Johnny Yune
Encyclopedia
Johnny Yune is a Korea
n-American
actor
and comedian
.
He played the lead in the 1980s films They Call Me Bruce?
and They Still Call Me Bruce
. Yune's big break came at Johnny Carson
's "Tonight Show". Yune stated that due to "Charlton Heston
" not showing up on time, he was given over twenty minutes of air time to make a great impression. Carson, impressed by Yune, had him on the show over 30 times. Johnny Yune also had a special night on NBC, when the Johnny Yune Special aired.
Johnny Yune performed at the 1988 Summer Olympics
at Seoul
along with Bob Hope
and Brooke Shields
. From 1989 to 1990, he hosted the Johnny Yune Show (쟈니윤쇼), the first Americanized talk show in Korea. The show was a great hit, but only after a year, Yune decided to leave KBS due to limited freedom of the media.
, Chungcheongbuk-do
Province, South Korea
. His Korean first name is Jong-seung and got an american name 'John' from its phonetic similarity when he became a US citizen in 1978. First, he graduated from Sungdong High School in Sindang-dong
, Jung-gu, Seoul
, came over from South Korea
to Massachusetts
, USA as a student of Wellesley College on ROK Navy scholarship in 1962, and played a Mongolian under the name of "Jon Yune" in the movie Meteor, also did work as a Stand-up comedian in the 1980s. Johnny Yune appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" 34 times in the 1970s and 1980s, one of the most appearances by a stand-up comedian, and as the first among the asians. He married a Korean-American named Julia Yune in 1999.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
.
He played the lead in the 1980s films They Call Me Bruce?
They Call Me Bruce?
They Call Me Bruce? is a 1982 comedy action film starring Johnny Yune and Margaux Hemingway.The film was written by Tim Clawson and was directed by Elliott Hong...
and They Still Call Me Bruce
They Still Call Me Bruce
They Still Call Me Bruce is a 1987 comedy action film starring Johnny Yune. The film is a sequel to the 1982 film They Call Me Bruce?.- Synopsis :...
. Yune's big break came at Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
's "Tonight Show". Yune stated that due to "Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
" not showing up on time, he was given over twenty minutes of air time to make a great impression. Carson, impressed by Yune, had him on the show over 30 times. Johnny Yune also had a special night on NBC, when the Johnny Yune Special aired.
Johnny Yune performed at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
at Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
along with Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
. From 1989 to 1990, he hosted the Johnny Yune Show (쟈니윤쇼), the first Americanized talk show in Korea. The show was a great hit, but only after a year, Yune decided to leave KBS due to limited freedom of the media.
Profile
Johnny Yune was born 1936 in Eumseong CountyEumseong County
Eumseong County is a county in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea.It is the birthplace of UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon....
, Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province...
Province, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. His Korean first name is Jong-seung and got an american name 'John' from its phonetic similarity when he became a US citizen in 1978. First, he graduated from Sungdong High School in Sindang-dong
Sindang-dong
Sindang-dong is a dong, neighbourhood of Jung-gu in Seoul, South Korea.-External links:*...
, Jung-gu, Seoul
Jung-gu, Seoul
Jung-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River, and is the historical center of the city .-Overview:...
, came over from South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, USA as a student of Wellesley College on ROK Navy scholarship in 1962, and played a Mongolian under the name of "Jon Yune" in the movie Meteor, also did work as a Stand-up comedian in the 1980s. Johnny Yune appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" 34 times in the 1970s and 1980s, one of the most appearances by a stand-up comedian, and as the first among the asians. He married a Korean-American named Julia Yune in 1999.
Selected filmography
- Western Avenue (1993)
- Hamburger Johnny (1988)
- They Still Call Me BruceThey Still Call Me BruceThey Still Call Me Bruce is a 1987 comedy action film starring Johnny Yune. The film is a sequel to the 1982 film They Call Me Bruce?.- Synopsis :...
(1987) — Bruce - Gidget's Summer ReunionGidget's Summer ReunionGidget's Summer Reunion is a 1985 television film produced by Columbia Pictures Television for television syndication. It was written by Robert Blees and George Zateslo and directed by Bruce Bilson and starred Caryn Richman as Gidget.-Plot:...
(1985) — Johnny Soon - They Call Me Bruce?They Call Me Bruce?They Call Me Bruce? is a 1982 comedy action film starring Johnny Yune and Margaux Hemingway.The film was written by Tim Clawson and was directed by Elliott Hong...
(1982) — Bruce/Grandfather - The Cannonball Run (1981) — TV Talk Show Host
- MeteorMeteor (film)Meteor is a 1979 science fiction Technicolor disaster film in which scientists detect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth and struggle with international, cold war politics in their efforts to prevent disaster. The movie starred Sean Connery and Natalie Wood.It was directed by Ronald Neame...
(1979) (as Jon Yune) — Siberian man