Old Man" | |
| The Bold Type | Herself | Episode: "#Scarlet" | |
| 2021–22 | Tuca & Bertie | Bertie's mother | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Infinity Train | Morgan | Voice, 3 episodes |
| Pride | Herself | Episode: "2000s: Y2Gay" | |
| Good Trouble | Herself | 3 episodes | |
| The Great North | Jan | Voice, episode: "Brace/Off Adventure" | |
| Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. | Frankie | Episode: "Career Babes" | |
| Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens | Mistress Jupiter | 2 episodes | |
| 2022 | Bubble Guppies | Lucy | Voice, episode: "The SS Friendship!" |
| I Can See Your Voice | Herself | 1 episode | |
| The Flight Attendant | Charlie Utada | Recurring role (season 2) | |
| Hacks | Herself | Episode: "The Captain's Wife" | |
| The L Word: Generation Q | Herself | Episode: "Quiz Show" | |
| 2023 | History of the World, Part II | Sophia | Episode: "VI" |
| Not Dead Yet | Miss Cassandra | Episode: "Not Scattered Yet" | |
| Call Me Kat | Val Park | Episode: "Call Me, Pretty Kitty" | |
| Launchpad | Maxine | Episode: "Maxine" | |
| 2024 | Life & Beth | Dr. Collins | 2 episodes |
| Zombies: The Re-Animated Series | Ashley | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| Kite Man: Hell Yeah! | Rebecca Chen | Voice, 4 episodes | |
| Doctor Odyssey | Judy Riva | Episode: "Wellness Week" | |
| 2025 | Dying for Sex | 2 episodes | |
| Will Trent | Dr. Roach | Episode: "Push, Jump, Fall" | |
| The Bravest Knight | Cho | Voice, episode: "Cedric & the Genie" | |
| Percy Jackson and the Olympians | Wasp | Episode: "I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals" |
| Year | Title | Studio | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | HBO Comedy Half-Hour | HBO | Broadcast / Streaming (2015) |
| 2000 | Filmed Live in Concert – I'm the One That I Want | Fox Lorber CentreStage /Winstar / Matchbox Films | Broadcast / VHS/DVD (2001) / Download/Streaming (2013) |
| 2002 | Filmed Live in Concert – Notorious C.H.O. | Vagrant Films /Wellspring / Matchbox Films | Broadcast / VHS/DVD / Download/Streaming (2013) |
| 2004 | CHO Revolution | Cho Taussig Productions / Wellspring / Matchbox Films | VHS/DVD / Download/Streaming (2013) |
| 2005 | Assassin | Regent Releasing/Here! Films /Koch Vision / Matchbox Films | Theatrical / DVD / Download/Streaming (2013) |
| 2009 | Beautiful | Asian Crush /Showtime /Image Entertainment / Matchbox Films | Broadcast / DVD / Download/Streaming (2013) |
| 2011 | Cho Dependent | Clownery Productions / Showtime / Matchbox Films | Broadcast / DVD / Download/Streaming (2013) |
| 2015 | PsyCHO | Clownery Productions / Showtime / Comedy Dynamics | Broadcast / DVD / Download / Streaming |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Girltrash! | Min Suk | Episode 3 |
| 2013 | Gayle | Yo-Yo Ma | Episode: "Chibby Point" |
| 2013 | In Transition | Tawny Kim | 13 episodes |
| Date | Guests |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2019 | Jonathan Van Ness and Katie Malia |
| July 22, 2019 | Kat Von D andDrew Droege |
| July 29, 2019 | Michael Yo and Lucas Peterson |
| August 5, 2019 | Robin Tran |
| August 12, 2019 | Fortune Feimster andJodi Long |
| August 19, 2019 | Diablo Cody,Durk Dehner, and S. R. Sharp |
| August 26, 2019 | Cherie Currie andHelen Hong |
| September 2, 2019 | Daniel Webb |
| September 9, 2019 | Jo Koy andIan Harvie |
| September 16, 2019 | Trixie Mattel |
| September 23, 2019 | Amy Landecker |
| October 1, 2019 | Jackie Beat andMary H.K. Choi |
| Year | Title | Publisher | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | I'm the One That I Want | Random House | Hardcover / Paperback / Kindle / CD / Audible (Read by the Author) |
| 2005 | I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight | Penguin-HighBridge | Hardcover / Paperback / Kindle / CD / Download (Read by the Author) |
| Year | Title | Label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Drunk with Power | Uproar Entertainment | Cassette / CD / Download |
| 1998 | Live in Houston | Soundball International | CD |
| 2001 | Live in Concert – I'm the One That I Want | Cho Taussig Productions /Nettwerk America | 2xCD / Download |
| 2002 | Notorious C.H.O. – Live at Carnegie Hall | Nettwerk America | 2xCD / Download |
| 2003 | Revolution | Nettwerk America | CD / Download |
| 2005 | Assassin | Nettwerk | CD / Download |
| 2009 | Live and Uncut – Beautiful | Image Entertainment | Download |
| 2011 | Cho Dependent – Live at the Tabernacle | Clownery Records | Download |
| 2015 | PsyCHO | Clownery Productions | Download |
| Year | Title | Label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Cho Dependent | Clownery Records | LP / CD / Download |
| 2016 | American Myth | Clownery Records | Download |
| 2025 | Lucky Gift | Clownery Records | LP / Download |
| Year | Title | Label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Pair of Jokers: Margaret Cho &Bobby Collins | Clown Jewels | Download |
| Year | Title | Other Artists | Label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Daddy Gay Story | Junior Vasquez Mix | Nettwerk America | 12" Promo |
| 2008 | I Cho Am a Woman | Deston Entertainment | Download | |
| 2011 | Sexting | Gomi &Sherry Vine | None | Download |
| 2012 | I Drink /How Little Men Care | Neil Hamburger | Million Dollar Performances | 7" / Download |
| 2014 | See U Next Tuesday | Adam Barta | Margaret Cho | Download |
| 2015 | Fat Pussy | Clownery Records | Download | |
| M**********n' Emojis! | Princess Superstar | Princess Superstar | Download | |
| Ron's Got a DUI | Garrison Starr | Clownery Records | Download | |
| 2016 | Anna Nicole | Clownery Records | Clear 7" Promo / Download | |
| 2017 | Asians in Hollywood (Live atLargo) | 7-Inches forPlanned Parenthood | ℗ 7-Inches For™, LLC | 7" / Download |
| 2024 | 4Skin (feat. Margaret Cho) (Cho Remix) | Gay Virgin | Gay Virgin Records | Download |
| Year | Title | Tracks | Label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Paul McCartney & Friends:ThePeTA Concert For Party Animals | "Margaret Cho" | Image Entertainment | VHS / DVD |
| 2006 | Wed-Rock: A Benefit For Freedom To Marry | "Read the Administration" / "Origin of Love" | Centaur Entertainment | CD / Download |
| 2010 | Drop Dead Diva (Music from the Original Television Series) | "Would I Lie To You" / "Restraining Order" | Madison Gate Records | CD / Download |
| New Music Seminar – New York City – 7/21/10 (5th Movement – The Breaks) | Moderator | New Music Seminar, LLC | Download | |
| 2013 | An Evening WithNeil Gaiman &Amanda Palmer | "Margaret Cho Introduces The Show" | 8 ft. Records | LP / CD / Download |
| See a Little Light: A Celebration of the Music and Legacy ofBob Mould | "Your Favorite Thing" | Granary Music | DVD / Download | |
| 2014 | 2776: ALevinson Bros & Rob Kutner Presentation | "Mt. Rushmore" | Levinson Bros & Rob Kutner | CD / Download |
| 2015 | Mitre:Mitre | "Bulletproof" | Mitre Records, Inc. | Download |
| 2016 | Ginger Minj:Sweet T | "Ride or Die" | Producer Entertainment Group | CD / Download |
| 2018 | Just for Laughs – Premium, Vol. 26 | "Fresh Off the Boat" (Jfl 2015) | Just for Laughs | CD / Download |
| Year | Title | Other Artists | Director | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | My Puss | Diana Yanez, Kurt Hall, Maureen & Angela | Margaret Cho | Cho Dependent |
| 2009 | Eat Shit and Die (Live atLargo) | Grant-Lee Phillips &Alexander Burke | ||
| 25 Random Things (Live at Largo) | Alexander Burke | Non-album track | ||
| 2010 | My Lil' Wayne | Ben Lee, Nic Johns; cameraIone Skye | Al Ridenour | |
| I'm Sorry | Andrew Bird | Liam Sullivan | Cho Dependent | |
| Eat Shit and Die | Grant-Lee Phillips | |||
| Lice | Ben Lee | |||
| Intervention | Tegan and Sara | |||
| 2011 | Captain Cameltoe | Ani DiFranco | Roberutsu | |
| Hey Big Dog | Fiona Apple; co-writerPatty Griffin | Al Ridenour | ||
| Asian Adjacent | Grant-Lee Phillips | Tani Ikeda | ||
| Baby I'm with the Band | Brendan Benson | Liam Sullivan | ||
| 2013 | Doesn't It Remind You of Something | Ken Stringfellow (Feat. Margaret Cho) | Casey Curry | Danzig In the Moonlight |
| 2015 | How Close Is Glenn Close | John Roberts | Ned Stressen Rueter & Katherine Kendall | Non-album track |
| Fat Pussy | John Asher | American Myth | ||
| Ron's Got a DUI | Garrison Starr; starringLeslie Jordan | Bryan Mir | ||
| I Wanna Kill My Rapist | Andy Moraga & Roger Rocha | Bryan Mir & Ben Eisner | ||
| M**********n' Emojis! | Princess Superstar | Francis Legge | Non-album track | |
| DICKtator | Andy Moraga | |||
| 2016 | Anna Nicole | Garrison Starr | Bryan Mir | American Myth |
| Come With Me | ||||
| Anna Nicole (Live Acoustic) | ||||
| Green Tea | Awkwafina | Tony Kim | In Fina We Trust EP |
| Year | Title | Artist | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Former Miss Ontario | The Music Lovers | Princess Farhana, Bobby Pinz, Kelly, Vima & Margaret Cho |
| 2007 | Masculin Feminin | Diana Yanez &Ian Harvie | |
| Dancing Pom-Chi | Latin Jazz | Gudrun, directed with Al Ridenour | |
| Understood | Garrison Starr | Kurt Hall, Diana Yanez,Pleasant Gehman, Liam Sullivan & Bruce Daniels; shot with Scott Silverman & Ian Harvie | |
| Eyes in the Back of My Head | The Cliks | Margaret Cho, Diana Yanez &Amanda Palmer | |
| 2009 | San Francisco | Jill Sobule | Lorene Machado, Mookey Goh,Violet Blue, Monistat,Peter Acworth,Lorelei Lee,Mark Eitzel,Cecilia Chung &Tita Aida |
| 2010 | Young James Dean | Girlyman | Original Plumbing-Amos Mac &Rocco Kayiatos, Ian Harvie,Madison Young, Donna Delore & Tomcat |
| The Bear Song | Pixie Herculon | Danny Blume & Gary Meister |
Cho says executive producer Gail Berman [...] told her, "The network has a problem with the fullness of your face." Cho's dieting got so bad she lost 30 pounds in two weeks that she made a secret trip to an emergency room when her kidneys failed.
It's a place that I really love. Fire Island is steeped in gay history and it's a place we've always gone to feel safe in the summer…
