Chan was born in San Francisco, California. His television work has included roles like Judge Lionel Ping on Arrested Development, Detective Ron Lu on Robbery Homicide Division, the voice of Jimmy Ho on The PJ's, Mr. Chong on The Wonder Years, a Japanese investor in the 1990 Northern Exposure episode "Dreams, Schemes and Putting Greens", an agent of the C.I.A. (Chinese Intelligence Agency) on a 2011 episode of The Simpsons, and roles on shows like Bones, Babylon 5, and The Young and the Restless.