Ching Valdes-Aran

Ching Valdes-Aran (also credited as Ching Valdes and Ching Valdes/Aran) is a Filipino-American actress of stage, television, and film, who was trained as a dancer and became a choreographer.

Other television appearances include, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2004), The Blacklist (2013), Elementary (2017), and Blindspot (2017), among others.

Film Valdes-Aran's film debut came in the experimental 1994 film, Fresh Kill, written by Jessica Hagedorn who also wrote Dogeaters (see Theatre below). This was followed by her role as Ms. Amador, the Marriage Broker, in Closer to Home (1995).

Other film appearances include, Across the Universe (2007), Sex and the City (2008), Kiss of the Damned (2012), From What Is Before (2014), Little Men (2016), and a voice role as Gamu in Missing Link (2019). In 1998 she portrayed Emelda Marcos, the First Lady of the Philippines (1965–1986) in Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn, for the La Jolla Playhouse, California.

In 2014, she played Mr. Wang in a Classic Stage Company production of A Man's A Man.

From 2017–2023, Valdes-Aran toured internationally in Geoff Sobelle's Home. In 2023, she appeared with an all-Asian cast in Sam Shepard's True West at People's Light and Theatre Company.

Ching Valdes-Aran has also received the following: 2021 Ruthie Award, Fox Foundation Fellow, New Dramatist's Charles Bowden Award, Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, Spencer Cherashore Award, Ma-Yi Theater Award for Artistic Excellence, MAP Grantee (Foundry), U.S. Congressional Award for Arts & Culture, Oniros Best Supporting Actor (Short Film Award, Final Polish).

As an actor, choreographer, and director, Valdes-Aran has been empaneled to advise the National Endowment for the Arts.

Personal life Ching Valdes-Aran resides in New York City.

Television

+ Year Title Role Notes Ref 1985 The Equalizer Tommy Li Episode: "China Rain" 1987 Vietnam War Story Mama-San Episode: "The Pass" 1988 The Equalizer Joy Tang Episode: "Video Games" 2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Mrs. Chan Episode: "F.P.S." 2013 The Blacklist Ruth Peasley 1 episode 2017 Elementary Shopkeep 1 episode 2017 Blindspot Elder Female Monk Episode: "Lepers Repel" 2025 The Equalizer Lorna Bayani Episode: "Dirty Sexy Money"

Stage roles Aying - Flipzoids, Ma-Yi Theatre - Obie Award Imelda Marcos - Dogeaters, Public Theatre - Lucille Lortel Awards nomination Lady Macbeth, Lady Capulet, Duke Senior - NYSF Shakespeare on Broadway, Belasco Theatre Mother Courage - Ma-yi Theatre Medea - Medea, Pan Asian Repertory Bernarda Alba - The House of Bernarda Alba, NAATCO Clytemnestra - Iphigenia in Aulis, Yale Rep Athena - Iphigenia in Taurus [sic] , La Mama E.T.C. & Greek International Festival Empress Tzushi - Empress of China, Cincinnati Playhouse Philoktetes - Shatterhand Company, Berliner Fiespiele Mom - all-Asian cast production of Sam Shepard's True West at People's Light