Bowen Yang

Bowen Yang is an Emmy-nominated comedian, actor and writer. Yang was born in Brisbane, Australia, and spent his childhood in Aurora, Colorado, after his family immigrated to the U.S. He went on to attend New York University and graduated with a degree in chemistry.

Yang began his comedy career in college after joining the improv group Dangerbox. After graduating, he performed improv and sketches with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. In 2016, the actor joined forces with comedian Matt Rogers to cohost the long-running podcast “Las Culturistas.” That same year, he made his first TV appearance on the sitcom Broad City, followed by appearances on shows such as The Outs and High Maintenance.

In 2018, he joined Saturday Night Live as a writer and was promoted to cast member the following year, becoming the show’s first Chinese-American cast member and one of the few openly gay male cast members in its history. His work on SNL has earned him multiple Emmy nominations, including three nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

In addition to SNL, Yang has appeared on shows such as Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens and in films such as Fire Island (2022) and Wicked (2024). He also lent his voice to shows like The Simpsons and Monsters at Work.

In 2025, he starred in the lead role of director Andrew Ahn’s remake of the 1993 film The Wedding Banquet.