This A-Profiler we bring you C.S. Lee, an actor who is currently seen by millions of viewers on Showtime's Dexter as Vince Masuka and NBC's Chuck as Harry Tang. Find out how Lee got his start in acting as a Ku Klux Klansman, how he was one of the founders of the Mellow Yellow Theatre Company, and what advice he has for other aspiring APA actors and actresses.

What is your ethnicity?
Korean.

When did the acting bug hit you? Did you have any idea you would get into acting when you were a little kid? What did your parents think?
I got the acting bug in high school. Originally I wanted to become a film director. I still do. I was acceppted to NYU film school but opted to take a full ride scholarshiop to Cornish College of the Arts for acting. My parents always supported me in every way. My parents are so chill!!!

Is it true that your first acting role was portraying a Ku Klux Klansman? What was that like?
Yes, my first role was playing a Ku Klux Klansman in the play The Foreigner. I had no lines. I wore a hood the whole time until the end at curtain call. The audience members had a nice surprise. I grew up in a blue collar suburb outside of Vancouver, Washington. I don't think I really knew the significance of the KKK and their fucked up way of viewing their small measly world.

As a founding member of the Mellow Yellow Theatre Company, did you use that to help you hone your skills?
Mellow Yellow was a great way of having a good excuse to improv. I learned improv at Cornish College from Roberta Macguire. She threw down with the original Second City greats from Chicago. She told us great stories about many great comedians including John Belushi. She taught me that improv can be interesting, subtle, and fun. And that it didn't have to be 'funny' all the time. That ambiguity and simplicity can be just as mind blowing.

I know the first time I saw you was on television in the Nextel commercials. You've since become a hot commodity by co-starring on Showtime's Dexter as Vince Masuka and also on NBC's Chuck as Harry Tang. How are you able to split your time between the two shows? What aspects of each show do you enjoy the most?
Showtime was gracious enough to allow me to do a nice arc on Chuck. Dexter is of course my baby and I love being able to play "Vince Masuka." Somedays I had double duty. I was running from one set to the next. There were some close calls for sure. But it worked out somehow. The best thing about playing "Harry Tang" on Chuck and "Vince Masuka" on Dexter is that I get to play both characters without an Asian accent. Asian accents are hard to do! And its sooo passé...

Will there be more Harry Tang on Chuck? I know fans have been clamoring for more since your character is very much Chuck's nemesis.
Since I am now contracted with Showtime, I was only able to do a limited number of episodes. But yes, you will see much more of "Harry Tang" in the coming episodes.

For Dexter you get to really show that Asian American men have testosterone, something that is not very often portrayed in Hollywood. Have you found the role refreshing? Any part of Masuka that is actually similar to your character?
Hollywood sometimes needs to be told what needs to be portrayed. I think its great that we are able to see an Asian American man who is horny for women and hot headed. Most important is that "Vince" is not just a cardboard cut out or just above the stereotype. There's more to it. It reflects good writing. Network TV should do it more with all ethnicities.

Has going bald helped your acting career? Sure seems like you are very recognizable as the "baldheaded asian guy" these days.
It just proves that people come in all shapes and colors. Generalizations are reserved for people who cannot think for themselves and are too lazy to use their imaginations or simply because they are ignorant or fearful.

When you have free time, what do you enjoy doing to wind down?
Golf. Fishing. Camping. Drinking red wine. Watching films.

What advice do you have for the aspiring Asian Pacific American actors and actresses out there?
Learn the craft. Its not magic or pulled from your ass. Its a learned skill. Don't be selfish. Acting is not just you. Acting is acting with your partners. Thats what makes it fun. Its a lifetime of learning. Be respectful of everyone you work with. Everyone!!! As far as being Asian Pacific American: keep on the fight! Visiblitiy brings understanding. Understanding brings acceptance. And acceptance will bring visiblitiy!

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong.
Special thanks to C.S. Lee.

Photos used with permission.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).