Suzanne Whang: Laughter is Her “Strong Medicine”
By Deardra Shuler
Some people seem destined to forge a certain path in life. Suzanne
Whang seems to be one such person. An army brat, Whang, traveled
around until the family settled in Virginia. Whang and her sister,
Julie, were raised in a wholesome family environment. “My parents
were instrumental in my success because they told me everyday that
I could accomplish whatever I wanted. Kids believe what their parents
tell them. I feel that I manifested my parent's belief in me by accepting
that the possibilities for me are endless.” Taking that to
heart, she followed her destiny to Yale University where she picked
up a BA in Psychology and continued on to Brown University to earn
a Masters in Cognitive Psychology. “I think my interest in
psychology has definitely helped me as a performer. I was working
in a health care firm in Boston and one day heard on the radio that
the show “Spencer for Hire,” which starred Robert Urich,
was looking for people to do extra work. I took a long lunch hour,
stood in line, got a photo taken, filled out the forms and a month
later got a callback from the casting people. While on the set, I
met the character actor, Arnie Cox, who was kind enough to give me
tips on how to continue to get acting roles.” Suzanne followed
up Cox’s advice and found herself getting enough work to enable
her to quit her day job, join the Screen Actors Guild and began working
as a full-time actress. “The irony is that I was getting paid
to act even before studying the craft. I take acting classes now
because I think it’s important to get training and learn technique,” said
the enthusiastic actress. Whang, who graduated from the acting program
at William Esper Studio in New York, is currently studying in LA
at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under Milton Katselas.
“I also host a show entitled “House Hunters” on
the Home and Garden Network. “House Hunters” has been
rated the #1 show on the entire network,” claims Whang. Suzanne
has gained attention as the host of the lifestyle program, which
follows around individuals while they search for and obtain their
ideal home. “It’s amazing how many people approach me
about “House Hunters.” In fact, I just did a few episodes
on the soap opera, “Passions,” and even the production
staff and casting people told me they were big fans of the show.
It was fun to shoot “Passions” which stars Juliet Mills.
My episodes will air August 15th, 18th, 19th and 20th.”
“In Boston it helped me to be Asian since there was a scarcity
of Asian actresses with only about 5 doing roles. However, in LA,
there are hundreds and hundreds of Asians to do roles. What helps
me is that I speak well, am smart, can read a teleprompter and have
a really good memory. I practically have a photographic memory, so
that aids me a lot in this business.”
Suzanne worked with Dick Clark as a co-host for a season on the
show “Bloopers.” “There is an interesting story
behind that. I was a field host on "Fox After Breakfast” which
was a live morning show in New York City. At that time, I was working
on the show with Tom Bergeron, who is currently the host of “Hollywood
Squares” and “America’s Funniest Videos." Occasionally,
I got the opportunity to fill in for the female host when she went
on vacation or got sick. Anyway, New Year’s Eve, I got the
chance to co-host and the guest was Dick Clark. Dick and I hit it
off. I interviewed him and that was that. But a year later, while
in Los Angeles, I got a call from my agent who told me he was negotiating
my contract to co-host “TV Censored Bloopers” on NBC.
I wondered how that was possible since I hadn’t even auditioned
for it. But it appears Dick Clark remembered me from New York and
requested me for “Bloopers. We had great rapport together but
my stint on “Bloopers” was only for one season.”
Suzanne went on to do a yet to be entitled film directed by John Hamburg and starring Ben Stiller. Believing she can do anything, Suzanne then tried her hand at comedy. She created an alter ego for her standup routine and it was well received. “My alter ego was actually born as a result of a class in which I decided to try standup comedy. My teacher suggested I flush out the character and take it to comedy clubs. He even suggested I do an Asian stereotype which at first I was very opposed to. However, I started wearing Korean garb and practicing in front of the mirror until I eventually developed the character, Sung Hee Park. I thought what if this character is just off the boat from Korea and can’t speak English well but wants to do comedy. She starts listening to these racist jokes not understanding they are racist and repeats them in her act. She has an endearing and loveable quality but is really quite naïve. Though, Sung Hee, is actually coming off as a bigot on stage, she is totally unaware she is offending people.” Sung Hee Park has been well received. Suzanne’s talent as a comedienne won her the Best Up & Coming Comedian of 2002 Award at the Los Vegas Comedy Festival. “I find Koreans tend to be the funniest people of the East,” explained Whang. “There is something about Korean culture that lends itself to humor and being able to laugh at oneself.”
Whang’s TV appearances include: “Strong Medicine,” “The Practice, “NYPD Blues,” “Norm,” “Robbery Homicide Division, the Chronicle, VIP, and 18 Wheels of Justice.” Her films include ‘House-sitter” with Steve Martin and “Twice as Dead,” “Date or Disaster” and “Seoul Mates” which won the Audience Award and Best Acting Award. She also received a NAMIC Award nomination for her work on “Breakfast Time.”
“There is much I want to do. I want to continue hosting my show, doing television and films writing, and working on my one woman comedy act. I really love comedy because it allows me to reach into myself and focus on important issues. Through comedy, my goal is to get people rattled up and shake them up and shock them and make them laugh and through the laughter hopefully, the light can get in. I hope people will see my act and go home and ask themselves, “Am I racist?” To a degree, we all are. It’s just a matter of challenging it and admitting it and doing something about it. I try to attack racist through humor. This is my way of thinking globally but acting locally. I thought what can I do as an artist that has a ripple effect? I am trying to put a flashlight on ignorance through my comedy. There is something really liberating about that. Maybe on day, people will call me for a role not because I am an Asian but because I am just an actress. I am working toward this. Wouldn’t it be great, if one day, there were no separations or labels? We could just be people. We could just be ourselves and that would be all we need to be.”
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