Steven Yeun
Yeun Sang-Yeop[1] (Korean: 연상엽; born December 21, 1983), known professionally as Steven Yeun (/jʌn/), is an American actor. Yeun initially rose to prominence for playing Glenn Rhee in the television series The Walking Dead (2010–2016). He earned critical acclaim for starring in the thriller Burning (2018) and drama Minari (2020). The latter earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor, becoming the first Asian American actor to do so.[2] Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021.[3] In 2023, he starred in the dark comedy series Beef (2023), for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
For the Hong Kong archer, see Steve Yuen.
Steven Yeun
United States
Kalamazoo College (BA)
Actor
2004–present
2
Yeon Sang-yeop
Yŏn Sangyŏp
Yeun has also appeared in the films Okja (2017), Sorry to Bother You (2018), The Humans (2021) and Nope (2022). He has also voiced main characters in television series such as Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016–2018), Tales of Arcadia (2016–2021), Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters (2017–2018), Final Space (2018–2021), Tuca & Bertie (2019–2022), and Invincible (2021–present).
Early life and education[edit]
Yeun was born in Seoul on December 21, 1983, to Je and June Yeun.[4] His father was an architect in South Korea before moving his family in 1988 to Canada, where they lived in Regina, Saskatchewan.[5] In Regina, he attended Ruth M. Buck Elementary School.[6] He has a younger brother named Brian.[7] The family later moved to the U.S. and settled in Taylor, Michigan, and then Troy, Michigan, where Yeun lived until he graduated from Troy High School in 2001.[8][9] Growing up, Yeun's family spoke Korean at home.[10]
Yeun was raised in a Christian household.[11][12][13][14] His parents, who owned beauty-supply stores in Detroit,[4] began calling him "Steven" after meeting a doctor by that name.[15] He received a bachelor's degree in psychology with a concentration in neuroscience[4] from Kalamazoo College in 2005.[12] At Kalamazoo, he befriended the sister of comedian Jordan Klepper and she took him to see Klepper's improv show, which inspired him to take his first acting class and later follow Klepper to Chicago, where they joined The Second City.[4]
Career[edit]
2005–2009: Early career[edit]
Yeun revealed to his parents that he planned to pursue an improv career in Chicago instead of enrolling in law school or medical school.[12][16] His parents were unhappy with the decision, but supported him nonetheless and gave him two years to pursue acting.[12] He moved to Chicago in 2005, living in the city's Lincoln Square with his brother.[11] Shortly after graduation, he joined Stir Friday Night, a Chicago-based Asian American sketch comedy troupe.[12] Other alumni of the group include Danny Pudi, known for his role in Community. He joined The Second City in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles in October 2009.[12]
Personal life[edit]
Yeun married photographer Joana Pak on December 3, 2016.[53] They reside in Los Angeles and have two children together.[54][55]
He is a longtime fan of the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings,[56][57][58] and endorsed Andrew Yang for president in the 2020 U.S. election.[59]