Johnny Yune
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Born Name:
Yoon Jong-seung
Born Date: October 22, 1936
Born Place: Eumseong, North Chungcheong, Japanese Korea
Died Date: March 8, 2020
Died Place: Alhambra, California
Occupations: Actor, singer, comedian, writer, host
Brief Biography: Johnny Yune was known for being one of the first Asian stand-up comedians to achieve mainstream success in the United States, particularly through his numerous appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was also a major figure in South Korean entertainment, introducing American-style talk shows to the country.
Early Life and Education:
Born in Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, during Japanese rule, Yune moved to the United States in 1962 on a Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy scholarship. He studied vocal music at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Career in the United States:
Stand-Up Comedy & Tonight Show: Yune began his career performing stand-up in New York City in the 1960s. He gained his big break in 1977 after being discovered by Johnny Carson, subsequently appearing on The Tonight Show 34 times, a record for an Asian comedian at the time.
Film Career: He is best known for starring in and writing the 1982 cult classic comedy film They Call Me Bruce? and its 1987 sequel, They Still Call Me Bruce.
Acting Roles: He also appeared in films such as The Cannonball Run (1981), Nothing in Common (1986), and the TV movie Gidget's Summer Reunion (1985).
Citizenship: He became a U.S. citizen in 1978, at which point he anglicized his name to "John".
Career in South Korea:
1988 Olympics: Yune returned to Korea to perform at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
The Johnny Yune Show: From 1989 to 1990, he hosted The Johnny Yune Show on Korean television, which was popular for its American-style talk show format, featuring stand-up comedy and political satire.
Government Role: In 2013, he regained Korean citizenship, becoming a dual citizen, and from 2014 to 2016 served as an auditor for the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).
Born Date: October 22, 1936
Born Place: Eumseong, North Chungcheong, Japanese Korea
Died Date: March 8, 2020
Died Place: Alhambra, California
Occupations: Actor, singer, comedian, writer, host
Brief Biography: Johnny Yune was known for being one of the first Asian stand-up comedians to achieve mainstream success in the United States, particularly through his numerous appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was also a major figure in South Korean entertainment, introducing American-style talk shows to the country.
Early Life and Education:
Born in Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, during Japanese rule, Yune moved to the United States in 1962 on a Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy scholarship. He studied vocal music at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Career in the United States:
Stand-Up Comedy & Tonight Show: Yune began his career performing stand-up in New York City in the 1960s. He gained his big break in 1977 after being discovered by Johnny Carson, subsequently appearing on The Tonight Show 34 times, a record for an Asian comedian at the time.
Film Career: He is best known for starring in and writing the 1982 cult classic comedy film They Call Me Bruce? and its 1987 sequel, They Still Call Me Bruce.
Acting Roles: He also appeared in films such as The Cannonball Run (1981), Nothing in Common (1986), and the TV movie Gidget's Summer Reunion (1985).
Citizenship: He became a U.S. citizen in 1978, at which point he anglicized his name to "John".
Career in South Korea:
1988 Olympics: Yune returned to Korea to perform at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
The Johnny Yune Show: From 1989 to 1990, he hosted The Johnny Yune Show on Korean television, which was popular for its American-style talk show format, featuring stand-up comedy and political satire.
Government Role: In 2013, he regained Korean citizenship, becoming a dual citizen, and from 2014 to 2016 served as an auditor for the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).