Lauren Tom, born on August 4, 1961, in Highland Park, Illinois, is an accomplished American actress known for her versatile roles in film, television, and animation. She began her career on stage, winning an Obie Award for her Off-Broadway performance, and later transitioned to film and television.

Her breakout role came in the critically acclaimed film "The Joy Luck Club" (1993), where she portrayed the character Lena, a dutiful daughter navigating complex family dynamics.

On television, Lauren Tom is perhaps best known for her role as Julie, Ross's girlfriend, on the iconic NBC sitcom "Friends" (1995-1996). She also had significant roles in the ABC series "Men in Trees" (2006-2008), "Grace Under Fire" (1997-1998), and the CW series "Supernatural" (2012-2014). More recently, she starred as Celia Mack in the Disney Channel series "Andi Mack" (2017-2019).

In the realm of animation, Lauren Tom has lent her voice to numerous beloved characters, including Amy Wong in "Futurama," Dana Tan in "Batman Beyond," Jinx and Gizmo in "Teen Titans" and "Teen Titans Go!," and Numbuh 3 in "Codename: Kids Next Door." Her voice work has been widely praised, adding depth and personality to many animated series.

Her personal life includes her marriage to Curt Kaplan in 1999, with whom she has two sons, Oliver and Leo. She has also published personal essays in various magazines and is currently working on a book based on these essays.