Randall Park
An actor and writer who broke ground by bringing nuanced, relatable Asian American family life to network TV and then stole scenes in the Marvel universe.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American actor and comedian·Birthday: March 23·Generation X
Biography
Randall Park built a career on authenticity and quiet charisma, first in the viral webseries 'IKEA Heights' and then as a scene-stealer in countless film and TV comedies. His breakthrough came with 'Fresh Off the Boat,' where for six seasons he played Louis Huang, the relentlessly optimistic father and restaurant owner. It was a landmark role, making him one of the first Asian American actors to star as a lead in a network sitcom in decades. Park leveraged that platform with sharp wit, co-founding the Asian American-led creative studio Imminent Collision and writing and starring in the romantic comedy 'Shortcomings.' His turn as the endearingly earnest Agent Jimmy Woo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe proved his versatility, transforming a minor character into a fan-favorite. Park operates as both a pioneering performer and a savvy creator, shaping the narratives he once found missing.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Randall was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Randall Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Randall's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Louis Huang, the patriarch on the groundbreaking ABC sitcom 'Fresh Off the Boat,' for its entire six-season run.
- Co-wrote and starred in the feature film 'Shortcomings,' based on the graphic novel by Adrian Tomine.
- Portrayed Agent Jimmy Woo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' and the series 'WandaVision.'
- Co-founded the digital production company Imminent Collision, focused on creating diverse content.
Did You Know?
He earned a PhD in American Studies from the University of Hawaii, with a dissertation on Asian American representation in media.
His first viral hit was the stealth-filmed comedy webseries 'IKEA Heights,' shot entirely in an IKEA store without permission.
Park is a talented impressionist and has done voice work for shows like 'The Simpsons' and 'BoJack Horseman.'
He played a parody of himself, an actor hired to play Kim Jong-un, in the controversial comedy film 'The Interview.'
“Representation is important, but it's not just about putting a face on screen. It's about who's telling the story.”
