Soo Hoo, whose all six siblings are actors, started out as a child actor, appearing in the short film "The Rainbow Pass" at the age of 5. He joined the Screen Actors Guild in 1954, took over the family business Chew Yuen Company, founded Phoenix Imports in 1975, and established Chinatown's Hop Louie restaurant in 1985. He later appeared in films such as Lady from Chungking (1942), Air Force (1943, with Charles Drake), and China's Little Devils (1945). As an adult, he became a bit and background actor, and his television credits include background spots.