Lauren Tom

Lauren Tom (born August 4, 1961) is an American actress best known for her roles as Lena St. Clair (The Joy Luck Club), Julie (TV series Friends), Amy Wong (and Amy's mother, Inez) on the animated TV comedy series Futurama and Minh & Connie Souphanousinphone on the animated TV comedy series King of the Hill. Tom was born August 4, 1961 in Highland Park, Illinois, the Chinese American daughter of Nancy (née Dare) and Chan Tom, who worked in the fr... more

Lauren Tom (born August 4, 1961) is an American actress best known for her roles as Lena St. Clair (The Joy Luck Club), Julie (TV series Friends), Amy Wong (and Amy's mother, Inez) on the animated TV comedy series Futurama and Minh & Connie Souphanousinphone on the animated TV comedy series King of the Hill. Tom was born August 4, 1961 in Highland Park, Illinois, the Chinese American daughter of Nancy (née Dare) and Chan Tom, who worked in the frozen food business. In an article for Detour Magazine, Tom describes how, as a child, teasing from other children about her Chinese heritage, served to make her introverted, which in turn, is what originally inspired her to get into dancing. At the age of 17, Tom landed a spot with a touring company of A Chorus Line. She was cast in the Broadway version of the show less than a year later. She won an Obie Award for her off-broadway acting, and she's been in such other Broadway shows as Hurlyburly and Doonesbury. During her six years in New York... less