Tien Tran

Tien Tran
Born
Alma materBoston College
Occupation(s)Comedian, actor

Hanh Tien Tran, is an American comedian, actress, and writer. She is best known for her role as Ellen in the comedy series How I Met Your Father (2022) and Jane Ji in the horror film Candyman (2021).

Early life

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Tran was born in Chester, Pennsylvania and grew up in Erie and Millcreek Township.[1][2] Her parents are Vietnamese refugees who immigrated to the United States in 1979.[1] She graduated from Boston College with a degree in biology, where she was part of the sketch comedy group Hello Shovelhead.[1][3]

Career

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In 2017, she was a cast member at The Second City in Chicago, where she had previously been a recipient of the Second City's Bob Curry Fellowship.[3][4]

During 2017–2020, she appeared in guest roles in several TV series, including Easy, Hot Date, Sherman's Showcase, and Space Force. In 2021, she was a staff writer for the second season of Work in Progress, and co-wrote and appeared in one episode. She also appeared in the Chicago-set horror film Candyman and an episode of the comedy series South Side.

In 2021, Tran was cast as a series regular in the Hulu sitcom How I Met Your Father, a spin-off of the series How I Met Your Mother.[5] She plays Ellen, who moves to New York from a small farming town in Iowa after divorcing her wife.[2][6] The series aired for two seasons from 2022 to 2023.[7][8][9] In 2024, she appeared in a recurring role in the Peacock comedy series Mr. Throwback.[10]

Tran is a regular contributor to the feminist podcast Hysteria, hosted on Crooked Media.[11][12] In 2023, she co-hosted the podcast In These Cleats with Angel City FC defender Paige Nielsen, which launched during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and covered women's soccer.[13][14][15] Since 2024, she has co-hosted the queer and women's sports-focused podcast Jockular with E. R. Fightmaster and Katie Kershaw.[16][17][18]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 Candyman Jane Ji

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2017 Easy Ly Episode: "Lady Cha Cha"
2017-2018 Hot Date Laura 4 episodes
2019 Sherman's Showcase Asian Aunt Viv Episode: "Behind the Charade"
2020 Space Force Sheila Cholosternin Episode: "The Launch"
2021 Q-Force Alix Episode: "Deb's BBQ" (voice)
2021 Work in Progress Workshop Leader Actress & writer, episode: "Eleanor Roosevelt"
Staff writer: 10 episodes
2021 South Side Jenny Episode: "Chicago's #1 Party Promoter"
2022–2023 How I Met Your Father Ellen Main role
2022 Star Trek: Lower Decks Anya Episode: "Hear All, Trust Nothing" (voice)
2024 Mr. Throwback Lucy Recurring role

Personal life

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Tran is openly lesbian.[2][1] Tran's older sister Tram-Anh Tran starred in the 1990s children's television series Ghostwriter.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Wolfe, Courtney. "Tien Tran: Cheeky Comedian Clowning Around on a Stage Near You". gamechangers. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  2. ^ a b c d Lapid, Alyssa (2022-01-30). "'HIMYF' Star Tien Tran Has Little Sister Energy". Bustle. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  3. ^ a b "Tien Tran". The Second City. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  4. ^ "The Second City announces casting for its 106th mainstage revue". Chicagoland Musical Theatre. 2017-07-26. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  5. ^ Sheridan, Wade (2021-08-10). "'How I Met Your Father': Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley join Hulu spinoff". UPI. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  6. ^ "Tien Tran's 'How I Met Your Father' character navigates NYC dating as a queer divorcée". NBC News. February 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (November 17, 2021). "How I Met Your Father Gets January Premiere Date on Hulu — Watch Video". TVLine. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Cordero, Rosy (February 15, 2022). "'How I Met Your Father' Renewed For Season 2 At Hulu". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Yemi, Frank (2023-09-02). "Hulu Cancels How I Met Your Father After 2 Seasons". CBR. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  10. ^ "Everything to Know About Mr. Throwback, Steph Curry's Peacock Mockumentary". NBC Insider Official Site. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  11. ^ "Tien Tran". Notes From The Bathroom Line. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  12. ^ "Hysteria on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  13. ^ "In These Cleats". IN THESE CLEATS. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  14. ^ "Meet your host, Tien Tran! She's a comedian, soccer superfan, and co-host of In These Cleats". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  15. ^ "In These Cleats". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  16. ^ Spangler, Todd (2024-02-26). "E.R. Fightmaster, Tien Tran and Katie Kershaw Team on 'Jockular' Queer Sports Podcast From Adam McKay's Hyperobject". Variety. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  17. ^ "Jockular". HyperObject Industries. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  18. ^ "Jockular". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
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