Christine Keiko Agena (born October 3, 1973) is an American actress. She is mostly known for playing Lane Kim in Gilmore Girls and NYPD medical examiner Dr. Edrisa Tanaka on FOX's crime drama Prodigal Son (2019–2021).
Personal life
Agena was born in Honolulu and is of Okinawan descent. She married Shin Kawasaki on December 19, 2005.
Career Agena is best known for her role in Gilmore Girls, where she played Lane Kim, a Korean-American teenager who is the best friend of Rory Gilmore, one of the lead characters. Agena played this role despite being significantly older than her character, who was 16 at the start of the series, when Agena was 27. Agena has also played the role of Mearing's Aide, Mearing being played by Frances McDormand, in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Agena also appeared in three episodes of Felicity as Leila Foster, a girl who comes to the lead character for assistance in acquiring the morning-after pill and participates in a protest when denied the medication. She was a recipient of the Best Female Actor award in the Ammy Awards, which honor Asian and Asian-American achievement in film or television. She also provided the voice of Yori in the Disney cartoon series Kim Possible in seasons 2, 3, and 4 of the show. Also, Agena played Jun Ni in the movie Hair Show starring Mo'Nique. She guest-starred on Private Practice, Castle, and episode 12 of the final season of ER. She also appeared in Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous alongside Jessica Simpson as an army private. In 2010, she appeared onstage in No-No Boy in Santa Monica, California. She later appeared in an episode of House as Dr. Cheng.
While in Austin, Texas for the Gilmore Girls reunion panel at the 2015 ATX Television Festival, she also participated in two live tapings of the podcast Gilmore Guys, as well as a live performance by Lane Kim's band Hep Alien.
In September 2015, Agena launched Drunk Monk Podcast with fellow improv comedian Will S. Choi, wherein they watch every episode of the television series, Monk, while consuming alcohol. Agena plays a high school teacher in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.
She was featured in commercials for Verizon Wireless ("Flipside Testimonials: Apartment") in 2015 and UnitedHealthcare ("Pool Vault") in 2016.Verizon TV Commercial, "Flipside Testimonials: Apartment" (2015) – iSpot.tv. Retrieved October 2, 2019UnitedHealthcare TV Commercial, "Pool Vault" (2016) – iSpot.tv. Retrieved October 2, 2019
Filmography +Film Year Title Role Notes 1998 Hundred Percent Casey 2002 Tomato and Eggs Maria Short film 2003 Cats and Mice Sue Short film Red Thread Matilda Wong Short film Western Avenue Miya Short film 2004 The Perfect Party Kiko Hair Show Jun Ni 2006 Chances Are Heather Short film 2008 Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous Hailey Hamamori 2009 Labor Pains Pregnant Bookstore Woman 2010 Road Rage Connie Short film 2011 I Hate L.A. Segment: "Downtown" Transformers: Dark of the Moon Charlotte Mearing's Aide 2012 Lil Tokyo Reporter Mrs. Sato Short film 2013 Family Gathering Charlotte Short film 2014 Me + Her Lead Puppeteer Short film 2015 Unfriended Computer Voice roleShort film The Night Is Young Cara 2020 The Never List Jennifer Jeffries
+Television Year Title Role Notes 1993RenegadeMitsukoEpisode: "Samurai" 1995Sister, SisterStudent InterviewerEpisode: "Kid in Play" 1998, 2009ERMrs. ShimaharaMrs. VasquezEpisodes: "Good Luck, Ruth Johnson", "Dream Runner" 1999Beverly Hills, 90210The CompetitorEpisode: "Agony" 2000FelicityLeila FosterEpisodes: "Revolutions", "Party Lines", "Running Mates" 2000–2007Gilmore GirlsLane KimMain cast; 102 episodes 2001The Nightmare RoomJanet BinghamEpisodes: "School Spirit", "Full Moon Halloween"Strong MedicineAn-Soo "Alison" KimEpisode: "Control Group" 2003–2007Kim PossibleYori (voice)4 episodes 2006Without a TraceKimikoEpisode: "Odds or Evens" 2007Private PracticeSister AmyEpisode: "In Which Cooper Finds a Port in His Storm" 2010CastleKellyEpisode: "The Mistress Always Spanks Twice"HouseDr. ChengEpisode: "Unplanned Parenthood" 2011The HomesNamiUnknown role 2012ScandalWhite House Press Secretary Britta KaganEpisode: "Happy Birthday, Mr President" 2013–2014TwistedApril Tanaka 2 episodes 2013ShamelessBrittany Sturgess3 episodes 2016GrimmMadoka AkagiEpisode: "Inugami"Gilmore Girls: A Year in the LifeLane Kim4 episodes 2017ColonyBetsy3 episodesSweet/ViciousTitle IX Officer2 episodesNCIS: Los AngelesTaraEpisode: "Getaway"Bajillion Dollar Propertie$TamamaraEpisode: "Chelsea Leight-Leigh Lately" 2017–201813 Reasons WhyPam Bradley 7 episodes Recurring role (Season 1); Guest role (Season 2) 2018This CloseDorinda2 episodesHere and NowSonni Little2 episodesDirty JohnNancy Recurring role (season 1)The FirstAiko HakariMain role 2018–2019, 2022Better Call SaulViola Goto6 episodes 2019–2021Prodigal SonDr. Edrisa TanakaMain cast 2022–2023Doom PatrolDr. Margaret Yu3 episodes 2023Fantasy IslandDr. Nancy1 episode 2025The ResidenceLiz Hollenbeck3 episodes 2026 Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Klyce (voice) 4 episodes
Video games +List of voice performances in video gaming Year Title Role 2004 Law & Order: Justice Is Served Toki Yamamoto 2017 Prey Miyu Sato, Station Announcer
Awards and nominations YearAwardResultCategoryWork 2001 Teen Choice Award TV Choice Sidekick Gilmore Girls 2002 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Supporting Young Actress Gilmore Girls 2002 Teen Choice Award TV Choice Sidekick Gilmore Girls 2003 Teen Choice Award TV Choice Sidekick Gilmore Girls 2013 Asians on Film Festival Winter Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Short Lil Tokyo Reporter 2014 Asians on Film Festival Short Film Lil Tokyo Reporter
References
External links
Keiko Agena's biography on filmbug PopGurls Interview: Keiko Agena