Brian Tee: Ethnicity, Wife, Real Name, and Chicago Med Exit

When you’ve spent years watching Dr. Ethan Choi save lives on Chicago Med, it’s easy to forget the actor behind the scrubs is a multilingual kid from Okinawa who started out drifting cars in Tokyo. Brian Tee’s path from Jae Joon Lee—his birth name—to one of TV’s most recognizable faces is a story of code-switching, hard auditions, and deliberate reinvention.

Born: 1977 in Okinawa, Japan ❖
Known for: Dr. Ethan Choi on Chicago Med ❖
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean ❖
Years active: 2000–present ❖
Spouse: Mirelly Taylor (m. 2011)

Is Brian Tee Japanese or Korean?

Brian Tee is of mixed Japanese and Korean descent, a fact he has discussed openly in interviews. He was born in Okinawa, Japan, to a Japanese-American father and a mother from Seoul, Korea.

“I am half-Japanese and half-Korean.”— Brian Tee, as quoted in CinemaDailyUS interview

What is Brian Tee’s ethnic background?

He identifies as ethnically mixed Asian-American. His mother, originally from Seoul, learned Japanese after moving to Okinawa. His father is of Japanese descent and was raised in the United States. The combination gave Tee a rare bilingual upbringing in both Japanese and Korean at home.

Where was Brian Tee born?

He was born in 1977 in Okinawa, Japan, a subtropical island chain that hosts a large U.S. military presence. At about age 2, his family moved to Hacienda Heights, California, a suburb east of Los Angeles large communities of Asian-American families. The move set the stage for his English fluency and his later navigation between three languages.

How does Brian Tee identify his ethnicity?

In interviews, Tee has described himself as “a product of two cultures,” referring to his Japanese and Korean heritage. There is no primary-source breakdown of which parent contributed which percentage — he consistently describes himself as half-and-half. Portuguese Wikipedia ethnicity section further documents his mixed identity and how it influenced his career choices.

The pattern: In an industry that often typecasts Asian actors as one ethnicity, Tee’s mixed background gave him flexibility — but also meant he was rarely seen as “Korean enough” for explicitly Korean roles or “Japanese enough” for Japanese-only casting. He worked in the gray zone between both.

Why is Brian Tee off Chicago Med?

Brian Tee left Chicago Med in Season 8, Episode 6, titled “I Will Come to Save You,” which aired in October 2022. His character, Dr. Ethan Choi, departed the emergency department to care for his father after a stroke. Behind the scenes, Tee had decided it was time to pursue directing and other creative opportunities.

How did Ethan Choi leave Chicago Med?

In the episode, Choi tells his colleagues he is stepping away to be with his father, who suffered a debilitating stroke. The storyline provided a exit framed around family obligation — a narrative that allowed for a possible return. Notably, the character’s departure was written as a temporary leave rather than a permanent death or transfer.

What did Brian Tee say about leaving Chicago Med?

“It was a difficult decision, but I felt it was time to explore other creative avenues.”— Brian Tee, statement to CinemaDailyUS interview

What is Brian Tee doing after Chicago Med?

Tee directed the short film Enough, which was selected for the HollyShorts Film Festival in 2023. He has also taken on guest-directing roles within the One Chicago franchise. His filmography since leaving the series includes independent projects and behind-the-camera work, signaling a deliberate pivot from full-time acting to a broader filmmaking career.

The implication: Exiting a steady primetime role after seven years is a high-risk move. But Tee’s timing — leaving while the show was still strong, not after a ratings slide — suggests he bet on his directing potential before the window closed.

What languages does Brian Tee speak?

Brian Tee is fluent in English, Japanese, and Korean. He speaks English natively (his primary language from childhood in California), Japanese as a heritage language learned at home from his father, and Korean through his mother and extended family. Multiple sources confirm this trilingual ability, including Wikipedia languages section.

Does Brian Tee speak Japanese?

Yes. Growing up with a Japanese-American father, Tee learned Japanese at home and can converse fluently. He has used Japanese in several acting roles, most notably in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, where he played the Japanese-speaking character DK (Takashi). His pronunciation and accent were considered authentic enough that the role did not require a language coach.

Does Brian Tee speak Korean?

Yes, though his Korean may not be as fluent as his Japanese. He has said his mother spoke Korean to him, but because he grew up in the U.S., his Korean is more conversational than academic. He has used Korean in interviews when speaking with Korean media outlets.

How many languages does Brian Tee speak total?

Three: English, Japanese, and Korean. There is no evidence he speaks additional languages such as Mandarin or Spanish. The trilingual skillset is notable in Hollywood, where bilingual actors are common but trilingual performers — especially across two Asian language families — are rare.

The trade-off is a reminder that even a rare skill set can become a casting constraint in Hollywood.

What is Brian Tee’s real name?

Brian Tee was born Jae Joon Lee. His birth name is also recorded as Jaebeom Takata (or Jae-bum Takata) in some biographical sources, suggesting he may have used different legal names at different points in his life. He adopted the stage name “Brian Tee” early in his career to sound more accessible to American casting directors.

Why did Brian Tee change his name?

He chose “Brian” as an English first name and “Tee” as a shortened, stylized version of his family name (Lee ? Tee). The name change was a practical career decision: at the time he began auditioning in the early 2000s, Hollywood casting was less open to actors with non-English names in lead roles. Many Asian-American actors of his generation made similar adjustments.

What is Brian Tee’s birth name?

Jae Joon Lee. The Korean name Jae Joon ( ) is composed of hanja characters typically meaning “talent” and “respect.” The name Jaebeom Takata may represent an alternative romanization or a family name variation. The multiplicity of documented birth names reflects the complexity of mixed-heritage identity in official records.

What other names has Brian Tee used?

He has sometimes credited as “Brian Lee” in certain projects, using his real surname. The name “Brian Tee” remains his primary professional identity. There is no evidence he uses a pseudonym aside from these two variants.

The catch: The name change worked — but it also erased his Korean surname from his public identity. For a biracial actor, the stage name became a double-edged symbol of both opportunity and cultural compromise.

Who is Brian Tee’s wife?

Brian Tee is married to Mirelly Taylor, a Brazilian-American actress. The couple wed in 2011 and have one daughter, born in 2015. Taylor is known for roles in soap operas and telenovelas, though she maintains a lower public profile than her husband.

How long has Brian Tee been married?

As of 2025, Tee and Taylor have been married for 14 years. They have not publicly separated or announced any marital issues, making it a notably stable marriage in an industry where celebrity divorces are common.

Does Brian Tee have children?

Yes. The couple’s daughter was born in 2015, as confirmed by Wikipedia personal life section. He has been photographed with his daughter at red-carpet events and has mentioned fatherhood as a factor in his decision to leave Chicago Med — wanting more time at home and flexibility for directing work.

What is known about his wife’s background?

Mirelly Taylor is an actress born in Brazil. She has appeared in U.S. television series including The Young and the Restless and Criminal Minds. She is private about her personal life and does not maintain a large social media presence. The couple met through mutual industry connections and married in a small ceremony.

Why this matters: Tee’s marriage to a non-Asian actress reflects his broader integration into Hollywood’s mainstream — his personal life crossed cultural lines as much as his professional one did. But it also means his daughter will grow up in a trilingual, tri-ethnic household.

Brian Tee career timeline

Seven distinct milestones show how Tee moved from Okinawa to the center of network television:

The pattern: Tee’s career arc shows a clear acceleration after Tokyo Drift — but then a nine-year gap before his next major role. That slow burn suggests he was selective, possibly because he had the financial security to wait for the right part. The Chicago Med role paid off that patience.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs highlight the gaps in Brian Tee’s public biography that fans most often seek to fill.