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Charlyne Amanda Yi is an American actor, comedian, musician, and writer. Their performances do not include joke-telling as in stand-up comedy; instead, they use different tactics such as music, magic, games, and often audience participation. In one performance, they had their head shaved while singing the song "Nothing Compares 2 U". Their screenwriting debut, the feature film Paper Heart, won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. They co-starred as Dr. Chi Park in the medical drama House, M.D., alongside Hugh Laurie as one of the doctors on House's team.

Early life[]

Yi was born in Los Angeles, California, the child of Lydia and Luciano Yi. Their mother, a native of the Philippines, is of Philippine and Spanish descent, and their father is of Mexican, Korean, Irish, German, French, and Native American ancestry. Yi attended the University of California, Riverside before leaving to pursue a full-time career in comedy.

Career[]

Yi began by performing in high school in Bloomington, California. After high school, they performed shows in Los Angeles at The Steve Allen Theater, and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. In 2005 and 2006, they performed in the New York Comedy Festival, and in 2007 HBO's U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. Yi's film debut was in Judd Apatow's 2007 film, Knocked Up. In 2008, Yi performed as part of the Apatow for Destruction Live comedy show at Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival.

Paper_Heart_(2009)_Official_Trailer_-_Charlyne_Yi,_Michael_Cera_Romance_Movie_HD

Paper Heart (2009) Official Trailer - Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera Romance Movie HD

"Paper Heart" trailer

In the 2009 film Paper Heart, a "hybrid documentary" which Yi executive produced in addition to co-writing, they starred as a fictive version of themself along with Michael Cera.

Yi was chosen as one of Venus Zine's "25 under 25" women for 2009.

Man_Man_-_"Rabbit_Habits"_-OFFICIAL_MUSIC_VIDEO_in_HD-

Man Man - "Rabbit Habits" -OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO in HD-

"Rabbit Habits"

Yi has also appeared alongside Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen in the music video for the song "Rabbit Habits" by Philadelphia experimental band Man Man.

Yi and Paul Rust formed the band The Glass Beef. The duo share one electric guitar and both sing lead vocals. In 2006, they released their debut album, The Farewell Album, produced by John Spiker, bassist of Tenacious D.

Hockey_-_Song_Away

Hockey - Song Away

"Song Away"

Yi was featured in the video "Song Away" by Hockey. They are currently in the bands Keychain and Charlyne Yi and the Rangdang.

In January 2010, Yi performed a duet about break-up lines (the opposite of pick-up lines) with Demetri Martin on the episode "2" for the Comedy Central sketch series Important Things with Demetri Martin. However, the duet was cut from the final edit of the episode.

They also play in the band Moses Campbell.

From October 2011 to May 2012, Yi starred in Fox's series House, M.D. as Dr. Chi Park, a Filipina-Korean American doctor with anger-management issues.

Non-profit work[]

Yi has been involved with Oxfam America since 2010, working to raise awareness about poverty and hunger around the world. Yi started the non-profit Caring is Cool in 2011, and hosted a benefit show to raise money for the organization.

Trivia[]

  • Yi is "queer genderfluid enby" and also uses they/them pronouns.

Filmography[]

External Links[]

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