Bowen Yang

Whether he’s securing an Emmy nomination for his stand-out performances on "SNL," starring in critically acclaimed TV shows, or co-hosting a Times Top 50 pop culture podcast, Bowen Yang has established himself as a trailblazer in every facet of the industry he enters. Full of personality, Bowen Yang is celebrated for his innovative creativity and savvy humor which continue to distinguish him as one of the top comedians of our generation.

During his first two seasons as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live," Yang breathed new life into sketch comedy with his iconic and unforeseen performances of characters like the Iceberg that sunk the Titanic or the passionate Chinese trade representative Chen Biao. This past season landed him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, making him not only the first Chinese American actor to be nominated in the category, but also the first "SNL" featured player to compete for an Emmy. Yang's work on SNL has been recognized with writing credits on 21 episodes in the 2018-2019 season. Alongside his career at "Saturday Night Live," Yang dominates the podcast space with his hit, original series “Las Culturistas” with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, a hilarious, candid conversation where they offer their takes on the latest Hollywood headlines and deep dive into “Big C Culture.” This podcast has garnered over 300 episodes and won Podcast of the Year at the iHeartPodcast Awards. More recently, Yang has been cast in the leading role of “Hot White Heist,” a comedy fiction podcast featuring an all-queer cast. Yang is also known for playing Edmund in "Awkwafina is Nora from Queens" on Comedy Central and for his leading roles in "Fire Island," "Dicks: The Musical," "Secrets of the Mogwai," and the film adaptation of the musical "Wicked." Yang's performances were recognized with a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2021.

Yang was named one of Comedy Central’s Up Next comedians at Clusterfest in San Francisco. He has appeared on "Jon Glaser Loves Gear" (truTV), "Broad City" (Comedy Central), "High Maintenance" (HBO), and "The Outs" (Vimeo), and has created various live shows including “Live on Broadgay” at Littlefield, "Lake Homo High” at The Annoyance, and “Drag Court” at The PIT. He performs sketches with Pop Roulette—named one of Comedy Central's "Comics to Watch” in 2015. His work has been featured on Above Average, The Onion News Network, Mashable, and CollegeHumor. In addition, Yang has performed improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade and has worked as a graphic designer at One Kings Lane from 2013 to 2018. He was honored at the Just for Laughs 2021 ceremony and his talent was recognized by Forbes, who named him in their "30 under 30" list for Hollywood & Entertainment.

Not only is Yang a pioneer in the comedy space, but he is also championed for his ongoing advocacy for Asian American and LGTBQ+ communities. His authentic, and honest perspective on race and sexuality have added invaluable dimension to every project he takes part in, inspiring conversations that have long been overdue in the industry. Accumulating thousands of views and listeners on NPR’s accredited broadcast “It’s Been A Minute” or the beloved “The May Lee Show,” Yang has blessed the comedy community with his nuanced and enriching insights on intersectionality and diversity. Yang's dedication to the queer community earned him the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in 2020. Through his sketches, podcasts, and off-stage interviews, Yang continues to open doors in the entertainment space, all while empowering and building communities for queer people of color.