Unspooling Stardust: The Life and Family of Rae Dong Chong

Basic Information

A Cinematic Life — career, dates, and the arc I noticed

I’ve always thought of Rae Dong Chong like a late-night movie that keeps surprising you every time you watch it — a face you remember from one scene and a presence that quietly reshapes the whole film. Born February 28, 1961, in Edmonton, she burst onto the international radar with a jaw-dropping performance in Quest for Fire (1981), a role that earned her a major Canadian acting prize and announced, in no uncertain terms, that she was a force.

Below is a compact timeline I pulled together that tracks the broad strokes of her career and a few key life dates — think of it like the spine of a biography, where every vertebra is a role, a marriage, a birth.

Numbers matter here: three marriages listed publicly, one child, roughly four decades of a career that keeps returning like a beloved character actor — flexible, resilient, not one-note. Awards-wise, the Genie statuette for Quest for Fire remains a benchmark: one major prize early, and then a career that diversified instead of chasing Oscars, which is a choice as cinematic — and as brave — as any scripted climax.

Family Portrait — the cast beyond the credits

Family for Rae Dong Chong reads like an ensemble cast, each member with their own subplot and textures.

• Tommy Chong — father. The name rings like a theme song: comedian and counterculture icon, a father figure whose public persona is as recognizable as any marquee. He’s the elder statesman in a household that mixed cultures and show-business rhythms.
• Maxine Sneed — mother. The quieter anchor in the background of the Chong household, Maxine is the maternal half of the origin story that nurtured Rae Dong Chong’s unique identity.
• Robbi Chong — sister. Robbi carved her own path as a model and actress; sibling dynamics are a recurring motif here — collaboration, comparison, protective instincts, the usual family drama.
• Marcus Chong — adopted brother. An actor too, Marcus shows the recurring family theme of performance and reinvention; adopted sibling relationships add an extra layer to the family narrative, one of inclusion and blended histories.
• Owen Baylis — early partner. The father of Rae Dong Chong’s son, Morgan; an early chapter in the family’s arc that echoes through later decades.
• Morgan Baylis — son. The single child who often appears in celebratory social posts; a private center of gravity in an otherwise public life.
• C. Thomas Howell — ex-spouse (1989–1990). A brief, headline-grabbing marriage to a fellow actor — marriages between actors often read like movie plots themselves: romance, scheduling conflicts, rewrites, closing credits.
• Nathan Ulrich — ex-spouse (2011–2014). A later chapter, another partner — the arc of relationships across decades that reveals as much about choices as it does about the industry’s rhythms.

If family is cinema, Rae Dong Chong’s clan is an indie festival — equal parts bohemian, Hollywood, family lore, and small-town roots. I hear echoes of classic pop-culture pairings and mismatched duets in every sibling photo and birthday post.

Money, fame, and the marketable life

I’ll be blunt: celebrity net worth figures are like props — useful for set dressing, not proof. Industry aggregators peg Rae Dong Chong’s net worth at around USD $4 million, which places her as comfortably successful — enough to ensure choice and freedom, but not so astronomical that the life becomes a myth. Forty-plus years working in film and TV, a major award early on, recurring roles — put those together and the estimate makes sense as an industry shorthand.

Scenes from social media and the press: what people talk about

People talk — and they always will. Social platforms show birthday posts for her son, throwback film love from fans, and occasional notes about projects and appearances. Gossip and tabloids sometimes circle big names and small stories alike; the press mentions include headline-friendly incidents around people in her orbit, public friendships, and the perennial interest in past relationships. To me, the pattern is clear: fans love the 1980s iconography, journalists chase headlines, and Rae Dong Chong keeps doing the work — which is the real through-line.

FAQ

Who is Rae Dong Chong?

Rae Dong Chong is a Canadian-born actress (born Feb 28, 1961) who broke out in Quest for Fire (1981) and has worked steadily in film and television since the late 1970s.

What awards has she won?

She won a Genie Award for Best Actress for her role in Quest for Fire (1981).

Who are her immediate family members?

Her parents are Tommy Chong and Maxine Sneed; siblings include Robbi Chong and Marcus Chong (adopted), and she has one son, Morgan Baylis.

Who has she been married to?

Publicly listed spouses include Owen Baylis (early relationship), C. Thomas Howell (1989–1990), and Nathan Ulrich (2011–2014).

Does she have children?

Yes — one son, Morgan Baylis.

What is her estimated net worth?

Industry estimates place her net worth at approximately USD $4 million.