Emily Kuroda

Emily Keiko Kuroda (born October 30, 1952) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Mrs. Kim on TV's Gilmore Girls, but she has had a long career on stage and screen and is a veteran of East West Players, Los Angeles's premier Asian American theater group.

Early life and education Kuroda, a Japanese American, was born in Fresno, California on October 30, 1952, the daughter of Kay and William Kuroda. She began acting and directing in high school and majored in drama at California State University, Fresno Winter People at the Boston Court, and Ken Narasaki's Innocent When You Dream at the Electric Lodge, which was directed by her husband, Alberto Isaac. She appeared in Narasaki's No-No Boy at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica CA, also directed by Isaac, alongside her Gilmore Girls daughter, Keiko Agena. Other theatres include New York's Public Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Seattle Rep, Singapore Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, LA Women's Shakespeare Company, Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival, and Lodestone Theatre Ensemble.

Kuroda completed seven years as Mrs. Kim in Warner Brothers’ Gilmore Girls as well as the Netflix revisit in 2016. She also played opposite Flavor Flav in 13 episodes of Under One Roof. Recent television credits include a recurring role on Drop Dead Diva (as Margaret Cho's mother), Medium, Grey's Anatomy, In Case of Emergency, Six Feet Under, The King of Queens, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Practice, General Hospital, Port Charles, L.A. Law, ER, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Division, The Agency, Presidio Med, Arliss, and the television special About Love (Emmy nominated). Feature films include RED, PEEP WORLD, Minority Report, Stranger Inside, 2 Days in the Valley, Dad, Broken Words, Worth Winning and Shopgirl. She has also appeared in independent Asian American films, including The Sensei, Yellow and Stand Up for Justice.

She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Actors' Equity Association.

Personal life Kuroda is married to actor Alberto Isaac. 2026 The End of Oak Street Mrs. Valcourt Television

Theatre Year Title Role NotesStraight as a Line Red East West Players Winter People Boston CourtInnocent When You DreamElectric LodgeNo-No BoyMiles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica, California

Awards and other recognitions Year Award Category Nominated work Result Drama-Logue Awards Ikebana, The Maids, Minimata, The Golden Gate, and Visitors from Nagasaki City of Los Angeles Commendation About Love Back Stage West Garland Award Outstanding Performance Straight as a Line 1999 Los Angeles Times Top 10 2000 Los Angeles Ovation Award Best Lead Actress in a Play Playwrights' Arena Award Outstanding Contribution to Los Angeles Theatre