Profile Text
Chow in 2011, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: China Eiko Chow
Place of Birth: Southwark, London, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 15 April, 1974
Ethnicity: *43.75% Chinese *25% German *25% Japanese *6.25% Scottish
China Chow is a British actress and model. Her roles include the films The Big Hit , Head Over Heels (2001), Spun , Sol Goode , and SPF-18 ; the made-for-tv movie Frankenfish ; the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ; and the shows That ’70s Show and Burn Notice .
She is the daughter of Tina Chow (born Bettina Louise Lutz) and Michael Chow. Her father is the owner of restaurant chain Mr Chow; he was born in Shanghai, China, to Zhou Xinfang, a famous actor, and Lilian Qiu, from a wealthy family. He is of Chinese and one eighth Scottish descent.
China’s mother, a model, jewelry designer, and influential fashion icon, was born in Lakeview, Ohio, to a German-American father, Walter Edmund Lutz, and a Japanese mother, Mona Furuki. The couple met in Japan while Walter served in the American military. China’s mother, Tina, died of AIDS at the age of 41, as a result of an extramarital affair with French aristocrat Kim D’Estainvillle.
China has a brother, Max, who is three years younger. Her aunt is Chinese actress, singer, director, teacher, and former “Bond girl” Tsai Chin.
China’s paternal grandmother was named Qiu Lilin. Qiu was of three quarters Chinese and one quarter Scottish descent.
China’s maternal grandfather was Walter Edmund Lutz (the son of Ferdinand Carl Lutz and Lydia Anna Catherine Weseloh). Walter was born in Ohio. Ferdinand was born in Ohio, the son of German parents, Carl Paul Edmund Lutz and Augusta L. Schultz. Lydia was born in Ohio, to a German-born father, The Rev. Heinrich/Henry Johann/John Weseloh, a Lutheran minister, and to a mother, Fannie Marie Rastede/Scheer, who was born in Illinois, to German parents.
China’s maternal grandmother is named Mona Miwako Furuki.
Chow’s father Michael Chow in 2007, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com
Sources: Obituary of China’s mother – http://www.nytimes.com
China’s maternal grandfather, Walter Edmund Lutz, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
China’s maternal great-grandmother, Lydia Anna Catherine Weseloh, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org