Steve Park (comedian)

Stephen Park[1] (born February 18, 1951) 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 1991–1992 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).

Steve Park
Born
Stephen Park

(1951-02-18) February 18, 1951
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • voice actor
Years active1987–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2

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), and The French Dispatch (2021).

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]

Despite this statement, Park has portrayed stereotypical Asian caricatures himself, notably in a 1991 episode of In Living Color. In season 3, episode 15, Park portrayed a pregnancy-crazed Connie Chung, singing "Me Want Maury" in broken English to the 2Live Crew song, "Me So Horny".[5]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Do the Right Thing Sonny
1990 Quick Change Grocery Cashier
1990 Kindergarten Cop Assistant to Salazar
1991 Showdown in Little Tokyo Asian Cop #1
1992 Kuffs Officer Favaro
1992 Toys Researcher
1993 Falling Down Detective Brian
1996 Fargo Mike Yanagita
1996 Sgt. Bilko Capt. Moon
1996 Red Ribbon Blues Kris Lee
1997 Yellow Alex's Uncle
1998 Desperate Measures Dr. Gosha
2007 Rocket Science Judge Pete
2008 The Promotion David Kim
2009 State of Play Chris Kawai
2009 A Serious Man Clive's Father
2010 The Best and the Brightest George Tanaka-Blumstein
2010 Morning Glory Channel 9 Weatherperson
2012 Price Check Board Member
2012 The Brass Teapot Dr. Li Ling
2013 Snowpiercer Fuyu
2013 Wedding Palace Kwan
2014 The Gambler Number 2
2015 Don Verdean Poon-Yen
2020 Kajillionaire Another Father Uncredited
2021 The French Dispatch Lt. Nescaffier
2023 Ghosted Utami
2023 Asteroid City Roger

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1989 The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Deliveryman Episode: "Here's a Shot in the Dark"
1990 Kojak: Flowers for Matty Billy Television film
1990 WIOU Dr. Kajita Episode: "They Shoot Sources, Don't They"
1991–1992 In Living Color Various 28 episodes
1992 MacGyver Tan Yee Episode: "The Stringer"
1994 Murder, She Wrote Joe Yoshanaga Episode: "Death in Hawaii"
1995 Martin Mr. Jones Episode: "Kill Him with Kindness"
1995–1997 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child I Kwan / Dong (voice) 2 episodes
1996–1997 Friends Scott Alexander / Phil 2 episodes
1998 Boy Meets World Jump Master Episode: "Raging Cory"
1998–1999 Mad About You Dr. Lee 2 episodes
2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Dr. Shimo Episode: "Want"
2004 The Venture Bros. Mike Sorayama (voice) Episode: "Past Tense"
2005 Hope & Faith Mr. Yamagoto Episode: "Carmen Get It"
2005–2008 Law & Order Dr. Park / Dr. Bruce Chang 2 episodes
2009 The Unusuals Councilman Tony Harbor Episode: "Pilot"
2011 White Collar Paul Sullivan Episode: "Deadline"
2012 Smash Reporter #1 Episode: "The Callback"
2012–2013 Elementary Oren Watson 2 episodes
2013 Phil Spector Focus Group Man Television film
2014 Believe Lim Episode: "Prodigy"
2014–2015 The Mindy Project Ray 2 episodes
2015 Person of Interest Mark Lee Episode: "Search and Destroy"
2015 12 Monkeys Yakuza Soldier Episode: "Shonin"
2017 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Eugene Lee Episode: "Real Fake News"
2019–2020 Warrior Tu 7 episodes
2021 Infinity Train Min-Gi's Father (voice) Episode: "The Twin Tapes"

References
  1. Williams, Stephen (June 5, 2009). "'In Living Color,' the Sequel". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  2. Holden, Stephen (August 10, 2007). "A Boy Rendered Speechless by Life". The New York Times. 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. Asian American Empowerment – Steve Park's Mission Statement
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JYl4IK-31Q
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