Ken Jeong
Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong (Korean: 정강조, /dʒʌŋ/ JUNG; born July 13, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian and actor.[1] He rose to prominence for playing Leslie Chow in The Hangover film series (2009–2013) and Ben Chang in the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015). He created, wrote and produced the ABC sitcom Dr. Ken (2015–2017), in which he portrays the titular character, and he has appeared in the films Knocked Up (2007), Role Models (2008), Furry Vengeance (2010), The Duff (2015), Ride Along 2 (2016), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), Scoob! (2020) and Tom & Jerry (2021).[2]
In this Korean name, the family name is Jeong.Ken Jeong
Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong
1995–present
2
Jeong Gang-jo
Chŏng Kangcho
Jeong is a licensed physician in California[3] but has since stopped practicing in favor of his acting career.[4] He appears as a panelist on the American version of the singing competition show The Masked Singer and appeared on the first series of the British version. He also serves as the host of I Can See Your Voice.
Early life and education[edit]
Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong was born on July 13, 1969,[3][5][6] in Detroit, Michigan,[7] to South Korean immigrant parents, D.K. and Young Jeong.[5] He moved to North Carolina at the age of four,[7] and was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina.[8]
Jeong attended Walter Hines Page High School, where he participated in the regional quiz bowl, was elected to the student council, and played violin in the school orchestra. He graduated in 1986 at the age of 16, and later went on to receive Greensboro's Youth of the Year award for his achievements.[2]
Jeong began pursuing acting while a sophomore at Duke University.[9] He briefly considered majoring in drama while still continuing his pre-med coursework.[2] He graduated from Duke in 1990 and obtained his M.D. at the UNC School of Medicine in 1995.[3][10] The summer before medical school, he took theater classes at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).[2]
Career[edit]
1995–1998: Medical residency[edit]
Jeong's background in theater and improv started while he was still a medical student in North Carolina. He was a regular at open mic nights in the Raleigh-Durham circuit, performing at Charlie Goodnights in Raleigh and Tootie's Durham Comedy Club. He also emceed The Comedy Spot programming series on Duke University campus 1992 and 1993 (produced by his friend Kendrick Jahng) opening for Margaret Cho, Jeff Dunham, and others.
Jeong completed his residency at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.[11]
Jeong won the Big Easy Laff-Off in 1995 while still in residency. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff and The Improv founder Budd Friedman were judges and they both urged Jeong to move to Los Angeles.[2][12]
1998–2006: Physician/comedian[edit]
Jeong moved to Los Angeles in 1998 and practiced medicine for several years as a physician of internal medicine at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Woodland Hills.[9] He began performing regularly at The Improv and Laugh Factory comedy clubs. His stand-up work led to several television appearances, including NBC's The Office, FOX's MADtv, HBO's Entourage, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In 2002, Jeong landed a spot on Comedy Central's Comic Groove.[9] Jeong was also on Kims of Comedy.[13]
He made his film debut in Judd Apatow's Knocked Up as Dr. Kuni, which proved to be his breakout performance. From that point forward he was able to transition from medicine into a full-time career in the entertainment industry. Jeong gave up the practice in 2006 in favor of his acting career; however, he maintains his medical license and has assisted with medical emergencies during performances and on-set.[3][9]
Personal life[edit]
Jeong's wife Tran Ho is Vietnamese-American and a family physician.[38][39][40] They have twin daughters (b. 2007).[38] Jeong and his family reside in Calabasas, California.[41]
Jeong and his close friend and Community costar Joel McHale[42] have hosted a podcast together titled The Darkest Timeline.[43]
