Emily Keiko Kuroda (born October 30, 1952) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Mrs. Kim on TV's Gilmore Girls, but she has had a long career on stage and screen and is a veteran of East West Players, Los Angeles's premier Asian American theater group.

Early life and education

Kuroda, a Japanese American, was born in Fresno, California, the daughter of Kay and William Kuroda. She began acting and directing in high school and majored in drama at California State University, Fresno before launching her career on stage and screen.

Career

Kuroda has performed in numerous plays including Luis Alfaro's Straight as a Line at Playwrights' Arena, directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, Chay Yew's Red at East West Players, Winter People at the Boston Court, and Ken Narasaki's Innocent When You Dream at the Electric Lodge, which was directed by her husband, Alberto Isaac. She appeared in Narasaki's No-No Boy at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica CA, also directed by Isaac, alongside her Gilmore Girls daughter, Keiko Agena. Other theatres include New York's Public Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Seattle Rep, Singapore Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, LA Women's Shakespeare Company, Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival, and Lodestone Theatre Ensemble.

Kuroda completed seven years as Mrs. Kim in Warner BrothersGilmore Girls as well as the Netflix revisit in 2016. She also played opposite Flavor Flav in 13 episodes of Under One Roof. Recent television credits include a recurring role on Drop Dead Diva (as Margaret Cho's mother), Medium, Grey's Anatomy, In Case of Emergency, Six Feet Under, The King of Queens, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Practice, General Hospital, Port Charles, L.A. Law, ER, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Division, The Agency, Presidio Med, Arliss, and the television special About Love (Emmy nominated). Feature films include RED, PEEP WORLD, Minority Report, Stranger Inside, 2 Days in the Valley, Dad, Broken Words, Worth Winning and Shopgirl. She has also appeared in independent Asian American films, including The Sensei, Yellow and Stand Up for Justice.

She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Actors' Equity Association.

Personal life

Kuroda is married to actor Alberto Isaac.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986American GeishaKikusen
1989SoloTakiShort
1989Worth WinningCory Chu
1989DadVicki
1990Why Me?News Anchorwoman
1991Late for DinnerNurse Ruth
1993Broken WordsGrandmother
1998YellowMrs. Lee
1999The SuburbansMrs. Lee Lee
2001Stranger InsideMin
2003Day of IndependenceChoir MemberShort
2004Stand Up for JusticeMrs. MatsuokaShort
2005Pawns of the KingKeikoShort
2005ShopgirlJapanese WomanShort
2006My Prince, My AngelShen's MotherShort
2008The SenseiFlora Nakano
2009Hotel for DogsSocial Worker
2009Aussie and Ted's Great AdventureMei Mei
2009Love 10 to 1Ma
2010The Man Who Invented the WordsShort
2010Peep WorldNail Salon Owner
2010REDMrs. Chan
2010A Super Duper Exotic Erotic Fetish Sexy Must See Story... A Tragedy of Oriental Proportions!Short
2011Lost RitesJun-LiShort
2012Family RestaurantFemale Customer/Still PhotographerShort
2013Family GatheringCo-producerShort
2013Yellow FaceGish Jen
2013Uncle BartMrs. ParkShort
2014Alec Mapa: Baby DaddySpecial ThanksDocumentary
2015Maybe SomedayMrs. Kibble
2016Justice AngelFang
2017Take the 10Patti
2022KimiDr. Sarah Burns
2022Strange WorldRo (voice)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982Remington SteeleAkemiEpisode: "Your Steele the One for Me"
1983Tales of the Gold MonkeyGeisha GirlEpisode: "Naka Jima Kill"
1985CBS StorybreakVoiceEpisode: "Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China"
1987Gung HoYukiko Saito2 episodes
1988MatlockReceptionistEpisode: "The Investigation: Part 1"
1988MacGyverKaren MatsugaEpisode: "The Spoilers"
1988–89L.A. LawRonnie Page6 episodes
1989The Preppie MurderReporterTV movie
1990LifestoriesRoom NurseEpisode: "Don Chapin"
1990Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream ZoneVoice13 episodes
1990She Said NoReginaTV movie
1990DonorICU NurseTV movie
1991ColumboLindaEpisode: "Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health"
1990–91Knots LandingWoman/Cleaning Lady/Banker3 episodes
1991Life Goes OnDr. KitoEpisode: "Dr. Kito"
1991Dynasty: The ReunionNurse LinTV movie
1991–92Doogie Howser, M.D.Anesthesiologist/Janet Masuda2 episodes
1992SistersReporter/Nurse2 episodes
1992LadykillerJack's SecretaryTV movie
1992–93The Jackie Thomas ShowWaitress2 episodes
1993ShadowhunterADR Loop GroupTV movie
1993About LoveJeannette KimTV movie
1993Melrose PlaceNurseEpisode: "Carpe Diem"
1994A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal LifestyleDr. Nancy LeeTV movie
1995Awake to DangerTV movie
1995Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall StoryO.R. NurseTV movie
1996ERDottie, Hospital Day-Care WorkerEpisode: "Take These Broken Wings"
1996Party GirlMikotoEpisode: "Pilot"
1997HeartlessDr. Alice MorisakiTV movie
1998ProfilerDr. GarsonEpisode: "Bloodlust"
1998The Young and the RestlessNurse Candice Katsumoto6 episodes
1999WorkingExecutive Storyteller #3Episode: "Romeo and Julie"
1999Party of FiveNurse WolfeEpisode: "Rings of Saturn"
1999L.A. HeatMrs. KwanEpisode: "F Is for Framed"
1999The PracticeMiss Hines - Dental HygienistEpisode: "Free Dental"
1999SnoopsKDLA ReporterEpisode: "The Grinch"
2000Chicago HopeDr. BatesEpisode: "Simon Sez"
2000Shasta McNastyNurseEpisode: "The Sugar Pill"
2000Family LawDr. BraunEpisode: "Affairs of the State"
2000–07Gilmore GirlsMrs. Kim43 episodes
2001The King of QueensLilyEpisode: "Sight Gag"
2001Curb Your EnthusiasmRestaurant EmployeeEpisode: "The Shrimp Incident"
2001–02The Agency3 episodes
2003The HandlerDr. Kim AndersonEpisode: "Under Color of Law"
2004Six Feet UnderDr. KeyEpisode: "Grinding the Corn"
2006Clark and MichaelDriving Range Woman
2007In Case of EmergencyMrs. TuckmanEpisode: "Forbidden Love"
2007State of MindDoctorEpisode: "Passion Fishing"
2008-2009Under One RoofSu Ho13 episodes
2009Grey's AnatomyKendall SullyEpisode: "Stand By Me"
2010MediumMorgue AttendantEpisode: "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day"
2010–11Drop Dead DivaMrs. Lee2 episodes
2012DakotaCleaning WomanEpisode: "Down $1,170"
2012BFFsJessica's Mother2 episodes
2012SlantedAuntie LindaEpisode: "Paying Your Dues"
2012ScruplesCecileTV movie
2013BloodlineGloriaTV movie
2014SequesteredRufang12 episodes
2007–14The Bold and the BeautifulDr. Kimborough/Archive Footage6 episodes
2014–15Just Us GuysMrs. K5 episodes
2016Gilmore Girls: A Year in the LifeMrs. KimEpisode: "Spring"
2018The ResidentPenny OhEpisode: "The Germ"
2019The Good DoctorSunny LeeEpisode: "Xin"
2021All RiseDr. JohnsonEpisode: "Safe to Fall"
2022Baymax!Kiko (voice)2 episodes
2023The PowerSister VeronicaRecurring role

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
Straight as a Line
RedEast West Players
Winter PeopleBoston Court
Innocent When You DreamElectric Lodge
No-No BoyMiles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica, California

Awards and other recognitions

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
Drama-Logue AwardsIkebana, The Maids, Minimata, The Golden Gate, and Visitors from NagasakiWon
City of Los Angeles CommendationAbout LoveWon
Back Stage West Garland AwardOutstanding PerformanceStraight As a LineWon
1999Los Angeles TimesTop 10Straight as a LineWon
2000Los Angeles Ovation AwardBest Lead Actress in a PlayStraight As a LineNominated
2001Los Angeles TimesTop 10RedWon
2004Entertainment Today AwardBest ActressWinter PeopleWon
2006East West Players' Rae Creevey AwardWon
2006Playwrights' Arena AwardOutstanding Contribution to Los Angeles TheatreWon

External links