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Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho
01:00

Margaret Cho

Los Angeles, CA USA

"To be rich is to do what you want and be happy, and to be able to live."

Career Roadmap

Margaret's work combines: Acting & Theatre, Television, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

Comedian

I challenge social norms about race and sexuality through my comedy and writing.

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    At age 16, she realized she could be a comedian, but her parents weren't supportive, so she ran away to San Francisco.

  • 2.

    Says she realized very early on that she didn't want to ever compromise her own happiness to appease her parents.

  • 3.

    She went to L.A. to try to be an actress at the age of 19, but quickly realized that she was going to face a lot of typecasting.

  • 4.

    At one point, Rob Schneider's agent told her, "Asian people will never be successful in comedy. You have your life ahead of you-you should quit."

  • 5.

    She ignored that advice and kept going; took any odd job she could to keep her afloat in her pursuit of her dream.

  • 6.

    She worked as a Raggedy Ann doll at FAO Schwarz, at a bookstore, and as a short-order cook, and did comedy gigs late into the night.

  • 7.

    Soon, she was the most-booked act on college campuses, and once Bob Hope featured her on one of his specials, she became an overnight celebrity.

  • 8.

    Says the key to success is that you have to enjoy the small steps along the way; "if you love every step [of the process], it will lead somewhere."