For her performance as Lane Kim on "Gilmore Girls," Keiko (pronounced kay-ko) Agena garnered a Young Artist Award and an Ammy Award for Best Female Actor in a television production.The Ammy Awards honor Asians and Asian-American achievement in film and television.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she lived until she was 17, Agena made her acting debut at the age of 10 with a small part in the play "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."She continued studying at the performing arts school now known as Mid Pacific School of the Arts.As a student, she was able to meet President George H.W. Bush, as one of only four actors nationwide chosen as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
Soon after graduating from Whitman College in Washington State, Agena relocated to Los Angeles and has been working steadily in theatre, television and film ever since.Her very first professional audition resulted in a guest spot on the television series "Renegade."Even before landing her role on "Gilmore Girls," Agena was no stranger to television.She guest starred as the mother of a deaf boy on "ER" and as a student reporter on "Sister, Sister," as well as in a role on "Beverly Hills, 90210."She has also appeared on the Kids' WB! series "The Nightmare Room" and had a recurring role on The WB's "Felicity."Additionally, she appeared in the telefilm "Terror in the Shadows" and the feature films "Hundred Percent" and "Beauty Shop."Other roles include the romantic lead in the film "Red Thread" and a young woman struggling with anorexia nervosa in the series "Strong Medicine."
Agena resides in Los Angeles with her husband and their two cats.Her birth date is October 3.
