As a devoted Ken Jeong fan for over a decade, I‘m thrilled to provide this in-depth introduction to the brilliant comedian and actor who always leaves audiences wanting more.
Overview
| Full Name | Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong |
|---|---|
| Birthday | July 13, 1969 |
| Birth Place | Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Residence | Calabasas, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma Mater | Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill |
| Occupation | Actor, Comedian, Physician |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | Tran Ho (m. 2004) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Social Media | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
Early Life and Education
Born in Detroit to South Korean immigrants, Ken and his family later moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. There, Ken‘s intelligence and work ethic shone as he participated in Quiz Bowl competitions at Walter Hines Page High School. He graduated high school at just 16 years old!
Ken attended Duke University, where he earned a bachelor‘s degree in pre-med. He then achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a physician by obtaining his MD from the UNC School of Medicine in 1995.
Career as a Physician
After medical school, Ken completed his residency in internal medicine at Ochsner Medical Center in Louisiana. He then became a licensed, board-certified physician. For years, Ken maintained a thriving medical practice as a doctor at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in California.
During this time, he also secretly harbored dreams of pursuing comedy. Ken has cited influences like Joan Rivers, David Letterman, and Howard Stern.
Pivoting to Comedy
While working as a physician, Ken began testing his comedic chops at local comedy clubs‘ open mic nights. In 1995, he won the Big Easy Laff-Off competition. This first taste of success gave Ken the confidence to continue honing his stand-up routine.
He gradually transitioned into acting, landing minor roles on shows like The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Then in 2007, Ken took the ultimate leap of faith, leaving his career in medicine behind to pursue acting and comedy full time.
Big Breaks
Ken‘s risk paid off in spades when his career exploded after scoring a scene-stealing role in the 2007 Judd Apatow film Knocked Up. This kicked off a series of star-making turns in hit comedies like Pineapple Express, Role Models, and The Hangover franchise.
Other major acting credits include:
- Community as unhinged Spanish teacher Señor Chang
- Crazy Rich Asians as zany father Wye Mun Goh
- Dr. Ken as frustrated physician Dr. Ken Park
- The Masked Singer as quirky panelist
With his medical background, Ken carved a unique niche playing eccentric doctors and off-the-walls characters. His brazen physical comedy and commitment to each laugh-out-loud role has endeared him to fans worldwide.
Awards and Achievements
Over his prolific career, Ken has been recognized with prestigious awards, including:
- MTV Movie Award for Best WTF Moment (The Hangover)
- Critics‘ Choice Award for Best Comedy Supporting Actor (Community)
- People‘s Choice Award for Favorite Comedic TV Actor (Dr. Ken)
Personal Life
In 2004, Ken married Tran Ho, a family medicine physician he met during his residency in New Orleans. They have adorable twin daughters together named Alexa and Zooey, born in 2007.
When Tran was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, Ken was by her side through her treatment and recovery. Since then, he has been an avid supporter of Stand Up for Cancer.
Despite his success, Ken remains humble and dedicates time to giving back through charity work. He exemplifies the Asian American immigrant success story.
Why We Love Ken Jeong
Ken Jeong leaves audiences in stitches with his bold comedic skills and unlimited capacity for physical humor. But we also admire him for:
- His intelligence – Ken has Ivy League degrees in medicine
- His work ethic – he pursued comedy at night while working as a full-time doctor
- His risk-taking – leaving a stable career in medicine for acting took guts!
- His humility – he always comes across as gracious despite his fame
- His resilience – Ken helped his wife recover from cancer at the height of his career
- His philanthropy – he gives back to causes close to his heart
Ken Jeong proves that following one‘s passion can lead to great success. His multifaceted talents continue wowing audiences today. We can‘t wait to see what he does next!
