Margaret Cho was born Dec. 5, 1968 and raised in San Francisco. Her grandfather was a Methodist minister who ran an orphanage in Seoul during the Korean War. Ignoring the traditions of her patriarchal culture, her mother bravely resisted an arranged marriage in Korea and married Margaret's father who writes joke books - in Korean. What Margaret did know is that she didn't love being a kid. Racing toward adulthood to escape bullying, she began writing jokes for stand up at 14 and professionally performing at age 16. Getting picked on, and feeling disenfranchised, is a subject that's very near to Margaret's heart. She has become a sort of "Patron Saint" for Outsiders, speaking for them when they are not able to speak for themselves. Soon after starting her Stand Up career, Margaret won a comedy contest where first prize was opening for Jerry Seinfeld. She moved to Los Angeles in the early '90s and, still in her early twenties, hit the college circuit, where she immediately became the most booked act in the market and garnered a nomination for "Campus Comedian of The Year." She performed over 300 concerts within two years. Arsenio Hall introduced her to late night audiences, Bob Hope put her on a prime time special and, seemingly overnight, Margaret Cho became a national celebrity. Her groundbreaking, controversial, and short-lived ABC sitcom, All-American Girl , and PFLAG for making a significant difference in promoting equal rights for all, regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender identity. In June of 2011, Margaret was honored by LA Pride, receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing an individual whose lifetime body of work has left a lasting major imprint on the LGBT community. Through her hard work, Margaret has had the opportunity to be heard, to extend her point of view and become regarded as a true pioneer in her field. She takes none of it for granted.
Her mother was unable to provide for Margaret on her own, so she sent Margaret to Korea to live with her father and grandparents.
Just 3 days after she was born, her father was deported because he failed to obtain a work permit -- her mother was allowed to remain in San Francisco.
Kicked out of Lowell High School because she had a 0.60 GPA, but was later accepted to McAteer High School for the Performing Arts.
Her parents moved to San Francisco from Seoul, Korea in 1964.
At age 16 started doing stand up comedy. Traveled widely with Janeane Garofalo on the comedy club circuit. They blamed each other for their bad smoking habits.
Was the star of the first sitcom to feature an all Asian-American cast (which was based on her own life and stand-up comedy act.)
Lost 30 pounds in two weeks before the filming of the debut episode of "All-American Girl" . The night after completing filming, her kidneys collapsed causing her to be hospitalized.
Was hired to play a TV version of herself, but then forced to both lose weight and act "more Asian". Several episodes later was instructed to act "less Asian."
Is a fan of adult film actor Jeff Stryker. She has spoken admiringly of him in some of her stand up monologues.
Favorite band is Canadian group Broken Social Scene.
Chosen by Goldsea Asian American Daily as one of the "100 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time".
Friends with Steve Harvey , and Jane Lynch.
Being called ugly and fat and disgusting to look at from the time I,could barely understand what the words meant has scarred me so deep,inside that I have learned to hunt, stalk, claim, own and defend my own,loveliness.
I’m not going to die because I failed as someone else. I’m going to succeed as myself.
I am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me. And it has nothing to do with what I look like really, it is just that I gave myself the power to say that I am beautiful, and if I could do that, maybe there is hope for them too. And the great divide between the beautiful and the ugly will cease to be. Because we are all what we choose.
Whenever anyone has called me a bitch, I have taken it as a compliment. To me, a bitch is assertive, unapologetic, demanding, intimidating, intelligent, fiercely protective, in control — all very positive attributes. But it’s not supposed to be a compliment, because there’s that stupid double standard: When men are aggressive and dominant, they are admired, but when a woman possesses those same qualities, she is dismissed and called a bitch. These days, I strive to be a bitch, because not being one sucks. Not being a bitch means not having your voice heard. Not being a bitch means you agree with all the bullshit. Not being a bitch means you don’t appreciate all the other bitches who have come before you. Not being a bitch means since Eve ate that apple, we will forever have to pay for her bitchiness with complacence, obedience, acceptance, closed eyes, and open legs.
I have so much hate that it has turned into love.
Love is the big booming beat which covers up the noise of hate.
Sometimes the only way to deal with horrific things in life is through a dark sense of humor.
I think it is really sad that when people lose their homes they kind of lose their minds too.
