Johnny Yune facts for kids

Johnny Yune (born Yoon Jong-seung; October 22, 1936 – March 8, 2020) was a famous Korean-American actor, singer, and comedian. He was known for his funny stand-up comedy and for starring in movies like They Call Me Bruce? and They Still Call Me Bruce in the 1980s. Johnny Yune was a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first Korean comedians to become well-known in the United States.

Early Life

Johnny Yune was born Yoon Jong-seung in 1936. His birthplace was Eumseong County in what is now South Korea. At that time, Korea was under Japanese rule.

He finished high school in Seoul, the capital city. In 1962, he moved to Massachusetts, U.S., on a special scholarship from the Korean Navy. He studied singing at Ohio Wesleyan University. In 1978, he became a U.S. citizen. He changed his first name to "John" because it sounded similar to "Yoon."

Career

Johnny Yune started practicing his comedy routines in New York City in 1964. His big break came in 1977. Famous comedian Johnny Carson discovered him at a comedy club in Santa Monica. Carson then invited Yune to appear on his popular TV show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

His first time on The Tonight Show was in February 1979. The main guest, actor Charlton Heston, was late. This gave Johnny Yune more than 20 minutes to perform! He did a stand-up comedy set, talked with Johnny Carson, and even sang a song called "'O sole mio". Carson really liked him. Yune appeared on the show 34 times in the 1970s and 1980s. This made him one of the most frequent stand-up comedian guests.

Yune also had his own TV special on the NBC network. In 1979, he acted in the movie Meteor. He played a character named "Jon Yune." He continued to perform stand-up comedy throughout the 1980s.

In 1988, Johnny Yune performed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He shared the stage with other famous entertainers like Bob Hope and Brooke Shields.

From 1989 to 1990, he hosted The Johnny Yune Show in Korea. This was the first talk show in Korea that was like American talk shows. It was very popular. However, Yune left the show after a year. He felt there wasn't enough freedom for what he could say on TV.

Politics

Johnny Yune was involved in politics in the U.S. He was a special representative at the 1988 Republican National Convention. This is a big meeting where a political party chooses its candidate for president. On August 16, 1988, he sang the U.S. national anthem at the convention.

In 2014, he was chosen to be an auditor for the Korea Tourism Organization. This organization helps promote tourism in Korea. Some people questioned this choice because they thought he didn't have much business experience. He held this job for two years.

Personal Life

Johnny Yune married Julia Yune, a Korean American, in 1999. They later divorced in 2010. In 2013, he became a Korean citizen again.

In 2017, Johnny Yune was diagnosed with dementia. This is a condition that affects memory and thinking. He passed away in Southern California on March 8, 2020, at 83 years old. Following his wishes, his body was given to medical science to help with research and education.

Filmography