Steve_Park_(comedian)

Steve Park (comedian)

Steve Park (comedian)

American comedian and actor


Stephen Park[1] is an American comedian and actor. He is best known for being a cast member of the sketch comedy television series In Living Color during the 19911992 season. He is also known for the film roles of Sonny in Do the Right Thing (1989), Detective Brian in Falling Down (1993), Mike Yanagita in Fargo (1996), and Lt. Nescaffier in The French Dispatch (2021).

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Park's other acting work includes the role of Mike Sorayama in the Adult Swim animated television series The Venture Bros. and the role of Judge Pete in the critically acclaimed independent film Rocket Science (2007).[2] Park has acted in two Coen brothers films, Fargo and A Serious Man (2009).[3]

Early life and career

Park grew up in Vestal, New York.[1] The son of Korean immigrants, Park began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian before transitioning into acting.

Park was a cast member on In Living Color. He has appeared in films such as Do the Right Thing (1989), Fargo (1996), A Serious Man (2009), Snowpiercer (2013), The French Dispatch (2021), and Asteroid City (2023).

Personal life

Park married Kelly Coffield, another former cast member of In Living Color, in 1999.[1] They have a son and a daughter.[1]

Advocacy

"[T]he 1st AD (assistant director), in a short tirade, called an Asian-American actor to the set over a walkie-talkie with the words, 'I don't have time for this! Where's Hoshi, Toshi or whatever the f--k his name is. Get the oriental guy!' He did not even have the respect to learn the name of the actor, a veteran of 40 years."

—Steve Park, recounting his experience on the set of Friends[4]

In 1997, Park wrote a mission statement in which he called for Hollywood to portray people of Asian descent in a less disparaging light. He wrote the statement after witnessing a racist incident while appearing in a guest role on the television series Friends.[4] In his statement, Park wrote that "In movies and television, Asian characters, mostly men, are subjected to indignity and violence or are tokenized, while Asian women are exploited as objects of sexual desire. You rarely see Asian characters in leading roles that contain any significant power or influence".[4]

Filmography

Film

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Television

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References

  1. Williams, Stephen P. (June 5, 2009). "'In Living Color,' the Sequel". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  2. Holden, Stephen (August 10, 2007). "A Boy Rendered Speechless by Life". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  3. Emerson, Jim (April 25, 2011). "Steve Park: A funny man, serious and significant". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  4. Park, Steve (1997). "Steve Park's Mission Statement". Model Minority: A Guide to Asian American Empowerment. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2024.

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