Why Ken Jeong’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star is Long Overdue
Ken Jeong finally got his Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Earlier this week (October 23) Jeong received his star in a ceremony attended by his family and celebrity friends.
Ken Jeong’s Journey to Stardom
Jeong’s path to becoming a Hollywood staple in comedy films and TV shows is anything but conventional. Originally a medical doctor (yes, that’s not a joke, he is indeed a licensed doctor!), he never gave up on his dream of becoming an actor. In an article by NBC Los Angeles, Jeong thanked his wife who he said supported him since the beginning. “She was the first to insist that I quit my day job to pursue acting the whole time. She said, ‘I married a comedian. I married an entertainer at heart. You have to do it.’”
Breakout Roles
Even while still doing his daytime job as a doctor, he started doing stand-up comedy shows, which led to several TV appearances. His debut film was Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up, but fans remember him as Leslie Chow, from The Hangover movies. The unexpected success of the films propelled Jeong into the spotlight and led to more opportunities for him.
Doing The Hangover movies was not just monumental for Jeong since it put his dream of acting full time within his reach, but also because his wife was battling breast cancer and was undergoing chemo treatment at the time. He shared that he slid some inside jokes that were included in the movie to make her laugh. In an interview with The Wrap, he even called the movies the “weirdest love letter to my wife ever.”
His subsequent roles in TV shows like Community as Ben Chang and Dr. Ken as Ken Park further showed he deserved a place in Hollywood.
A Well-Deserved Honor
Jeong knew his success and latest honor would not happen without the fans. In his speech, as published in The Daily Mail, he thanked the fans who supported him, “This is all about you. This is not about me. This is about the fans. You know why? Because I was a doctor at Kaiser Permanente for, like, seven freaking years! I didn’t even think I could be an actor.” He added, “I didn’t know if it was possible. I really thought once I started doing acting full-time – that’s why I still kept my license, I still keep it to this day – just in case I need to go back. But because of you, I never have to go back.”
As Ken Jeong took thousands of pictures beside his newly unveiled star, fans, family, and present and former castmates celebrated an inspirational career that led to a groundbreaking moment. His journey of leaving the medical profession behind to try his luck in Hollywood is a testament to the power of never giving up on your dreams.
