Tamlyn Tomita's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Burning Zone Dr. Kimberl… The Michael Richards Show Ming

Main Movie Roles 2008 - The Eye 2006 - Only The Brave 2004 - The Day After Tomorrow 2003 - Robot Stories 1998 - Living Out Loud 1995 - Four Rooms 1993 - The Joy Luck Club 1986 - The Karate Kid, Part II

BIOGRAPHY:

Tomita was born in Okinawa, the daughter of Shiro and Asako Tomita. Her father then later became a Los Angeles Police Officer, rising to the rank of sergeant. He succumbed to cancer in 1990. Tomita is a graduate of Granada Hills High School in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. She is one-quarter Filipino (her mother is half Filipina and half Japanese). Before becoming an actress, she won the title of Queen at the Nisei Week Pageant in Los Angeles in 1984, and Miss Nikkei International in 1985

In 1986, Tomita made her acting debut in The Karate Kid, Part II, playing Ralph Macchio's character's love interest, Kumiko. On the film's set, she met Nobu McCarthy, herself a former beauty queen. McCarthy became a role model, mentor and close friend to Tomita, making it especially difficult when, in 2002, McCarthy died unexpectedly while on location in Brazil with Tomita, filming Gaijin 2 - Ama-me como sou. Tamlyn contributes a lot of her time to non-profit events to help the Japanese-American community in California.

In 1987 Tomita made her Japanese singing debut on the label Polydor. She released a single and an album.


TRIVIA:

• Is of Filipino and Okinawan descent.
• (1991) Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world.
• Had been majoring in history at UCLA before leaving for show business.
• 1984 Nisei Week Queen in Los Angeles