Chong, a U.S. citizen, was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the daughter of Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong, a comedian, actor, writer and director. Chong's father is of Chinese and Scotch-Irish ancestry and her mother is of African and Cherokee descent. Her sister Robbi Chong is a model and actress.
Chong has been married twice and has one son. Her second husband was actor C. Thomas Howell, her co-star in Soul Man (1986). They divorced in 1990.