Albert Tsai Explained

Albert Tsai
Birth Date:5 August 2004
Birth Place:San Jose, California, U.S.
Education:Columbia University
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:2013–present

Albert Tsai (born August 5, 2004[1]) is an American actor. He is known for starring as Fred on the Disney Channel comedy series Coop & Cami Ask the World[2] and as Bert Harrison on ABC’s Trophy Wife from 2013 to 2014. Tsai has also made recurring guest appearances as Phillip Goldstein in the ABC comedy series Fresh Off the Boat. In 2014, at the age of nine, he earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Critics' Choice Television Awards for his performance on ABC’s comedy series Trophy Wife.[3] In 2015, Tsai was named one of Entertainment Weeklys 12 Best Child Actors of 2015 for his work on Dr. Ken. In 2019, Tsai starred as Peng in the DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studio animated feature film Abominable, released by Universal Pictures on September 27, 2019.[4]

Career

Tsai was born and raised in San Jose, California. He is bilingual and speaks Mandarin fluently.[2] Tsai discovered his interest in acting at seven years old, while he participated in a school play. In 2013, he had his first television appearance on the CBS series How I Met Your Mother.[5] Later that year, Tsai was cast as Bert Harrison, the adopted Chinese son of an attorney and his ex-wife, in the critically acclaimed comedy series Trophy Wife.[6] [7] His acting on the show earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor from the Critics' Choice Television Awards and he was named as a Breakout TV Star of 2013 by The Huffington Post.[2] [8] Tsai was a regular cast-member on the show until its cancellation in 2014.[9] In 2014, Tsai guest starred in the USA Network's comedy Benched,[10] and as a boy scout who helps Betty White in the TV Land series Hot in Cleveland.[2] [7] He also made his standup comedy debut on The Arsenio Hall Show.[11] In 2015, Tsai appeared in two episodes of the ABC series Fresh Off the Boat[12] and starred in the film Grandma Money as Pope, a neglected and shy 9 year old. Later that year Tsai was cast as Dave Park, the son of main character Ken Park (Ken Jeong), in the ABC comedy Dr. Ken.[13] [14] [15] Shortly after the series premiered, Tsai was named one of Entertainment Weeklys 12 Best Child Actors of 2015.[16] In 2016, Tsai guest starred in The CW comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, voiced a character on The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, and won the Best Young Actor in a Television series at the first Young Entertainer Awards.[17] In 2017, Tsai guest starred in the 9JKL pilot and was promoted to series regular for the first season of CBS family comedy.[18]

In 2018, Tsai was cast as Fred on Disney Channels new live-action comedy Coop and Cami Ask the World which premiered on October 12, 2018.[19] In 2019, Tsai starred as Peng in DreamWorks’ animated feature film Abominable, released on September 27 by Universal Pictures.[20]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013How I Met Your MotherKadenEpisode: "Something Old"
2013–2014Trophy WifeBert HarrisonMain role
2014Hot in ClevelandJimmyEpisode: "Stayin Alive"
The Arsenio Hall ShowHimselfEpisode #1.128
BenchedWalterEpisode: "Campaign Contributions"
2014–2016Home and FamilyHimself3 episodes
2015–2016Fresh Off the BoatPhillip Goldstein3 episodes
2015–2017Dr. KenDave ParkMain role
2016Crazy Ex-GirlfriendXiao WongEpisode: "When Will Josh See How Cool I Am?"
The Mr. Peabody & Sherman ShowKid (voice)2 episodes
Jimmy Kimmel Live!HimselfEpisode: Lin-Manuel Miranda/Ken Jeong and Albert Tsai/ T.I.
2017–20189JKLIanMain role
2018–2020Coop & Cami Ask the WorldFredMain role
2021Action RoyaleHenryMain role

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015Grandma MoneyPopeLead
2016Kid 2
2019AbominablePengLead (Voice role)
2022Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick RulesDrewVoice role

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
2014Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesTrophy Wife
Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series - Best Supporting Young ActorTrophy Wife
2015Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor - 10 and underBenched
Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series - Leading Young Actor - 13 and underTrophy Wife
2016Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series - Best Supporting Young ActorDr. Ken
Young Entertainer AwardsBest Supporting Young Actor -Television SeriesDr. Ken
2017Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series - Leading Young ActorDr. Ken

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coop & Cami Ask the World Show Bios. Disney ABC Press. September 17, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180917220826/https://www.disneyabcpress.com/disneychannel/shows/coop-and-cami-ask-the-world/bios/. September 17, 2018. dead.
  2. Web site: Character Biography. ABC. December 24, 2016.
  3. Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: And the Nominees Are.... Entertainment Weekly. Ariana. Bacle. May 28, 2014. December 24, 2016.
  4. DreamWorks Animation And Pearl Studio Announce Cast Of "Abominable" At Annecy International Animation Festival. DreamWorks Animation. June 17, 2018.
  5. Web site: Trophy Wife Shines the Spotlight on Breakout Star Albert Tsai with Birthday Blowout. TV Guide. Kate. Stanhope. March 3, 2014. December 24, 2016.
  6. Web site: 'Trophy Wife': San Jose's Albert Tsai Shines in ABC Sitcom. The Mercury News. San Jose, California. Chuck . Barney . November 12, 2013. December 24, 2016.
  7. Web site: 'Trophy Wife's' Albert Tsai to Guest on 'Hot in Cleveland' Live Premiere. The Wrap. Jethro . Nededog . March 13, 2014. December 24, 2016.
  8. Web site: Presenting the Breakout TV Stars of 2013. The Huffington Post. Hilary . Miller. December 25, 2013. December 24, 2016.
  9. Web site: Catching Up With: "Dr Ken" Star Albert Tsai. Young Hollywood. Sarah. Osman. December 24, 2016.
  10. Web site: 'Benched' on USA:Funny Concept, Amazing Cast... We're In . Yahoo Tv. October 28, 2014. Maggie . Furlong. December 24, 2016.
  11. Web site: Albert Tsai Makes His Standup Comedy Debut. Aol. On. December 24, 2016.
  12. Web site: Fresh Off the Boat Exclusive Video: Eddie Meets the New Kid.. Albert Tsai!. TV Guide. Hanh . Nguyen. March 9, 2015. December 24, 2016.
  13. Web site: Dr. Ken's Albert Tsai Talks Comedy and Kung Fu. Tell-Tale TV. Jennifer . Stasak . October 23, 2015 . December 24, 2016.
  14. Web site: Dr. Ken's Albert Tsai Steals the Spotlight as the Precocious Mini-Adult. TV Insider. October 22, 2015. Gregory . Miller . December 24, 2016.
  15. Web site: Pilot News: Trophy Wife's Albert Tsai Joins ABC Comedy Dr. Ken. TVLine. Andy. Swift. February 17, 2015. December 24, 2016.
  16. EW's 12 under 12:The Best Child Actors of 2015. October 28, 2015. Entertainment Weekly. September 17, 2018. November 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170047/https://ew.com/gallery/best-child-actors-2015/2353398_albert-tsai-11/?iid=sr-link3#albert-tsai-11. dead.
  17. Web site: Albert Tsai on Dr. Ken and His Very Busy Sitcom Career. Vulture. Maria Elena . Fernandez. November 11, 2016. December 24, 2016.
  18. Web site: '9JKL': Albert Tsai Upped To Series Regular on CBS Comedy. Deadline Hollywood. June 19, 2017 . June 17, 2018.
  19. Web site: Disney Channel Greenlights Live-Action Comedy 'Coop and Cami Ask the World'. The Hollywood Reporter. May 4, 2018 . June 17, 2018.
  20. DreamWorks Animation And Pearl Studio Announce Cast of "Abominable" At Annecy International Animation Festival. DreamWorks Animation. June 17, 2018.