Randall Park | |
|---|---|
_(29977100934).jpg) Park in 2016 | |
| Born | (1974-03-23)March 23, 1974 (age 51) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles (BA,MA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Randall Park (born March 23, 1974)[1][2][3] is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his roles as AgentJimmy Woo in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, FBI Special Agent Edwin Park in theNetflix seriesThe Residence (2025), Louis Huang in theABC sitcomFresh Off the Boat (2015–2020), for which he was nominated for theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 2016, and forIKEA Heights, a comedy web series.
Before these major roles, Park gained popularity by playing Steve, a prank replacement ofJim Halpert (dubbed "Asian Jim") in an episode of theNBC sitcomThe Office, and starring in the recurring role ofGovernor Danny Chung in theHBO comedy seriesVeep. He also co-starred in and co-wrote theNetflixromantic comedy filmAlways Be My Maybe (2019) alongsideAli Wong and directed thecomedy-drama filmShortcomings (2023).
Park played AgentJimmy Woo in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, including the films,Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) andAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, (2023) and the miniseriesWandaVision (2021). He played a future version of himself in the 2021Dwayne Johnson autobiographical comedy seriesYoung Rock and portrayed North Korean dictatorKim Jong Un in the comedy filmThe Interview (2014). He played Dr.Stephen Shin in theDC Extended Universe films,Aquaman (2018) andAquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).
Park was born to Duk Hee and Harry Park,Korean immigrants inLos Angeles,California and grew up in the Los Angeles neighborhood ofCastle Heights.[4] His mother was an accountant at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his father owned aone-hour photo store.[5] Park graduated fromHamilton High School's humanities magnet program.[6][7]
Park attendedUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the fall quarter of 1993.[8] There he co-founded "Lapu, the Coyote that Cares," the largest and longest-running on-campus Asian American theater company, now known as the LCC Theatre Company, in 1995.[9][10][11][12] He credits his experiences with LCC for sparking his desire to pursue acting professionally and would go on to collaborate with many of its alumni.[13] Their first performance wasTreehouse Bachelor Society, a full-length play written by Park, at the Northwest Auditorium.[13] Park was a student volunteer for UCLA's official charity, UCLA UniCamp, and went by the camp name "CareMoose".[4] He graduated with abachelor's degree in English, with a concentration in creative writing,[14] and a minor inAsian American studies in 1997.[8][15] He remained at UCLA, partly to continue acting with LCC, and later completed hismaster's degree in Asian American studies in 1999.[16][17][7] After graduation, Park worked at the weekly newspaperNew Times LA as a graphic/print designer for a few years. When he left the job, he considered architecture school but failed the prerequisite courses, realizing he did not want to attend any more schools.[7]
Park co-founded the Propergander theater group with a few LCC alumni. Their first production wasThe Achievers by LCC co-founderMichael Golamco in 2001.[11] Around this time, Park began doingstand-up comedy recreationally in his backyard during Propergander shows. He citedMike Birbiglia andMitch Hedberg as early influences and would later perform alongside comedianAli Wong.[18][4][19] Other notable Propergander alumni includeVivian Bang,Tim Chiou, andEddie Shin.[20] Park, Shin, Wong, and LCC co-founder Naoya Imanishi were also a part of the short-lived improv group, "The Legendary Stage Ninjaz".[11][4]
Park made his screen debut as the lead in the 2003short filmDragon of Love. It won Best Short Film at the 2003Hawaii International Film Festival.
Park co-wrote and starred in the feature filmAmerican Fusion, directed by UCLA alumnus Frank Lin, which won the Audience Award at the 2005Hawaii International Film Festival.[21][22][23] It was alsoPat Morita's last film before his death in November of that year.[21] The script was a quarter-finalist for the 2009Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.[24]
Early in his career when Park did not have atalent agent, he would book roles through diversity showcases at different television networks.[25] In 2006 he appeared in the CBS Diversity Showcase. At 32, while a cast member onMTV'sWild 'n Out, he worked atStarbucks to supplement his income.[4][26]
In 2007 he regularly appeared as an actor in the filmmaking reality showOn the Lot.
Park found work to be scarce after 2008'sGreat Recession in the United States and a potentialSAG-AFTRA strike at the beginning of 2009,[27] so he began to focus on his own projects during this period.[18] He wrote the short filmBlueberry, which won an award for Best Actor at theNBC Shortcuts Film Festival For Short Films in 2010.[28][29]
He had a recurring role as Martin Fukanaga onSupah Ninjas.
Park has collaborated on several projects withWong Fu Productions, beginning with his role as Brandon in the comedy skitToo Fast (2010) and as the stepfather in theweb seriesHome Is Where the Hans Are (2012). Later Park appeared as a D.E.I. (Department of Emotional Integrity) agent in the feature filmEverything Before Us (2015) and its accompanying short film, as Asian Santa in the comedy skitWhy is Santa Asian?, and as himself in a brief cameo inAsian Bachelorette 2.[30][31]
He created, directed, wrote, and starred in several shortinternet series forChannel 101, includingDr. Miracles,The Food,IKEA Heights, andDumb Professor. In 2013 he wrote and starred in another Channel 101 series featuring his baby daughter, entitledBaby Mentalist.[32] In Channel 101's bracket competition format for web-series,Baby Mentalist was voted number one the most times out of all the channel's shows, and it ended with six episodes in 2013.[33][34]
Park played the recurring character of Minnesota governor Danny Chung on theHBO comedyVeep.[4][1]
In 2014 Park played a company rep trying to recruit college students inNeighbors. He had previously worked with the director,Nicholas Stoller, onThe Five-Year Engagement (2012). Stoller later recommended Park for the role of "a vague North Korean dictator", who later turned out to be North Korean leaderKim Jong-un, in the controversial[35] film,The Interview, directed byEvan Goldberg andSeth Rogen. Impressed by his performance, Goldberg and Rogen offered Park the part just after one audition. As reference material, he looked to Forest Whitaker's performance inThe Last King of Scotland and to theVice documentary on North Korea.[36] Park also gained over 20 pounds for the role.
That same year, Park appeared in the comedy film,Sex Tape.[37]
In 2015 he appeared as Jeff inNetflix's prequel series,Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and worked onWong Fu Productions' first feature film,Everything Before Us. Park starred withJohn Malkovich in the music video forEminem's single "Phenomenal". He then played a co-worker ofAmy Schumer's character inTrainwreck and also had roles in the films,Southpaw (as Jed Wang) andThe Night Before as Ethan's Boss.
From 2015 to 2020 Park starred as Louis Huang, patriarch of aTaiwanese American family, alongsideConstance Wu inABC's television showFresh Off the Boat (based onEddie Huang's memoir,Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir), written and produced byNahnatchka Khan and executive produced byJake Kasdan.[35] He was the first actor cast on the show, the producers having approached him before the pilot was ordered.[33] Being of Korean heritage, Park initially felt uneasy about portraying a Taiwanese father. However, Huang reassured Park that he was his first choice to play his father.[38] When they were staffing the writer's room, Park recommended Ali Wong for a position.[39] The show ran for six seasons and concluded on February 21, 2020.
In 2016 Park appeared in the filmOffice Christmas Party as Fred.
In 2017 Park appeared in the comedies,The House as the Wall Street Guy andThe Disaster Artist. He also lent his voice talents to the CGI-animated filmThe Lego Ninjago Movie as Chen the Cheerleader.
In 2018 Park had minor roles in both theMarvel Cinematic Universe andDC Extended Universe (DCEU). He played FBI AgentJimmy Woo in theMarvel Studios filmAnt-Man and the Wasp, returning as Woo in theDisney+ series,WandaVision (2021). In the DCEU, he played Dr.Stephen Shin in the filmAquaman.
Park produced and starred in theNetflix original filmAlways Be My Maybe, directed byFresh Off the Boat creator Nahnatchka Khan, withAli Wong. The film was written by Park, Wong, andMichael Golamco.[40] The in-film hip-hop band, Hello Peril, is inspired by Park's '90s hip-hop band, Ill Again.[41] The film was released in select theaters on May 29, 2019, and digitally onNetflix on May 31, 2019.[42]
Park, Golamco, and Hieu Ho launched the Asian American-focused production company, Imminent Collision, and signed a first-look deal with20th Century Fox Television in October 2019. The name is derived from a play they worked on while they were members of the LCC theater group at UCLA.[43]
In 2022 Park starred in the Netflix comedy seriesBlockbuster, which aired for one season before being cancelled.[44][45]
In January 2023, Park's directorial debut,Shortcomings, premiered at the 2023Sundance Film Festival.[46] The film was released on August 4, 2023, bySony Pictures Classics.[47]
In November 2024, Park finished the New York City Marathon with a time of 4 hours 16 minutes and 18 seconds.
In March 2025, Park starred in the Netflix miniseries,The Residence, as FBI Special Agent Edwin Park. He has also recurred in theCBSSherlock Holmes-based seriesWatson playing arch criminalMoriarty.
Park was afront man for the Los Angeles-based hip-hop/jazz/rock fusion band, Ill Again.[41][48] The band served as the inspiration for his character's band, Hello Peril, in the filmAlways Be My Maybe (2019).[12] He later formed the rap group Novelists with former Ill Again emcee Andrew Johnson. In this group, Park went by the rap name, "Randruff."[49][50][51][52] They released the albumBookends in 2008.[53]
In 2019 Park rapped alongsideWayne Brady,Rafael Casal,Utkarsh Ambudkar, andDaveed Diggs in"Housewarming Cypher".
In 2020 Park voiced Eugene in the Cartoon Network show,Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart, in the episode "Adoradad".
In 2022 Park was featured in rapper Lyrics Born's song"This Song's Delicious" alongside Dan the Automator. In the music video, Park went by the name "Sitcom Dad."[54]
Park has been featured in ads forHBO Go,Ally Financial, and the 2011 Father's DayVerizon Droid commercial.[55][56] He appeared as a "doggie daycare owner" in a print and online campaign for Chase Bank, which aired in early 2015.[57]
Park was featured in UTC Business Ethics Course HUR750 "Respect in the Workplace".[citation needed]
Park is married to actressJae Suh Park. They worked together onThe Mindy Project and the short filmLove, NY. They live with their daughter Ruby in theSan Fernando Valley.[18][58] Ruby Louise Park was born in 2012. She starred alongside her parents as a crime-fighting baby superhero inBaby Mentalist, a comedyweb series developed by her father in 2013.[59][60] Ruby isautistic, as discussed by Park onMike Birbiglia'spodcastWorking it Out.[61] Park supports the non-profitKultureCity that focuses on "sensory accessibility and acceptance for those withinvisible disabilities." Park is also on KultureCity's board of directors.[62]
Park returned to UCLA as a keynote speaker for theAsian American Studies department commencement ceremony in 2015 and for theEnglish department commencement ceremony in 2017.[63][64]
Park delivered the keynote address at all threeUCLA college commencement ceremonies in 2023.[65]
Park is an active supporter of theEast West Players theater group inLittle Tokyo, Los Angeles. He publicly voiced his support for the theatre during EWP's donation campaign in 2018.[66]
Park has an older brother.[4] In the beginning, Park's parents were not supportive of his acting ambitions. However, in hindsight Park has acknowledged that they supported him tacitly at the time by continuing to house him throughout the years.[19] When Park received the script forThe Interview, his parents encouraged him to pursue the role.[38]
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Fastlane | Octopus Man | Episode: "Strap On" |
| Reno 911! | Mailman | Episode: "Dangle's Moving Day" | |
| Las Vegas | Jasper | Episode: "Jokers and Fools" | |
| 2004 | Alias | Korean Soldier | Episode: "Crossings" |
| ER | Yong-Jo Pak | Episode: "White Guy, Dark Hair" | |
| 2005 | House | Brad | Episode: "Autopsy" |
| 2006 | Four Kings | Server Pat | Episode: "Night of the Iguana" |
| 2006–07 | Wild 'n Out | Himself / Various | 16 episodes |
| 2006; 2007 | The Bold and the Beautiful | E.R. Doctor | 2 episodes |
| Mad TV | Bobby's Cousin / Korean Man / Ando | 3 episodes | |
| 2007 | Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz | Police Officer / Hypeman Waiter / Bjork | 3 episodes |
| Cold Case | Manny Kim '07 | Episode: "That Woman" | |
| 2008 | iCarly | Mr. Palladino | Episode: "iGot Detention" |
| The Sarah Silverman Program | Mongolian Aide | Episode: "The Mongolian Beef" | |
| Eli Stone | Chris Kim | Episode: "Unwritten" | |
| Zip | Mr. Yu | Television film | |
| The Apostles | Ettinger | ||
| 2009 | Gary Unmarried | Dr. Greenberg | Episode: "Gary Tries to Do It All" |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Doctor | Episode: "The Table Read" | |
| 2010–11 | Svetlana | Dr. Park | 3 episodes |
| 2010; 2015 | Community | Crime Boss / Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2011–13 | Supah Ninjas | Martin Fukanaga | Recurring role, 27 episodes |
| 2011 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Scott Katsu | Episode: "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Dead" |
| A Series of Unfortunate People | Odd Man / Jay / Barry | 3 episodes | |
| Random Comedies | Joe | Episode: "Open House" | |
| 2012 | New Girl | Will | Episode: "Fancyman Part 1" |
| The Office | Steve/Asian Jim | Episode: "Andy's Ancestry" | |
| A Car Called Wanda | Richard | Episode: "It Wasn’t a Roofie" | |
| Slanted | Kai | Episode: "Paying Your Dues" | |
| 2012–17 | Veep | Governor Danny Chung | Recurring role, 13 episodes |
| 2013 | Infomercials | Mark | Episode: "Broomshakalaka!" |
| Mr. Box Office | Larry Kung | Episode: "Marcus Gets Kung Pow'd" | |
| 2013–14 | The Mindy Project | Dr. Colin Lee | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Newsreaders | Clavis Kim | 3 episodes |
| 2014; 2018 | Robot Chicken | Kim Jong-un / Li Shang / Charon / Red Power Ranger | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Repeat After Me | Himself | Episode: "#1.5" |
| Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp | Jeff | 4 episodes | |
| Comedy Bang! Bang! | Himself | Episode: "Randall Park Wears Brown Dress Shoes With Blue Socks" | |
| 2015–20 | Fresh Off the Boat | Louis Huang | Regular role Nominated –Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series (2016,[74] 2017) |
| 2016 | Idiotsitter | Hank | Episode: "GED Prom" |
| Childrens Hospital | Jamyang | Episode: "Show Me a Hero" | |
| Dr. Ken | Gary Chon | Episode: "Korean Men's Club" | |
| $100,000 Pyramid | Himself | Episode: "Randall Park vs.Anna Camp" | |
| Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ | Grieg | Episode: "Day of the Diamond Dealmakers" | |
| 2017 | Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special | Blair | Netflix variety special |
| Love | Tommy | 2 episodes | |
| Angie Tribeca | Dr. Moreau | Episode: "Brockman Turner Overdrive" | |
| Drop the Mic | Himself | Episode: "James Van Der Beek vs. Randall Park /Gina Rodriguez vs.Rob Gronkowski" | |
| Do You Want to See a Dead Body? | Episode: "A Body and a Crater" | ||
| 2018 | Hot Streets | Donovan Kim | Voice, episode: "Got a Minute for Love?"[67] |
| Drunk History | Jamukha | Episode: "The Middle Ages" | |
| Animals. | Nikolai | Voice, episode: "The Democratic People's Republic of Kitty City"[67] | |
| Art Prison | Himself | Adult Swim TV special | |
| 2018; 2020 | BoJack Horseman | Moose / Hotel Concierge / American Tourist | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Hell's Kitchen | Himself | Episode: "Devilish Desserts" |
| What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage | Episode: "Neighbor" | ||
| 2020 | Medical Police | Clavis Kim | 4 episodes |
| Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart | Eugene | Voice, episode: "Adoradad" | |
| Adventure Time: Distant Lands | Hugo | Voice, episode: "BMO"[75][67] | |
| American Dad! | Doctor | Voice, episode: "Trophy Wife, Trophy Life" | |
| Where's Waldo? | Wizard Shadowbeard | Voice, episode: "Shadow of Bali" | |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Jimmy Woo | Regular role, 6 episodes |
| Marvel Studios: Assembled | Himself | Documentary; Episode: "Assembled: The Making ofWandaVision" | |
| Tuca & Bertie | Bertie's father | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| Star Trek: Lower Decks | Apergosian High Leader | Voice, episode: "Strange Energies" | |
| Amend: The Fight for America | Himself | 3 episodes | |
| Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. | Dr. Edmund Choi | 2 episodes | |
| 2021–23 | Young Rock | Future version of himself | Recurring role, 29 episodes |
| 2022 | Ghostwriter | Lion | Episode: "Ghost of Oz, Part 1" |
| Blockbuster | Timmy Yoon | Main role | |
| 2022–23 | Human Resources | Peter "Pete" Doheny | Voice, main role |
| 2023 | Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai | Yao/Odd-Odd | Voice, episode: "Always Buy a Ticket"[76] |
| Solar Opposites | Mr. Sarner | Voice, episode: "The Ping Pong Table" | |
| Big Mouth | Peter "Pete" Doheny | Voice, episode: "Panic! At The Mall" | |
| Blue Eye Samurai | Heiji Shindo | Voice, 8 episodes[67] | |
| 2024 | Clone High | Frida's Adopted Dad | Voice, episode: "Cyranos: A Portmant-opus" |
| Krapopolis | Loki | Voice, episode: "Thor" | |
| It's Florida, Man | Real Steve | Episode: "Toes" | |
| 2025 | Watson | James Moriarty | Recurring |
| The Residence | Edwin Park | Main role | |
| Marvel Zombies | Jimmy Woo | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| Diddy TV | Various | Voice[77] | |
| Haunted Hotel | Joel | Voice, episode: "Randy Slasher" |
| Year | Artist | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Eminem | "Phenomenal" | |
| 2013 | Chester See | "Whistle While I Work It" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Dr. Miracles | Dr. Miracles | Also writer/director |
| 2009 | Greendale Community College Webisodes | Brody Leitz | Promos forCommunity |
| 2009 | The Food | Wallace | Also writer |
| 2009–10 | IKEA Heights | James | YouTube Series only filmed in IKEA without staff noticing |
| 2010 | Too Fast | Brandon | Wong Fu Productions short |
| 2010 | Dumb Professor | Professor Raymond Nash | Also writer/director |
| 2010 | Weekend Forecast[78] | Tokyo Mitsubishi | MagicHugs short |
| 2010 | Workout Tape[79] | Ronny Nishimoto | MagicHugs short |
| 2011 | Siamese Dad | Russell | Also writer/director |
| 2011 | The Game Station - The Street Fighter | Kenneth | |
| 2012 | The Game Station - The Return of King Hippo | Roommate | |
| 2012 | Listen to Grandpa, Andy Ling | Andy Ling | Starred oppositeElliott Gould |
| 2012 | Home Is Where The Hans Are | Andrew | Wong Fu Productions short |
| 2013 | Baby Mentalist | Detective Chung | Also writer |
| 2014 | CollegeHumor - If Google was a Guy (2) | Bing | |
| 2014 | Talking Marriage with Ryan Bailey | Himself | Guest with JaeLego |
| 2018 | Asian Bachelorette 2 | Himself | Wong Fu Productions short |
| 2023 | Good Mythical Morning | Himself | Guest |
| 2024 | IF | John Krasinski | Promotional material only |
| 2024 | Rhett and Link's Wonderhole | Squirrel | Episode: "Chopping Down a Tree Using Peanut Butter" |
 |
with Ill Again
with Novelists
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
