Archie Kao Bio
Archie Kao (born in Washington, D.C.) is an American actor and producer whose career spans television, film, and video games on both sides of the Pacific. He is best known to American audiences for his series regular roles on the long-running hit CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the action series Chicago P.D., and Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. He has also built a parallel career in Chinese-language film and television, and he currently divides his time between Los Angeles and Beijing.
Beyond his on-screen work, Kao has written, directed, and produced short films, and he is recognized for bringing a thoughtful, multilingual perspective to the projects he joins. His Chinese name is Gao Shengyuan, reflecting his family roots in Taiwan and his deep ties to the Chinese entertainment industry.
Early Life and Background
Archie Kao was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in the suburbs of Alexandria, Virginia. His parents are immigrants from Taiwan, and he grew up in a bilingual household with two younger sisters. The family environment gave him early exposure to both American and Chinese cultures, an experience that would later shape his career across two continents.
While attending George Mason University, Kao joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and graduated in 1992 with a degree in Speech Communication. In 2025, his fraternity recognized him as a Significant Sig, an honor bestowed upon members who have achieved high distinction in their professional fields. Kao was also elected Student Government President and named the university’s Homecoming King, signaling an early interest in public life and communication.
Although he initially planned to attend law school and pursue a career in politics, Kao eventually shifted his focus to acting. He speaks and understands Mandarin thanks to his upbringing, and he studied French for six years, adding to the linguistic range that has served him well in international productions.
Path to Acting
Kao’s transition into the entertainment industry began in 1994, the same year he completed his studies, and he quickly found work in television and film. His first widely recognized role was as Kai Chen, the Blue Ranger, in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, which introduced him to a global audience of younger viewers. He continued his association with the franchise by providing additional voices in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue and voicing General Venjix in Power Rangers Wild Force.
During the early 2000s, Kao became a familiar face on American television through a long stint on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, where he played lab technician Archie Johnson. The role made him a steady presence in primetime drama and helped him build relationships across the industry. In 2006, People magazine named him one of its Hottest Bachelors, reflecting his rising profile.
Archie Kao Career
Early Career (1994-2002)
Kao began his career in the mid-1990s, taking on supporting roles in television series such as Once and Again, L.A. Firefighters, Maybe This Time, Century City, Huff, and ER. These early appearances gave him a chance to work in a range of genres, from medical drama to family comedy, while sharpening his craft on busy network sets.
He also appeared in films during this period, including Jet Li’s The One, the historical epic Nomad: The Warrior, and the horror sequel The Hills Have Eyes 2. These projects established him as a reliable supporting actor comfortable with both action and genre work, and they helped pave the way for his casting in the Power Rangers franchise and on CSI.
Breakthrough (2000-2015)
Archie Kao’s true breakthrough came with his long-running role as Archie Johnson on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which cemented his place in American primetime. He followed that success with the role of Kai Chen, the Blue Ranger, in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, and later returned to voice characters in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue and Power Rangers Wild Force. The Power Rangers franchise remains one of the most recognizable credits of his career.
He expanded his film résumé with a string of diverse projects. He played Edwin Luke in the short film Keye Luke, which premiered at the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and served as the Closing Night Film of the inaugural 2013 Seattle Asian American Film Festival. He also appeared as Sebastian in Wayne Wang’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and starred as the main romantic lead, Jefferson, in Quentin Lee’s The People I’ve Slept With. In 2014, he starred in the Chinese film The Deathday Party opposite Anita Yuen, shot in the ancient Alu Caves of Yunnan.
In 2013, Kao joined the cast of NBC’s Chicago P.D., a spin-off of Chicago Fire, as a series regular. He played Detective Sheldon Jin, who is in charge of surveillance at the Chicago Police Department Intelligence Unit, marking a return to high-profile network drama. That same year, he co-starred in Michael Mann’s 2015 cyber thriller Blackhat as the character Shum, further demonstrating his range across Hollywood and international productions.
Notable Works and Milestones
Archie Kao’s signature works include his series regular roles on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Chicago P.D., as well as his portrayal of the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. His film work spans Wayne Wang’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Quentin Lee’s The People I’ve Slept With, the short film Keye Luke, the Chinese film The Deathday Party, and Michael Mann’s Blackhat. He also wrote, directed, and produced the short film Initiation in 2011, which starred Ashley Bell and his CSI co-star Marc Vann.
Archie Kao Family
Archie Kao was raised by parents who emigrated from Taiwan and settled in the Washington, D.C., area, where he grew up in the suburbs of Alexandria, Virginia. He has two younger sisters, and the family spoke both English and Mandarin at home, a bilingual background that continues to shape his life and career.
Personal Life
In May 2014, Chinese actress Zhou Xun announced on her team’s Weibo account that she and Archie Kao were dating. On July 16, 2014, the couple were officially married on stage following a charity event in Hangzhou, China. The marriage drew significant attention in both the Chinese and American entertainment press.
On December 23, 2020, Zhou Xun announced on her Sina Weibo account that she and Kao had divorced, and Kao acknowledged the announcement through a comment on her post. Kao has since continued to divide his time between Los Angeles and Beijing as his career spans television, film, and video games in both the English- and Chinese-language markets.