Justin Chon

Justin Chon is a Korean-American actor, writer, and director recognized for his contributions to independent cinema and his focus on socially relevant storytelling. Chon gained international attention for his portrayal of high school student Eric Yorkie in the supernatural drama "Twilight," based on Stephenie Meyer's young-adult novel. He appeared as Eric Yorkie throughout all five installments of the "Twilight" franchise, building a global fan base. Prior to this, Chon played the brother of the title character in the Disney Channel movie "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior." He also starred as Jeff Chang in the comedy film "21 & Over" and appeared as a lead character in the crime drama "Revenge of the Green Dragons."

Transitioning to work behind the camera, Chon established himself as a filmmaker with a distinctive voice in independent film. His directorial work includes the Los Angeles riots drama "Gook," which won the NEXT category at the Sundance Film Festival and earned him the Independent Spirit Award for Someone to Watch. He continued with the Koreatown sibling drama "Ms. Purple," which also premiered at Sundance. Chon wrote, directed, and starred in the film "Blue Bayou," which premiered at Cannes as part of the Un Certain Regard selection and explores themes of identity, immigration, and the American experience.

Chon's fourth feature, "Jamojaya," is a drama about the relationship between a young Indonesian rapper and his father, addressing topics such as racial identity, the immigrant experience, and class struggle. The film premiered at Sundance. In television, Chon served as executive producer and directed episodes of the Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ series "Pachinko." He also directed and executive produced the Apple TV+ series "Chief of War."

Chon's work has been recognized at festivals and institutions including the Deauville Film Festival, Dallas International Film Festival, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Seattle International Film Festival, and Sundance Film Festival. Throughout his career, Chon has focused on amplifying Asian and Asian-American narratives in film and television, blending personal storytelling with broader cultural commentary. His body of work reflects a commitment to authentic representation and underrepresented stories in Hollywood.