15 Most Iconic Asian American TV Characters

May is AAPI History Month, so we decided to celebrate some awesome Asian American characters featured on television shows. In recent years, the amount of Asian American representation on television has increased considerably across all genres, and it’s important to recognize how meaningful this representation is.

From hilarious sitcoms like The Good Place to action-packed limited series like Beef, many Asian American characters have left a lasting impact on pop culture. Hopefully, there will be many more Asian American characters in future shows that will continue to tell a wider range of diverse stories that resonate with audiences of all backgrounds.  

In no particular order, here are the 15 Most Iconic Asian American TV Characters! 

1. Jason Mendoza (The Good Place)

By far, one of the most well-known Asian American characters on television is Jason Mendoza (Manny Jacinto) from The Good Place. He’s known for his devotion to the Jacksonville Jaguars and his impulse to throw a Molotov cocktail whenever something goes wrong.

While he’s not the brightest, Jason has a kind heart and good intentions, which shine through during his time in the Bad Place. Jason is often cited as an example of positive representation because he defies stereotypes about Asian American men.

Often, Asian American men are portrayed as quiet or meek, but Jason is unapologetically confident and assertive. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind, even though he isn’t often right. He’s funny and outgoing and has a level of depth Asian American characters sometimes don’t get 0n television shows. 

2. Eve Polastri (Killing Eve) 

Sandra Oh is arguably most known for her role as Cristina on Grey’s Anatomy. However, we would argue that her role as Eve Polastri on Killing Eve has made a more lasting impact on pop culture.

Eve is a fascinating, multi-faceted character whose journey into moral decay is the show’s central story. She becomes obsessed with Villanelle (Jodie Comer), and their game of cat-and-mouse is thrilling to watch throughout all four seasons. 

What’s most notable about Eve is that she’s allowed to be a flawed character. A lot of female characters in television, especially women of color, are often one-dimensional, and Eve defies this by making decisions that demonstrate her internal struggle with her obsession with Villanelle.

Furthermore, even though she makes mistakes, viewers always root for her because she’s a nuanced character anyone can empathize with. She’s motivated by morbid curiosity and desire. 

3. Amy Lau (Beef) 

Notable for its Asian-American-led cast, Beef has been making waves in the television world in the past year. Part of that is thanks to Ali Wong’s performance as Amy Lau, a business owner who desires to become a stay-at-home mother.

The series follows her downward spiral following her road rage incident with Danny Cho (Steven Yeun). Amy Lau is such a compelling, dynamic character.

She’s easy to sympathize with, especially because of her past trauma about her parents’ rocky marriage, but there are times when she also steps over the line. These moments reveal that she’s just as human as anyone else.

Her determination also defies stereotypes about Asian women being quiet, as she isn’t afraid to stand up for herself. 

4. Cece Parekh (New Girl) 

New Girl wouldn’t be the legendary sitcom it is without Cece Parekh (Hannah Simon). Hilarious and unwaveringly loyal, Cece is a character who perfects Jess’ (Zooey Deschanel) quirkiness, often being the one to bring everyone back to reality in crazy situations. 

It’s admirable that New Girl included an Asian American woman in the main cast, especially considering the sitcom began airing in 2011, a time when Asian American representation was still very sparse. Additionally, Cece Parekh’s Indian heritage is addressed during her marriage storyline when she had a traditional Indian wedding.

Cece was one of the first Indian American female characters to be recognized on television, thus paving the path for more Indian American representation later on. 

5. Brad Bakshi (Mythic Quest)

Another great example of Indian American representation is Brad Bakshi (Danny Pudi) from Mythic Quest. Although Danny Pudi is most known for his role as Abed Nadir in Community, he truly gets to shine as Brad, a mischievous, money-obsessed head of monetization at the gaming company Mythic Quest. 

Brad presents a facade of confidence, but underneath his hard shell is his soft personality. This is especially clear during Mythic Quest Season 2 Episode 4, “Breaking Brad,” when his difficult childhood is revealed.

Brad’s complicated relationship with his brother Zack reveals that he’s much less cutthroat than people believe. Thus making him a character that viewers of all backgrounds can root for. 

6. Janet Kim (Kim’s Convenience) 

This wouldn’t be a list of Asian American characters if it didn’t include Janet Kim (Andrea Bang) from Kim’s Convenience. Janet is a photography college student who helps run her parents’ convenience store business and often tries to mediate her father’s difficult relationship with her brother. 

As an Asian American in college, seeing characters like Janet Kim in the spotlight is refreshing. One of the most important of increasing diverse representation is making sure everyone feels seen by the stories told on screen.

I could definitely relate to a lot of Janet’s experience as I was going through college myself, and I know that many more Asian Americans going into college in the future will get to experience that, too. 

7. Mateo Liwanag (Superstore) 

Speaking of notable Asian Americans in sitcoms, we can’t forget Mateo Liwanag (Nico Santos) from Superstore! Mateo is competitive, sassy, and everything that you could ask for in a co-worker.

His friendship with Cheyenne Lee (Nichole Bloom), another Asian American character on the show, is a delight to watch. Mateo is an important character because his storyline addresses his background as an immigrant.

While many Asian Americans have immigrant parents, Mateo himself is an immigrant. Which makes his undocumented status a point of conflict for him throughout the series.

However, being the uplifting show that it is, Superstore addresses this by having his co-workers show support for him and protect him from deportation. 

8. Jessica Huang (Constance Wu) 

Constance Wu has always been involved in breakthrough Asian American media. She starred in Crazy Rich Asians, a movie often cited for breaking barriers in Asian American representation. She also plays Jessica Huang, one of the main characters in the Asian-American-led sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. 

While she does play a “tiger mom,” a term referring to strict Asian mothers, Jessica also has a fun side that her family can occasionally coax out of her. Jessica is a fantastic portrayal of Asian American motherhood because she is a character outside of her relationships with her husband and three sons.

As a fully-rounded mother character, Jessica really breaks barriers in terms of representing Asian American women’s stories on television. 

9. Kelly Kapoor (The Office) 

Before Mindy Kaling’s name was recognizable in the world of television, she got her start in her role as Kelly Kapoor in The Office. 

Despite not being part of the main cast, Kelly steals every moment that she’s on the scene with her dramatic outbursts and her on-and-off relationship with Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak). Kelly is a great portrayal of Asian Americans who don’t have a strong connection with their heritage.

Many third—or fourth-generation immigrant Asian Americans don’t know much about their culture after their families assimilated to American culture. This is demonstrated in The Office Season 3 Episode 6, “Diwali,” when Kelly admits that she doesn’t know much about the celebration of Diwali.

She shows there isn’t just one way to be Asian American, as we all have varying connections with our heritage. 

10. Kamala Kahn (Ms. Marvel) 

As a Marvel fan, watching Iman Vellani in the role of Kamala Khan on Ms. Marvel is remarkable. Kamala is a fun and amusing character but also contains multitudes, such as a deep dedication to her family and a strong love for comics. 

The fact that Kamala Khan is both a young Asian American girl and a superhero is powerful. She shows that people who look like her are just as capable as other more “traditional” superheroes like Captain America and Spider-Man.

Since Marvel is such a mainstream franchise, Kamala Khan getting her own show is a huge step forward for Asian American representation on television. 

11. Bruce Sun (The Brothers Sun) 

The Brothers Sun is another noteworthy Asian-American-led show, and one of the pivotal characters is Bruce Sun (Sam Song Li). Compared to his brother Charles (Justin Chien), a hardened gangster who carries the weight of family expectations, Bruce Sun embodies a different facet of the Asian American experience.

He’s a college student with dreams of a career in improv comedy who wants nothing to do with his family’s criminal organization. Despite their contrasting personalities, both brothers grapple with the complexities of identity.

Bruce is trying to carve his own path while honoring his Asian American roots. He grapples with the pressure within his family to conform to traditional notions of masculinity while his unwavering determination and infectious humor inspire people around him.

Bruce is an example of an emerging younger Asian American generation who wants to chase their passion rather than conform to family expectations. 

12. Jordan Li (Gen V) 

As a genderfluid Asian American superhero, Jordan Li (Derek Luh/London Thor) from Gen V breaks through the confines of conventional superhero archetypes. Their presence on screen not only challenges stereotypes about what the young Asian American experience looks like but also amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities. 

Growing up in a society that underestimates or pigeonholes Asian Americans, Jordan’s competitive nature is an important part of their personality. Their drive to succeed echoes the struggles many Asian Americans face in a society that demands excellence while simultaneously marginalizing them.

Jordan’s inclusion in Gen V marks an important step towards greater diversity on television, particularly for genderqueer Asian Americans. 

13. Tom Haverford (Parks and Recreation) 

Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), the ambitious yet delightfully sarcastic government official for the city of Pawnee, inhabits a space of his own on Parks and Recreation. While his colleagues like Leslie Knope have an unwavering dedication to public service, Tom is more concerned with entrepreneurship and social climbing. 

Tom’s relentless pursuit of fame is hilarious, but beneath the surface is a genuine desire for validation. His journey throughout the series showcases the complexities of navigating social mobility as a person of color.

He grapples with the pressure to assimilate into white spaces while also celebrating his cultural background. Despite his outlandish schemes, Tom’s unwavering confidence and entrepreneurial spirit are often admired by his friends. 

14. Dinesh Chugtai (Silicon Valley) 

In the fast-paced world of tech startups on Silicon Valley, Dinesh Chugtai (Kumail Nanjiani) stands out as a brilliant but socially awkward coder.

Dinesh’s dry wit and mastery of coding often land him in sparring matches with his coding partner Gilfoyle (Martin Starr). But beneath his snarky exterior is a fiercely loyal and sentimental friend. 

Dinesh’s journey throughout the series explores the challenges faced by South Asian immigrants in the cutthroat tech industry. He constantly deals with feelings of isolation and the need to prove himself in a world that often overlooks his contributions.

His unwavering dedication to the company makes him a valuable part of Pied Piper, and his journey demonstrates that success in the tech industry can come from a deep well of talent and the support of a strong team. 

15. Nicholas (Loot) 

On Loot, a show about extravagant wealth, Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster) brings a grounded perspective as Molly Novak’s (Maya Rudolph) loyal assistant. He prioritizes organization and efficiency with a touch of dry humor.

He is also impressive at navigating Molly’s eccentric requests and chaotic schedule. However, he has his own dreams and ambitions beyond being an assistant. 

Nicholas’ journey throughout the series sheds light on the complexities of navigating social class and career aspirations, particularly for young gay Asian American men. For example, we see that he has a complicated relationship with his conservative white adoptee parents, who are reluctant to support the play he wrote.

His story reminds viewers of the complexities of navigating multiple identities within social spheres that often prioritize conformity. 

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Are there any characters that you love who made the list? Who are some characters we should have included? Let us know in the comments below! 

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