Charlyne Yi Biography

Charlyne Amanda Yi (born January 4, 1986) is an American actress, comedian, musician, and writer. Her performances do not include joke-telling as in standup comedy; instead, she uses different tactics such as music, magic, games, and often audience participation. In one performance, she had her head shaved while she sang "Nothing Compares 2 U," a song made popular by Sinéad O'Connor. Her screenwriting debut, the feature film Paper Heart, won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. She co-starred as Dr. Chi Park in the medical drama House, alongside Hugh Laurie as one of the doctors on House's team.

Early life

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

Career

Yi began by performing in Fontana, California. She has since performed shows in Los Angeles at The Steve Allen Theater, and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. In 2005 and 2006, she 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 on June 1, 2007 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.

In the 2009 film Paper Heart, a "hybrid documentary" which Yi executive produced in addition to co-writing, she starred as a fictionalized version of herself, alongside Michael Cera.

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

She 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. .

Yi was featured in the video "Song Away" by Hockey. She is currently in the band 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.

In October 2011, Yi joined the cast of Fox's series House 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.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2007	Knocked Up	Jodi
2008	Cloverfield	Party Goer
	Semi-Pro	Wheelchair Jody
2009	Paper Heart	Charlyne Yi	Nominated - Comedy Film Award for Best Actress
	All About Steve	Young Protester
2010	Fast	Donna Fast
2012	This Is 40	Jodi

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2006	Help Me Help You	Charlyne	1 episode, "The Sheriff"
2007	30 Rock	Grace Park	1 episode, "The C Word"
	Cold Case	Dorky Girl	1 episode, "Stand Up and Holler"
	Powerloafing	Executive Assistant
2008	Miss Guided	Karey	1 episode, "Pool Party"
2011	Love Bites	Adult store cashier	1 episode, "Firsts (Pilot)"
2011"2012	House	Dr. Chi Park	Series regular, season 8
2011	Yo Gabba Gabba!	Edith	1 Episode, Episode 55 Treasure
2013	Conan	Charlyne	Season 3, episode 135