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Johnny Yune |
By Park Si-soo
Johnny Yune, a Korean-American who was one of the first Asians to tap into the mainstream showbiz scene in the United States in the 1970s and added luster to Korean TV programs in the '80-'90s with his unorthodox sense of humor, died in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 84.
Yune, whose Korean name was Yune Jong-seung, suffered Alzheimer's disease for years. He was reportedly taken to Alhambra Hospital Medical Center last Wednesday due to falling blood pressure.
His funeral will take place in coming days with family and his body will be donated to the hospital for medical study, according to reports.
Yune, born in 1936 in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, debuted as an actor and comedian in the U.S. after graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University.
He made his name known widely in the U.S. thanks to Johnny Carson, a TV host who had Yune on his show ― "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" ― 34 times in the 1970s and 1980s. This was among the most appearances by a stand-up comedian and the first by one of Asian descent.
Yune performed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, with Bob Hope and Brooke Shields. From 1989 to 1990, he hosted "The Johnny Yune Show," the first Americanized talk show in Korea.
He served as an auditor of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) between 2014 and 2016.