You’ve definitely seen Arnold Chun. You just might not realize it because the guy is basically a human chameleon. While most actors spend their lives trying to land that one "big break," Chun has quietly built a resume that spans from high-stakes sci-fi to some of the most iconic sitcoms of the last twenty years. Honestly, looking at the list of Arnold Chun movies and tv shows, it's kinda wild how many massive franchises he's touched.
He didn't start out in Hollywood, though. Chun was actually a mechanical engineering consultant before he took the plunge into acting around 2003. He’s a Boston kid who grew up in L.A., and that mix of East Coast grit and West Coast industry savvy shows up in how he navigates the business. He isn't just an actor; he’s a producer, a director, and an advocate for AAPI stories that actually mean something.
The Man in the High Castle: The Role That Changed Everything
If you know him from anything, it’s probably The Man in the High Castle. He played Kotomichi, the trusted aide to Trade Minister Tagomi. For a few seasons, he was just "the helpful guy in the office." Then the show dropped the massive bombshell that Kotomichi was actually a traveler from our timeline—a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing who had literally jumped into a parallel universe.
The depth he brought to that role was intense. He had these prosthetic burn scars on his arm that were a constant, silent reminder of his character’s trauma. It wasn't just sci-fi fluff. Chun actually did the work to make that pain feel real. You could see it in his eyes whenever Tagomi would talk about the "other side." It remains one of the most underrated performances in the Amazon Prime era.
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A Wild Mix of Sitcoms and Blockbusters
The sheer variety in his filmography is enough to give you whiplash. One day he’s a waiter on How I Met Your Mother, and the next he’s a North Korean soldier on Leverage. He’s popped up in:
- The Big Bang Theory (He played Ho-Jun in "The Agreement Dissection")
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Hawaii Five-0
- The Last Ship
But he doesn't just stick to the small screen. He’s been in some of the biggest popcorn movies of the last decade. He was a soldier in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, a tech in Geostorm, and a commanding officer in the Dwayne Johnson giant-monster flick Rampage. Most recently, he had a supporting role as Takashi Ito in the 2022 Brad Pitt actioner Bullet Train.
It’s a specific kind of career. He’s the guy directors call when they need someone who can deliver lines with total authority or complete comedic timing without breaking a sweat.
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The Myth of "The Other Chun"
There is a bit of confusion online that we should probably clear up. People often mix up Arnold Chun with Greg Chun. Greg is a massive name in the voice acting world (think Squid Game, Judgment, and Fire Emblem). While Arnold does have voice-over credits on his resume, they are two different people. Arnold is primarily the face you see on screen, though both have contributed a ton to Asian-American representation in media.
Directing and the Personal Projects
Lately, Chun has been moving behind the camera much more. He’s been very open about the fact that for years, the only roles available for Asian-American actors were "samurai," "laundromat owner," or "North Korean insurgent." He got tired of it.
He made his directorial debut with a short called Eli’s Liquor Store back in 2007, which actually picked up a bunch of awards on the festival circuit. Fast forward to 2025 and 2026, and he's been focused on a project that is incredibly personal: Children of War.
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This movie is based on his father’s actual life as an orphan during the Korean War. Chun spent years recording his father’s stories, trying to figure out how to do them justice. It’s a pivot from the big-budget CGI of Rampage, but it feels like the work he was actually meant to do. He’s also slated for a role in a 2025 project called Man From Shandong, playing a character simply billed as "Old Man - Leading," which suggests he’s finally getting those meaty, character-driven roles he deserves.
What’s Next for Arnold Chun?
The landscape of Arnold Chun movies and tv shows is shifting. He’s no longer just the guy in the background of a Michael Bay movie. As of 2026, he’s increasingly seen as a filmmaker who bridges the gap between the immigrant experience and modern Hollywood storytelling.
If you’re looking to catch up on his work, here is the best way to do it:
- Watch Season 2 of The Man in the High Castle. This is where his character, Kotomichi, gets his big reveal. It’s arguably his best acting work to date.
- Check out Bullet Train. It’s a fun, chaotic movie where he fits right into the high-octane ensemble.
- Keep an eye out for his independent directorial work. Projects like Children of War are where his actual heart is.
Chun’s career is a reminder that being a "working actor" in Hollywood is a marathon, not a sprint. He’s survived the era of stereotypical bit parts and come out the other side as a creator with a very specific, very powerful voice.
For those interested in the craft, keep an eye on his upcoming production credits. Chun is moving into a phase where he isn't just appearing in the stories—he's the one deciding which stories get told in the first place. You can follow his latest updates through industry trades or his personal production announcements, as he frequently speaks at AAPI media panels about the evolving state of the industry.