Kimball Cho
Encyclopedia
Kimball Cho is a character portrayed by Tim Kang
on the American TV crime drama The Mentalist
. Cho is an agent
for a fictionalized version of the California Bureau of Investigation
(CBI).
Cho serves as the polar opposite to Patrick Jane
, but is keen to learn his powers of observation. He is portrayed as straightforward and direct, but sometimes makes witty jokes with much of the humour lying in his ability to deadpan
. He avoids alcohol, as shown in the episode "His Red Right Hand" when the other agents are drinking shots of tequila in memory of their dead colleagues. Cho raises his glass but does not drink from it, instead taking a sip from a bottle of water. At most times, Cho seems to be the calmest and most clear headed of the agents, but is shown to have a loose temper if someone he cares for is threatened. He is usually the agent that makes the arrest, reads suspects their rights
and acts as the team’s main interrogator, often partnering Wayne Rigsby
while attempting to chase down suspects. He and Rigsby often enter into bets against Jane's abilities. In one episode he shows some superstitious belief when a witch apparently casts a spell on him.
Before joining the CBI, Cho lived a varied past as hopeful baseball player, a gang member of the "Avon Park Playboys" and a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces. As a member of the Playboys, he was known as Iceman because, according to gang member Jon Jon, "if you wanted something done cold, you got Cho", a reference to his cool and collected character; Jane remarks that this has not changed. At age 14, he stole a car and promptly crashed it. His turning point came when he shot the gang leader, KS, in the shoulder because he was planning for the Playboys to conduct a home invasion in which Cho did not wish to take part. Within weeks of getting out of the gang, Cho enlisted in the U.S. Army, eventually serving in the Special Forces.
In the season 2
episode "Blood In, Blood Out", Cho is shown as having a girlfriend, Elise Chaye (portrayed by Sandrine Holt), who says that he is talking even less than he normally does (because he is worrying about something), implying that even in a relationship he is a reserved man. He evidently cared deeply for Elise, becuase after masked men threatened the pair of them and hit her, he became determined to find who they were. Cho is well regarded by the CBI team, showing concern and the desire to help when Jane is going through difficulties. In season 3
episode "Bloodsport", Cho is forced into an uncomfortable position when he finds out that Rigsby, while lying to a parole officer
to give his father an alibi, has named him as a person that could corroborate the alibi. Cho is angered and states that in his time with the police, almost ten years, he has never lied to a fellow officer. Though unhappy about it, when LaRoche questions him, he sides with Rigsby and lies. He eventually forgives Rigsby. In season 3 episode 17 ("Bloodstream") he is briefly placed in command of the team by LaRoche after Lisbon insults LaRoche. His loyalty to Lisbon is shown in this episode, as he offers to let her call the shots, but she refuses.
In "Pink Chanel Suit" (season 3, episode 6) he claims his parents were Korean.
In the third season episode "Rhapsody in Red" (season 3, episode 22), he meets a young pick pocket with similiar surroundings to when he was a kid. The pickpocket steals Cho's car, and is later caught and held at CBI headquarters until foster care can take him. Cho ends up helping the kid prove his father, who had been arrested for robbing a store, is innocent. At the end of the episode, father and son are reunited, and Cho laughs as Rigsby reacts to having had his wallet stolen.
Tim Kang
Tim Kang is an American television and film actor. He is best known for his AT&T commercials and his role as Kimball Cho in the TV series The Mentalist.-Life and career:...
on the American TV crime drama The Mentalist
The Mentalist
The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
. Cho is an agent
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
for a fictionalized version of the California Bureau of Investigation
California Bureau of Investigation
California Bureau of Investigation is a fictional law enforcement organization of the U.S. state of California featured predominantly in the TV series The Mentalist....
(CBI).
Cho serves as the polar opposite to Patrick Jane
Patrick Jane
Patrick Jane is the protagonist on the CBS crime drama The Mentalist, portrayed by Simon Baker. Jane is a consultant for a fictionalized version of the California Bureau of Investigation and helps by giving advice and insight from his many years as a fake psychic medium...
, but is keen to learn his powers of observation. He is portrayed as straightforward and direct, but sometimes makes witty jokes with much of the humour lying in his ability to deadpan
Deadpan
Deadpan is a form of comic delivery in which humor is presented without a change in emotion or body language, usually speaking in a casual, monotone, solemn, blunt, disgusted or matter-of-fact voice and expressing an unflappably calm, archly insincere or artificially grave demeanor...
. He avoids alcohol, as shown in the episode "His Red Right Hand" when the other agents are drinking shots of tequila in memory of their dead colleagues. Cho raises his glass but does not drink from it, instead taking a sip from a bottle of water. At most times, Cho seems to be the calmest and most clear headed of the agents, but is shown to have a loose temper if someone he cares for is threatened. He is usually the agent that makes the arrest, reads suspects their rights
Miranda warning
The Miranda warning is a warning given by police in the United States to criminal suspects in police custody before they are interrogated to preserve the admissibility of their statements against them in criminal proceedings. In Miranda v...
and acts as the team’s main interrogator, often partnering Wayne Rigsby
Wayne Rigsby
Wayne Rigsby is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama The Mentalist, portrayed by Owain Yeoman. Rigsby is an agent for the fictionalized California Bureau of Investigation.-Early Life:...
while attempting to chase down suspects. He and Rigsby often enter into bets against Jane's abilities. In one episode he shows some superstitious belief when a witch apparently casts a spell on him.
Before joining the CBI, Cho lived a varied past as hopeful baseball player, a gang member of the "Avon Park Playboys" and a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces. As a member of the Playboys, he was known as Iceman because, according to gang member Jon Jon, "if you wanted something done cold, you got Cho", a reference to his cool and collected character; Jane remarks that this has not changed. At age 14, he stole a car and promptly crashed it. His turning point came when he shot the gang leader, KS, in the shoulder because he was planning for the Playboys to conduct a home invasion in which Cho did not wish to take part. Within weeks of getting out of the gang, Cho enlisted in the U.S. Army, eventually serving in the Special Forces.
In the season 2
The Mentalist (season 2)
The second season of The Mentalist premiered on September 24, 2009 and concluded in May 2010. It consists of 23 episodes. CBS moved the show from Tuesdays at 9/8c to Thursdays at 10/9c, after CSI: Crime Scene Investigation...
episode "Blood In, Blood Out", Cho is shown as having a girlfriend, Elise Chaye (portrayed by Sandrine Holt), who says that he is talking even less than he normally does (because he is worrying about something), implying that even in a relationship he is a reserved man. He evidently cared deeply for Elise, becuase after masked men threatened the pair of them and hit her, he became determined to find who they were. Cho is well regarded by the CBI team, showing concern and the desire to help when Jane is going through difficulties. In season 3
The Mentalist (season 3)
The third season of The Mentalist premiered on September 23, 2010.- Main cast :* Simon Baker as Patrick Jane* Robin Tunney as Teresa Lisbon* Tim Kang as Kimball Cho* Owain Yeoman as Wayne Rigsby* Amanda Righetti as Grace Van Pelt- Recurring cast :...
episode "Bloodsport", Cho is forced into an uncomfortable position when he finds out that Rigsby, while lying to a parole officer
Probation officer
Parole officers and probation officers play a role in criminal justice systems by supervising offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to non-custodial sanctions such as community service...
to give his father an alibi, has named him as a person that could corroborate the alibi. Cho is angered and states that in his time with the police, almost ten years, he has never lied to a fellow officer. Though unhappy about it, when LaRoche questions him, he sides with Rigsby and lies. He eventually forgives Rigsby. In season 3 episode 17 ("Bloodstream") he is briefly placed in command of the team by LaRoche after Lisbon insults LaRoche. His loyalty to Lisbon is shown in this episode, as he offers to let her call the shots, but she refuses.
In "Pink Chanel Suit" (season 3, episode 6) he claims his parents were Korean.
In the third season episode "Rhapsody in Red" (season 3, episode 22), he meets a young pick pocket with similiar surroundings to when he was a kid. The pickpocket steals Cho's car, and is later caught and held at CBI headquarters until foster care can take him. Cho ends up helping the kid prove his father, who had been arrested for robbing a store, is innocent. At the end of the episode, father and son are reunited, and Cho laughs as Rigsby reacts to having had his wallet stolen.