From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Ken Jeong

American comedian and actor (born 1969)

Field	Value
name	Ken Jeong
image	Ken Jeong by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
caption	Jeong in 2013
birth_name	Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong
birth_date
birth_place	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
education
occupation
medium
genre
years_active	1995–present
spouse
children	2
website
module

Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong ( ; ; born July 13, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. 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), Tom & Jerry (2021), and KPop Demon Hunters (2025).

Jeong is a licensed physician in California but has since stopped practicing in favor of his acting career. 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

Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong was born on July 13, 1969, in Detroit, Michigan, to South Korean immigrant parents, D.K. and Young Jeong. He moved to North Carolina at the age of four, and was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina.

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.

Jeong began pursuing acting while a sophomore at Duke University. He briefly considered majoring in drama while still continuing his pre-med coursework. He graduated from Duke in 1990 and obtained his M.D. at the UNC School of Medicine in 1995. The summer before medical school, he took theater classes at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Career

1995–1998: Medical residency

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. State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Physician License #65869 for Jeong, Kendrick Kang-Joh, Issued July 1, 1998, Expires May 14, 1995, DCA BreEZe License Verification See talk for why this is commented out-- 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.

1998–2006: Physician/comedian

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. 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. Jeong was also on Kims of Comedy.

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.

2006–present: Full-time entertainer

Early in Jeong's career, he studied with director Natalia Lazarus at the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory where she coached him for his film debut in Knocked Up. Lazarus coached Jeong from 2006 – 2012 for all of his film and television roles through The Hangover Part II.

Subsequently, he appeared in * Step Brothers*; Pineapple Express; Role Models as King Argotron; All About Steve; The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard; Couples Retreat; and as Mr. Chow in The Hangover, The Hangover Part II, and The Hangover Part III. He co-starred in Zookeeper, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Crazy Rich Asians.

Jeong played Señor Chang on the NBC sitcom Community and was nominated for the show's "Male Breakout Star" at the 2010 Teen Choice Awards. He was nominated for two 2010 MTV Movie Awards, winning the award for Best WTF Moment and for MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for The Hangover. In fall 2010, Adidas basketball began a wide-ranging marketing campaign in which he starred as "Slim Chin", alongside NBA stars Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose. On May 22, 2011, he hosted the 2011 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on ABC and was featured in a Hands Only CPR PSA campaign from the American Heart Association on June 15, 2011.

In 2012, it was reported that Jamie Foxx and Jeong have each agreed to star in movies written and produced by the other. Foxx has agreed to take a leading role in the Jeong's buddy comedy After Prom. Jeong, in turn, would star in Foxx's sports comedy All-Star Weekend. He also started as the voice of Dr. Yap in the animated comedy series Bob's Burgers.

Jeong won a Streamy Award for "Best Guest Appearance" for Burning Love.

In 2013, he appeared in Michael Bay's Pain & Gain (2013), as Johnny Wu, a motivational speaker. Later that year, he returned in a significantly expanded role as Mr. Chow in The Hangover Part III. He voiced Kim Ly in the animated film Turbo (2013). In 2015, Jeong starred, wrote, and executive produced the pilot of his new ABC medical comedy, Dr. Ken, as a frustrated HMO doctor juggling his career, marriage, and parenting, but succeeding at none of them. On May 7, 2015, the series was ordered by ABC to debut in the 2015–16 TV season starring Jeong, Suzy Nakamura, Dave Foley, Tisha Campbell, and Jonathan Slavin. The series premiered on October 2, 2015.

In August 2018, Fox cast Jeong as a celebrity panelist on its upcoming music competition series The Masked Singer, based on the South Korean series King of Mask Singer. Additionally, Jeong appeared as a panelist on the first series of the British adaptation of the show. In January 2019, Jeong made a guest appearance on King of Mask Singer, performing "Creep" by Radiohead as the Golden Pig.

Jeong's first comedy special, You Complete Me, Ho, was released in 2019 on Netflix. The Epilepsy Foundation issued a statement regarding a joke in the performance that used an inaccurately referenced seizure first aid technique.

Jeong was awarded the Visionary Award by East West Players, the oldest Asian Pacific American theatre company in the United States, for helping to raise "the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through [his] craft."

In February 2020, Fox named Jeong as host and co-executive producer of its upcoming music game show I Can See Your Voice, also based on a South Korean format.

In March 2020, Jeong started a podcast with fellow Community actor Joel McHale, The Darkest Timeline with Ken Jeong & Joel McHale, as a response to the social isolation brought on by COVID-19 pandemic. They became the new hosts of Fox's New Year's Eve special New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2021. The second edition was canceled due to the quickly-rising cases of Omicron variant in the COVID-19 pandemic. He also voiced Dynomutt in the Scooby-Doo animated film Scoob!.

In July 2021, Jeong appeared with Joel McHale as a guest judge on Crime Scene Kitchen. Also in 2021, Jeong provided the voice of Sprout Cloverleaf in the Netflix animated film My Little Pony: A New Generation.

In April 2022, Jeong walked off the show The Masked Singer after Rudy Giuliani was revealed as the latest singer on the show. Jeong was seen saying "I'm done," before walking off the show.

In October 2023, it was announced that Jeong would host a syndicated talk show developed by Debmar-Mercury. Jeong and Jim Biederman will serve as the show's executive producers and it was originally set to premiere in 2024. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that same year.

In April 2025, it was confirmed that Jeong would star in a Fox comedy project.

In June 2025, Jeong voiced the character Bobby in the successful Sony animated movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Jeong became the host of 99 to Beat in 2025.

Personal life

Jeong's wife Tran Ho is Vietnamese-American and a family physician. They have twin daughters (b. 2007). Jeong and his family reside in Calabasas, California. Jeong is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he regularly appears at Dodger Stadium as both a fan and honorary member of their in-park host crew. He is also a Duke basketball and football fan.

Jeong and his close friend and Community co-star Joel McHale have hosted a podcast together titled The Darkest Timeline.

Filmography

Main article: Ken Jeong filmography

References

Ariana Brockington. (September 21, 2021). "Ken Jeong Debunks Nicki Minaj's Vaccine Claims, Breaks Down Delta Variant on 'Late Late Show'". hollywoodreporter.com.
"Medical Board of California – Licensing details for A 65869". dca.can.gov.
Yorio, Nicole. (May 16, 2011). "A Side of ''Community'''s Ken Jeong You Haven't Seen". Redbook.
DeCwikiel-Kane, Dawn. (May 10, 2019). "'Find your passion,' Ken Jeong tells UNCG graduates". [[Winston-Salem Journal]].
Jeong, Ken. (July 13, 2022). "Thanks so much for all the birthday love!!!".
Jeong, Ken. (October 4, 2015). "born in Detroit, moved to NC when I was 4. My father got his PhD in Economics from Wayne State".
Williams, Jessica. (May 10, 2019). "Ken Jeong inspires at UNC-G commencement". [[Times-News (Burlington, North Carolina).
Lopez, Robert. (June 16, 2009). "The doctor is in — films". News & Record.
Dodson, Aaron. (March 31, 2017). "Ken Jeong has degrees from both UNC and Duke — but where does his loyalty lie?".
Guillermo, Emil. (December 2, 2009). "Dr. Ken Jeong". Justforlaughs.
"''Hangover'' actor saw his career start in New Orleans – at Ochsner".
Jeong, Ken. (August 27, 2015). "Ken Jeong: How to Ditch Medicine for a Career in Comedy and Diagnose Castmates".
Vinson, Chuck. (September 1, 2005). "Kims of Comedy". Special Interest Productions.
(May 12, 2011). "Far*East Movement will perform at Ken Jeong-hosted Billboard Music Awards". Asia Pacific Arts.
(June 15, 2011). "Ken Jeong AHA Hands-Only CPR video".
Zeitchik, Steven. (October 10, 2012). "Jamie Foxx and Ken Jeong agree to trade movies".
(December 17, 2012). "Nominations Are Announced For 3rd Annual Streamy Awards". The Streamy Awards.
Kit, Borys. (April 5, 2012). "'Community' Star Ken Jeong Joins Michael Bay's 'Pain and Gain' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
(July 12, 2012). "Ken Jeong Signs on for Expanded Role in 'Hangover: Part III' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
(May 8, 2015). "ABC Orders Ken Jeong's Comedy 'Dr. Ken' to Series".
(February 10, 2015). "Medical Comedy Starring 'Community's' Ken Jeong Scores ABC Pilot Order". The Hollywood Reporter.
(June 10, 2015). "Dr. Ken Series Premiere Date Announced". ABC Go.
(October 1, 2015). "Ken Jeong was a doctor, and now he plays one on TV". Greensboro News & Record.
(August 2, 2018). "Fox Orders 'The Masked Singer' Celebrity Competition Series With Nick Cannon To Host – Watch The Trailer".
(January 14, 2019). "WATCH: Hollywood star Ken Jeong surprises on Korean tv show 'King of Masked Singer'".
(February 14, 2019). "In His Return To Stand-Up, Ken Jeong Tells His Wife: 'You Complete Me'". NPR.
"Epilepsy Foundation Statement on Ken Jeong's Netflix Comedy Special".
"Behind the Curtains: The Evolution and Impact of Asian Americans in Theatre {{!}} US-China Institute".
Ramos, Dino-Ray. (June 3, 2019). "East West Players Unveils 54th Season Featuring BD Wong-Directed 'The Great Leap', Jiehae Park's 'Hannah And The Dread Gazebo'".
Wood, Ximón. "East West Players' 51st Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction Honors Randall Park and Ken Jeong on Monday, April 24, 2017 at Hilton Universal City".
Schneider, Michael. (February 6, 2020). "Fox to Adapt South Korean Game Show ''I Can See Your Voice'', Hosted by Ken Jeong". [[Variety (magazine).
Darwish, Meaghan. (May 18, 2020). "Joel McHale on 'Community' Movie Chances, 'The Darkest Timeline' Podcast & Reunion Table Read".
(December 31, 2020). "How to Stream Fox's 'New Year's Eve Toast and Roast 2021' With Ken Jeong and Joel McHale".
(December 21, 2021). "Fox Cancels 'New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2022' Due To Omicron".
(July 14, 2021). "'Crime Scene Kitchen': Guest Judge Ken Jeong Steals Joel McHale's Thunder (Exclusive Video)".
(June 30, 2021). "Netflix's Animated 'My Little Pony' Movie Gets A Title And A Release Date; Voice Cast Revealed – Update".
(April 21, 2022). "Ken Jeong walks off 'The Masked Singer' after Rudy Giuliani reveal".
Porter, Rick. (October 13, 2023). "Ken Jeong to Headline Syndicated Talk Show". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
Wang, Jessica. (October 16, 2023). "Ken Jeong to Headline His Own Talk Show".
Schneider, Michael. (2025-03-19). "Ken Jeong to Produce and Star in Fox Comedy Project Inspired by Senator Barbara Boxer's Early Congressional Career".
"Kpop Demon Hunters Cast".
Campione, Katie. (October 22, 2025). "''99 To Beat'' Sees Energizing Start On Fox As Hosts Ken Jeong & Erin Andrews Play To Their Strengths For Competition Series That's "Almost Too Good To Be True"".
Jeong, Ken. (May 7, 2011). "For My Wife, in Celebration of Mother's Day". Huffington Post.
Deerwester, Jayme. (September 3, 2009). "Ken Jeong transitions from doctor to in-demand jokester". USA Today.
Margarita. (June 7, 2010). "Dr. Ken Jeong Thanks Wife Dr. Tran Ho During MTV Movie Awards". Vitals.
(October 19, 2016). "Comedian Ken Jeong buys an upgraded home in Calabasas for $3.95 million".
(October 26, 2016). "Jeong Ball: Talking baseball with 'Community' comedian".
"15: S1E15 – A Conversation with Very Special Guest Ken Jeong – Six Seasons & a Podcast".
Calvario, Liz. (April 17, 2020). "Joel McHale Talks 'Community' Movie and His 'Darkest Timeline' Podcast With Ken Jeong (Exclusive)".

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

1969-births living-people 20th-century-american-comedians 20th-century-american-male-actors 20th-century-american-physicians 21st-century-american-comedians 21st-century-american-male-actors 21st-century-american-physicians american-comedians-of-korean-descent american-game-show-hosts american-male-actors-of-korean-descent american-male-comedians american-male-film-actors american-male-television-actors american-male-voice-actors american-people-of-south-korean-descent american-physicians-of-korean-descent american-stand-up-comedians celebrity-doctors comedians-from-detroit comedians-from-north-carolina duke-university-alumni judges-in-american-reality-television-series male-actors-from-detroit male-actors-from-north-carolina people-from-greensboro,-north-carolina physicians-from-detroit physicians-from-north-carolina streamy-award-winners university-of-north-carolina-school-of-medicine-alumni

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Ken Jeong — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report