2/9/05 Updated bio for the independent film “Mah Jong”:
David has been in the performing arts as long as he can remember. As a small child he studied piano for many years, participating in numerous recitals and competitions. At the age of 10, he composed his first song entitled, “Mommy”. By the time he reached middle school he became bored with the piano and decided to learn the violin. David showed natural ability and accelerated through the Suzuki method playing in orchestras, string quartets, duets, solos and competitions all the way through high-school.
At the end of his high-school career, David set out to break through Asian stereotypes. He was tired of being the quiet, shy, Asian student in class. So at the 1991 high-school talent show, David created a MC Hammer/Janet Jackson inspired self-choreographed dance routine. Within the first few dance steps he shocked the audience and won over the crowd of over 500 people who started chanting his name.
In 1997 David moved out to Los Angeles to pursue acting and has had small roles on shows such as General Hospital and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. David also has served as a host for a short lived late-night TV show called IZ and has acted in numerous independent and student films. David is no stranger to the stand-up comedy scene and has performed in comedy clubs across LA and participated in the Asian Pacific American Stand-Up Comedy Festival. David continues to break through stereotypes by participating in shows such as Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Asian Men and is currently doing triple duty as writer/director/actor on independent film projects such as the Crispy Creme Conspiracy and the Smooth Butter Love project. David is a graduate of the two-year method acting program at the Joanne Baron/DW Brown acting studio.
5/8/2003 bio for the “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Asian Men” performance:
David Chiu is an Internet Developer/Computer Technology Specialist turned actor/entertainer. Over the past seven years he has worked in the dot-com sector as a consultant and developer while simultaneously pursuing acting and performing stand-up at local comedy clubs. David has appeared as “Eddie” on General Hospital, a host on IZ, a Chinese bum on Saturday Night Live and has also participated in many independent and student films. He is currently enrolled in the two-year acting program at the Joanne Baron/DW Brown studio and keeps an online blog at www.davidchiu.net.
BTW, I never appeared on Saturday Night Live. That was a mistake. I meant to say The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I did a small skit that I’m not sure even aired.
Hello David ! my name is Perla Chiu and Im from Mexico. Im wrote you this email because I want to know where are you from and who are you? because we have the same last name and here in Mexico its not very usually this last name. My grandfather is from china, you are from there?? I hope that you write me back because maybe we are cousins or something don?t you think so? well thanks. bye
Hey dude whats up. My name is Dominic and im from NYC. I stumbled across your website and I was curious as to how much work(acting, modelling) you’ve done as an asian guy. I was interesting in modelling before I moved to New York from LA but was scammed by this talent agency- Obrien/Rottman, ever heard of them. Anyway, I just wanted to ask you that and wish you luck. take care
Hi, David:
Just a quick suggestion for you. Please study a very helpful book by the title “WHAT YOU SAY IS WHAT YOU GET” and you will understand it is necessary for you to think and say everything differently and you must re-write the whole webpage. Do not wait.
David you’re awesome. I want you in my films!
Are you still in Joanne/Baron Studio’s? I am there now in my second year with Louie.
Jared
Hi David,
I found your site on Google while looking up Asian actors (project for a college business class) and I started checking out your video clips and stuff. Your comic routines are just awesome you hade me cracking up, and the clip you had from “Everything You Ever…” was really touching. You seem like a great guy and I wanted to just drop you a line. I hope everything is going well and good luck with the acting \ comedy in the future!
Best Wishes,
Jessie
Hi David and Perla
I believe we share the same surname. I was born in Indonesia, another tropical country, half a world away from Jamaica.
It would help, if you know some chinese ideograms. I myself am illiterate in Chinese, however, recognize my surname, as my parents got me to remember how my Chinese name is written.
A kind and intelligent gentleman called Dr Chung Yoon Ngan, I met in the net, has given me the history of the name Qiu (The proper way to romanized the surname as opposed to Chiu as I used to know).
Here is the link to the meaning of Qiu surname.
http://www.asiawind.com/forums/read.php?f=4&i=2696&t=2696
I look forward to hearing from you, if indeed we share the same surname.
Qong Xie Fa Chai 2004.
Best Regards
Martin Qiu (Yau - as pronounced in Cantonese)
where were you born? do you visit?
Hi David, wishes you the best of luck for everything and I hope that you will break the wall onto the Hollywood. Good luck!
Hey! I’m a recent Musical Theater BFA recipient struggling to make it in Miami’s theater scene. As a half Hawaiian/Chinese half Scottish/Irish Actor, the Agency I recently signed with was all excited about marketing my “look” and how versatile I can be, etc… only they’ve only sent me on 2 castings (I booked one) Where are all the opportunies that were supposed to come flying my way? Is it easier or harder for an asian to get castings in LA than in Miami you think? Lemme know your thoughts. http://www.damonkeith.com