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Ming Chen

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Ming Chen
Chen at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2022
Born
Cliff Ming-Si Chen[1]

(1974-08-01) August 1, 1974 (age 50)[2]
Euclid, Ohio, U.S[2]
NationalityChinese-American[3]
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Occupation(s)Actor, podcaster, reality television personality, webmaster
Years active1999–present

Cliff Ming-Si Chen, better known as Ming Chen, is an actor, podcaster, reality television personality, and webmaster associated with Kevin Smith.[1][3][4] He co-hosts the I Sell Comics! and Ming & Mike Show podcasts with Mike Zapcic and also starred in the AMC reality series Comic Book Men.[1][5][6]

Early life

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Ming Chen was born in Ohio to parents born in China, but raised in Taiwan.[clarification needed] The family frequently moved due his father being an upstart engineer, but spent significant time in Jackson, Michigan and Ann Arbor, Michigan.[3][7] Chen attended the University of Michigan (class of 1996), graduated with a degree in communications, and he at one point also worked at a video shop.[4][7][8]

Chen (center left) with the cast of Comic Book Men

Career

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Chen became involved with Kevin Smith after making a fansite dedicated to the movie Clerks in 1996.[4][9] Smith asked Chen to build the View Askew Productions website.[4] Chen served as an extra in the movie Dogma.[3] After working around the Washington, D.C. area, and LivePlanet for two years, he joined Kevin Smith's company in 2002.[3][4] Chen became the full-time webmaster of View Askew after moving to New Jersey.[4] One of the oddest requests from Kevin Smith has been to drive eight hours and deliver a copy of Red State to a critic from the Los Angeles Times in Maine.[3][10]

Chen has participated in several podcasts for SModcast Internet Radio including Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!, Puck Nuts, and co-hosts I Sell Comics! with Mike Zapcic.[5] In 2012, he began starring with co-workers from Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash including Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Mike Zapcic, and Bryan Johnson on Comic Book Men.[3] Ming is often made fun of as part of his role on Comic Book Men, due to his long friendships with Bryan and Walt.[9][11] Comic Book Men would be cancelled after seven seasons in 2018.[1][6]

Chen partnered with Hunter Pence and others to create Coral Sword: Coffee, Comics & Games in Houston, Texas, which opened in February 2018.[12][13][14] Chen partnered with Mike Zapcic to open A Shared Universe PodcaStudio in 2018, with a second location opening in 2020.[6]

Personal life

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Chen is married to Debbie and has two children.[3] His favorite baseball team is the Baltimore Orioles.[5] Two of his favorite comic books include Ex Machina and Preacher. Chen's favorite book as a kid was Avengers #214.[15] On Comic Book Men, Chen was able to purchase the USS Flagg, a toy his parents could not afford.[16] He has also participated in several marathons.[17] Chen also does work for two non-profits, Street Poets Inc. and The Kenny Gordon Foundation.[10][18] Chen joined The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County as a board member in 2021.[19]

Filmography

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Television

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Graff, Gary (February 1, 2019). "Ming Chen got his geek on during Michigan childhood". The Oakland Press. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Ming, Chen. "The life of Ming Si-Chen". ViewAskew.com. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "How Ming Chen Became One of the Comic Book Men". Pacific Citizen. April 6, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Tebeau, John (Spring 2013). "The Amazing, Real-Life Adventures of Ming Chen" (PDF). LSA Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Dietsch, TJ (February 10, 2012). "Comic Book Men's Ming Chen on Podcasts, Collectibles & Reality TV". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  6. ^ a b c James, Jai-Leen (January 31, 2020). "Asbury Park boardwalk: A Shared Universe PodcaStudio opens second location". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b McAllister, Bill (May 14, 2016). "'Comic Book Men' Star Ming Chen Says The Bad Boys Era Pistons Are The Best Of All-Time". WXYT. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  8. ^ "'Comic Book Men' Michael Zapcic and Ming Chen at Fantasticon". WJBK. November 6, 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  9. ^ a b Natale, Dan. "Red Bank: Ming Chen Flies Without a Cape". redbankgreen.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  10. ^ a b Hackett, Keisha (July 3, 2013). "Ming Chen to address I Sell Comics at Supercon". Teenlink South Florida. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  11. ^ Van Embden, Edward (February 13, 2012). "Comic Book Men Revealed". RedBank-Shrewsbury Patch. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  12. ^ Guillen, Darla (June 5, 2017). "Houston restaurant and bar news bites of the week". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  13. ^ hris Cwik, Chris (May 25, 2017). "Hunter Pence goes full nerd, opens coffee, comics and games store". Big League Stew. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  14. ^ Sandler, Eric (February 1, 2018). "The Avengers of coffee and gaming unite for new East End cafe devoted to geek culture". CultureMap Houston. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  15. ^ Messer, Adam (May 6, 2016). "Saturday is Free Comic Book Day". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  16. ^ Tramel, Jimmie (February 11, 2017). "Pop culture: Q&A with Ming Chen of AMC's 'Comic Book Men' reality show". Tulsa World. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  17. ^ Meyer, Craig (April 17, 2014). "Why I Run: Ming Chen of AMC's 'Comic Book Men'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  18. ^ F. Disbrow, Warren (February 4, 2013). "An Interview With Ming Chen Of Comic Book Men". The Rag Rocks. Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  19. ^ "YMCA Welcomes New Board Members". Red Bank-Shrewsbury, NJ Patch. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
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