Ken Jeong Honored With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Actor Ken Jeong was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Wednesday.

The ceremony included remarks from Joel McHale, whom Jeong appeared alongside in "Community." His role in the series, which ran from 2009 to 2015, coincided with his rise to prominence after appearing in comedic films including "The Hangover," "Knocked Up," and "Role Models."

Though he began pursuing acting as an undergraduate at Duke University in the late 1980s, Jeong went on to graduate from medical school and become a practicing doctor as his was waiting for his big break. He said Wednesday he still keeps his medical license active "just in case I need to go back."

"But because of you, I never have to go back — it's because of the fans," he said. "I'm not the funniest guy in the world. I'm not the most talented. According to Joel I'm not the tallest guy. But I'm the most grateful guy, and I'm the most grateful person to my fans, to any audience member watching me. Because at the end of the day, you are putting bread on my table. You are letting me do what I love to do more than anything else in the world. So from the bottom of my heart, I cannot articulate how much I thank the fans. And this is your star, because you are my stars. Thank you so much."

Jeong's ceremony came hours before the airing of an episode of "The Masked Singer," the singing competition show on which Jeong serves as a judge, where Jeong was set to perform "I'm Just Ken," from the 2023 film "Barbie," celebrating the doll's 65th birthday.

Actor Randall Park also spoke at the ceremony, in which he poked fun at how Jeong's comedic talents have contributed to his financial success.

"One thing we often forget was how much he got paid to bring us that joy — I'm just saying it's not as selfless as it sounds," Park said.

Park and Jeong have repeatedly appeared on each other's series. Park appeared on a "Community" webisode and as himself in a sixth-season episode. Jeong portrayed the brother of Park's character on three episodes of the 2015- 20 ABC comedy "Fresh Off the Boat." Park guest-starred as the leader of the "Korean Men's Club," on a 2016 episode of "Dr. Ken," the 2015-17 ABC comedy Jeong starred in.

Born July 13, 1969, in Detroit and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, Jeong received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and a medical degree from the University of North Carolina. Jeong completed his internal medicine residency in New Orleans, all the while developing his comedy.

Jeong won the Big Easy Laff Off, which was judged by former NBC Entertainment President Brandon Tartikoff and Improv founder Budd Friedman, who both urged Jeong to move to Los Angeles

Once in Los Angeles, he began performing regularly at the Hollywood Improv and the Laugh Factory.

Jeong made his acting debut by portraying a doctor on a 1997 episode of the USA Network New Orleans-set crime drama, "The Big Easy." A breakthrough came when filmmaker Judd Apatow cast him as a short-tempered doctor who helps E! reporter Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) give birth in a hospital in the 2007 romantic comedy "Knocked Up."

Jeong had his first major role, opposite Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott, as the villain in the 2008 comedy "Role Models." That same year, he also appeared in cult comedy hits "Pineapple Express" and "Step Brothers."

Jeong appeared as Asian mobster Mr. Chow in the 2009 sleeper-hit comedy "The Hangover," which brought nominations for MTV Movie Awards for best villain and a Teen Choice Award for choice movie villain.

He reprised the role in "The Hangover Part II," released in 2011, receiving a Teen Choice Award nomination as best male scene stealer, and in "The Hangover Part III," released in 2013.

Jeong's other movie credits include "Crazy Rich Asians," "My Spy," "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," "The Duff'," "Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween," "Couples Retreat." He has supplied voices for the animated films "Over The Moon," "Scoob," "Lady And The Tramp" and "My Little Pony."

Jeong hosts the Fox mystery music game show, "I Can See Your Voice." He will star in the Dec. 3 episode of the Fox crime anthology, "Accused," as a kind-hearted jewelry store owner who confronts his wife's secret past.

City News Service contributed to this report.