Charlyne Amanda Yi (born January 4, 1986) is an American actor, comedian, musician, and writer, known for their role as Dr. Chi Park on the Fox medical drama House and for providing the voices of the Rubies on the Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe (2013–2019) and its epilogue series Steven Universe Future, Chloe Park on We Bare Bears (2014–2019), Alice on Summer Camp Island (2018–2023), and Mai in Next Gen (2018).

Charlyne Yi
Yi in 2009
Born
Charlyne Amanda Yi

(1986-01-04) January 4, 1986 (age 38)[1]
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, musician, writer
Years active2006–present
Spouse
Jet Elfman
(m. 2016; div. 2018)

Yi's screenwriting debut, the feature film Paper Heart, won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. As a comedian, their performances include music, magic, games, and often audience participation.[2][3][4][5]

Early life

Yi was raised in Fontana, California;[2][6] They are of Filipino, Mexican, and Korean descent.[7][8][4][9][5] They attended the University of California, Riverside before leaving to pursue a full-time career in comedy.[4] They had an early interest in performing while attending Bloomington High School and were involved in theatre.

Career

 
Performing in the Garfunkel and Oates Christmas Show at the UCB Theater

Yi began their career by performing in Bloomington, California.[4] After high school, they performed shows in Los Angeles at The Steve Allen Theater, and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.[6] In 2005 and 2006 they performed in the New York Comedy Festival,[10] and in 2007 HBO's U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado.[4]

Yi's film debut was 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.[11]

In the 2009 film Paper Heart, a "hybrid documentary"[12] in which Yi served as both executive producer and co-writer, Yi starred as a fictional version of themself, alongside Michael Cera.

Yi was chosen as one of Venus Zine's "25 under 25" women for 2009.[13]

They appeared alongside Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen in the 2009 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.[14] They are currently[as of?] in the band Sacred Destinies.

From October 2011 to May 2012, Yi starred in the Fox television series House as Dr. Chi Park, a young doctor with anger management issues.[15][16]

Non-profit work

Yi has been involved with Oxfam America since 2010, working to raise awareness about poverty and hunger around the world.[17] Yi started the non-profit Caring is Cool in 2011, and hosted a benefit show to raise money for the organization.[18]

Personal life

Yi describes their gender identity as genderfluid. They use they/them pronouns.[19]

On Twitter, Yi accused Marilyn Manson of sexual harassment on the set of House.[20]

In 2018, Amber Tamblyn said of her husband David Cross, "Basically he was rightfully accused of doing something racist to the comedian Charlyne Yi," following tweets that Yi had posted on the subject in 2017.[21] Cross asked Yi to reach out via direct message to discuss the situation. He later publicly apologized to them, claiming that he would "never intentionally hurt someone like that."[22]

In 2021, they spoke out about their experience with James Franco, specifically discussing their efforts to quit his 2017 film, The Disaster Artist, after learning of the sexual misconduct allegations against him. Yi also criticized Seth Rogen for enabling Franco's behavior and continuing to work with him following the allegations.[23]

In 2024, Yi said that while filming Time Bandits for Apple TV+, they were constantly assaulted by a male actor who, in the process, injured Yi's back. This was disputed by an on-set source, who said that their internal investigation couldn't substantiate the claim.[24]

Yi married Jet Elfman, fellow member of their band Sacred Destinies, in 2016. Elfman filed for divorce in April of 2018, after being separated for a year.[25][26]

Filmography

Film

Film work by Charlyne Yi
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 Two-minute video short
2012 This Is 40 Jodi
2014 The Last Time You Had Fun Betty
2016 Nerdland Becky Voice[27]
2017 The Disaster Artist Safoya
Literally, Right Before Aaron Claire
The Lego Ninjago Movie Terri IT Nerd Voice[27]
2018 Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich Nerissa
Next Gen Mai Su Voice[27]

Nominated – Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production

Second Act Ariana
2019 Always Be My Maybe Ginger
Goldie Goldie Voice, short
Steven Universe: The Movie Ruby Voice, television film
Jexi Elaine
2020 Trolls World Tour Pennywhistle Voice[27]
We Bare Bears: The Movie Chloe Park Voice[27]
2021 Happily Gretel
The Mitchells vs. the Machines Abbey Posey Voice[27]
2022 My Father's Dragon Magda Voice[27]

Television

Television work by Charlyne Yi
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Help Me Help You Charlyne Episode: "The Sheriff"
2007 30 Rock Grace Park Episode: "The C Word"
Cold Case Dorky Girl Episode: "Stand Up and Holler"
Powerloafing Executive Assistant
2008 Miss Guided Karey Episode: "Pool Party"
2011 Love Bites Sex Shop Manager Episodes: "Unaired Pilot" & "Firsts"
2011–2012 House Dr. Chi Park 21 episodes
2015 Looking Cashier Episode: "Looking for a Plot"
2015–2019 Steven Universe Ruby, various Rubies, Cluster Voice, 12 episodes[27]
We Bare Bears Chloe Park Voice, series regular (18 episodes)
2016 Love Cori 3 episodes
Jane the Virgin Angela Episode: "Chapter Thirty-Nine"
Future-Worm! Zoe Voice, episode: "Bug vs. the Babysitter"
2017 Twin Peaks Ruby Episode: "Part 15"
Danger & Eggs Layla Voice, episode: "Keep Off the Grass/Pennies"
Room 104 Gracie Episode: "FOMO"
2018 Lucifer Ray-Ray / Azrael 2 episodes[28]
DIY Eli Voice, TV short
2018–2023 Summer Camp Island Alice Fefferman Voice, series regular (22 episodes)[27]
2019 Steven Universe Future Ruby, Eyeball Ruby, Ruby Bodyguards Voice, 5 episodes[27]
2020 Good Girls Lucy 2 episodes
2021 Tig n' Seek Georgia Voice, episode: "Must Love Bugs"
2022 Amphibia The Guardian Voice, episode: "The Hardest Thing"
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities Charlotte Xie Episode: "The Viewing"
2024 Time Bandits Judy Yi withdrew halfway through filming[24]

Books

Books by Charlyne Yi
Year Title Type
2015 Oh the Moon Text/Image hybrid
2019 You Can't Kill Me Twice (So Please Treat Me Right) Poetry

References

  1. ^ a b "Charlyne Amanda Yi, Born 01/04/1986 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org.
  2. ^ a b LaPorte, Nicole (May 31, 2007). "Suddenly, Yi is sitting pretty". Los Angeles Times. Yi's fortune turned pretty quickly considering the Fontana native is only 21
  3. ^ Saba, Michael (September 30, 2009). "Charlyne Yi: Geek Love". Paste. Archived from the original on December 6, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Boyd, Betsy (February 26, 2007). "Charlyne Yi: 10 Comics to Watch". Variety. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
  5. ^ a b Chang, Elysha (October 24, 2017). "David Cross, Charlyne Yi and the Luxury of Forgetting". gq.com.
  6. ^ a b "Interview: Charlyne Yi". The Believer. March 2010. Archived from the original on March 7, 2010.
  7. ^ "About".
  8. ^ Farris, Christopher (February 11, 2019). "These Filipinos Are the Voices of Modern Cartoon and Anime Characters". Esquire. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Prentice, Claire (August 3, 2010). "Preview: Charlyne Yi – Dances on the Moon". edinburgh-festivals.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010.
  10. ^ Keepnews, Peter (November 3, 2005). "Upstart Comedians Goofing on Andy". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
  11. ^ "Just For Laughs highlights". Variety. July 10, 2008.
  12. ^ "Film Review: Paper Heart". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
  13. ^ Venus Zine Staff (March 1, 2009). "25 under 25". Venus Zine. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2017. Funny lady Charlyne Yi's name may not sound familiar, but you have seen them in movies and TV shows like Knocked Up and Miss Guided, and now in Paper Heart, a half-documentary, half-narrative starring Yi's real-life love interest Michael Cera about the meaning of love. Aww.
  14. ^ "Song Away by Hockey with Charlyne Yi". Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  15. ^ "Bio: Charlyne Yi / Dr. Chi Park". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012., FOX website for the House MD series
  16. ^ "Charlyne Yi as Dr. Chi Park on House". channelAPA.com. November 1, 2011. Archived from the original on November 21, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  17. ^ Kramer, Anna (September 16, 2010). "Actress Charlyne Yi fights hunger with Oxfam". Oxfam America. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013.
  18. ^ "Charlyne Yi | Caring is Cool is my new NON-PROFIT I made to help". Tumblr. July 17, 2011. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  19. ^ Yi, Charlyne. "charlyne-yi.com". Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  20. ^ Bitette, Nicole (February 17, 2018). "Actress Charlyne Yi claims Marilyn Manson harassed them and others on set of 'House'". Daily News. New York.
  21. ^ Wanshel, Elyse (July 3, 2018). "Amber Tamblyn Says David Cross Was 'Rightfully Accused Of Doing Something Racist'". HuffPost.
  22. ^ "David Cross Stirs Up Controversy With Apology to Charlyne Yi for Alleged Racist Incident". Teen Vogue. October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  23. ^ Tenreyro, Tatiana (May 11, 2021). "Charlyne Yi provides 'checklist' for Seth Rogen to make good after 'siding' with James Franco". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  24. ^ a b Dolak, Kevin (May 16, 2024). "Charlyne Yi Says They Were Physically and Mentally Abused on 'Time Bandits' Series Set". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  25. ^ "Charlyne Yi's Secret Husband Files for Divorce". Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  26. ^ "'House' Star Charlyne Yi's Husband Files for Divorce". April 30, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Charlyne Yi (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 8, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  28. ^ Petski, Denise (May 21, 2018). "'Lucifer': Fox Sets Airdate For Two Bonus Episodes Of Canceled Series". Deadline Hollywood.