Brian Tee
He brought quiet authority and a compelling presence to the role of Dr. Ethan Choi, anchoring a hit medical drama for nearly a decade.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Japanese and American actor·Birthday: March 15·Generation X
Biography
Brian Tee's journey to television screens began far from Hollywood, born in Okinawa and moving to California as a toddler. His path wasn't a straight shot; he studied environmental biology at university before the pull of performance led him to acting classes. Tee built his career steadily, appearing in everything from teen shows like 'Zoey 101' to gritty films like 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,' where he played a villain. His breakthrough came with the procedural world of 'Chicago Med,' where for eight seasons he portrayed the disciplined and principled Dr. Ethan Choi, a role that made him a familiar face in living rooms across America. Beyond the hospital set, Tee has been a vocal advocate for Asian representation in media, using his platform to push for more nuanced and prominent roles for actors of Asian descent.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brian was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Dr. Ethan Choi for eight consecutive seasons on NBC's hit series 'Chicago Med'.
- Played the key antagonist, DK, in the blockbuster film 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'.
- Appeared in acclaimed television series such as 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'The Good Doctor,' and 'Teen Wolf'.
- Co-founded the production company BAM, focusing on creating content that highlights diverse stories.
Did You Know?
His birth name is Jae-Beom Takata.
He is a trained martial artist, holding a black belt in Taekwondo.
He originally pursued a degree in environmental biology at the University of California, Berkeley.
He voiced the character of Liu Kang in the video game 'Mortal Kombat X'.
“I studied environmental biology, but the stage was my real ecosystem.”
