Quan was born Ke Hunh Quan in Saigon, South Vietnam, but was forced to leave his country when the Army of the Republic of Vietnam was defeated during the Fall of Saigon. His family was selected for political asylum and emigrated to the United States. He attended Alhambra High School in Alhambra, California. After high school, Quan graduated from the University of Southern California, the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He is fluent in Vietnamese, English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.