Michael Chow: actor and ‘Mr Chow’ restaurant owner on being Chinese in Hollywood
Star of 16 feature films, who left China aged 12, is son of legendary Beijing opera star Zhou Xinfang and owns the upmarket restaurant chain
Michael Chow is a man who wears many hats.
As the owner of Mr Chow, the upmarket restaurant chain across the United States and in London, he has transformed food into art for the past 30 years, serving clients that include celebrity regulars.
Chow has also starred in 16 films, held numerous art exhibitions, and designed houses.
Although he comes from a wealthy family, not all of Chow’s journey has been smooth sailing.
Yet, overcoming adversity has helped make him who he is today.
Born in Shanghai, and known as Zhou Yinghua in Chinese, Chow comes from a family of artists.
His father, Zhou Xinfang, is a legendary Beijing opera master.
I’ve had many lives and many professions ... I became an actor and did my first film in 1956. I became obsessed with film and I wanted to be a director. But they didn’t want me
Chow left China at 12 and spent his adolescent years in Britain before eventually settling down in Los Angeles.
Despite leaving China at a young age, Chow strongly identifies as Chinese, and has done everything he can to honour his heritage.
