Doctor turned comic ken jeong in sandra bullock's "all about steve"

CEBU, Philippines - Breakout Korean-American comic Ken Jeong whom audiences have recently seen as the raucous mob boss in “The Hangover” joins Sandra Bullock in “All About Steve,” a feel-good comedy of unexpected trysts and turns.

The movie follows an eccentric but brilliant crossword-maker, Mary (played by Sandra Bullock) who stalks Steve (Bradley Cooper), a news cameraman across the country after they’ve gone on one date. Jeong takes on the character of Angus McCormack, a news field producer who has been smacked in the middle of Mary and Steve’s cat and mouse chase. 

For the role of harried field producer Angus McCormack, Sandra Bullock who produces the movie cast comedian/actor Ken Jeong, whose standout role in the Judd Apatow-directed comedy smash “Knocked Up” impressed her. “Jeong continued to make audiences laugh with his roles in the Apatow-produced “Pineapple Express” and “Step Brothers,” as well as in the comedy hit “Role Models” and the recent smash “The Hangover,” in which he played the part of a crazed crime boss,” Sandra concludes.

“All About Steve’s” offbeat comic sensibilities appealed to Jeong, whose fresh-faced field news reporter Angus doesn’t quite fit in with veterans Hartman and Steve.   “They treat Angus pretty much like an intern,” says Jeong with a laugh. “Angus desperately tries to fit in with them, often to disastrous results.”

Jeong notes that he was as attracted to the film’s theme as well as its humor. “It has a universal message about being comfortable with what you are, and I think that resonates with almost everyone,” he notes.

Jeong along with Thomas Haden Church and Bradley Cooper play as partners in field reporting, settled quickly into an easy, bantering off-screen relationship, which was often reflected on-camera. Their immediate chemistry was not lost on the actors. “I don’t know how they did it, but Phil, Sandy and Mary definitely got three people who jelled right away,” says Cooper. “It was a blast and (director) Phil let that play itself out on film.” The actors’ uncensored, testosterone-fueled bits occasionally enhanced the scripted dialogue. 

Ken Jeong is quickly establishing himself as the go-to character actor for today’s hit comedies. Since his feature film debut as the doctor in “Knocked Up” in 2007, Jeong has gone on to a number of memorable roles in a series of successful comedies. He was also seen in “Role Models,” “Pineapple Express” and “Step Brothers.”

Jeong’s career path started off on a different course. He earned his undergraduate degree at Duke University and went on to attain his medical degree at the University of North Carolina. Jeong completed his Internal Medicine residence in New Orleans all the while developing his comedy. In 1995, Jeong won the Big Easy Laff Off. The competition, which was judged by former NBC President Brandon Tartikoff and Improv founder Bud Friedman, turned out to be his big break as Tartikoff and Friedman urged Jeong to head to Los Angeles.

Once in Los Angeles, Jeong began performing regularly at the Improv and Laugh Factory, and was seen on a number of television shows including “The Office,” “Entourage,” and “MADtv.”   In 2006 Jeong and fellow comedian Mike O’Connell also left a mark on YouTube, as “Million Dollar Strong,” a spoof rap duo. Since the video’s posting in 2006, the video has garnered over 1 million views and Jeong and O’Connell have been tapped by MTV Films to write and star in the film version.

“All About Steve” opens November 4 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.