Suzanne Whang(1962-2019)
- Actress
- Writer
- Art Department
Suzanne Whang was a versatile actor, national television host, award-winning stand-up comedian, published author, professional keynote speaker, radio host, spoken word artist, teacher, creativity coach, metaphysical minister, and political activist. Valedictorian of her graduating class at Herndon High School, she gave the invocation at the graduation ceremony. She graduated from the acting program at the William Esper Studio in New York City, and also studied with Milton Katselas, Richard Lawson, Gary Imhoff and Jeffrey Tambor at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
As an actor, Suzanne has appeared in numerous television series, including a hilarious recurring role as Polly, the oversexed spa manager on Las Vegas (2003), a memorable guest starring role as the young Mrs. Lee on Cold Case : Affaires classées (2003), and co-starring roles on Mon oncle Charlie (2003), Boston Justice (2004), Une famille presque parfaite (2002), Esprits criminels (2005), Nip/Tuck (2003), The practice: Bobby Donnell & associés (1997), La vie avant tout (2000), Robbery Homicide Division (2002), The Norm Show (1999), and New York Police Blues (1993). She appeared in the Keanu Reeves feature film Constantine (2005) as a screaming mother whose daughter is possessed by soldier demons. She made another feature film, Traci Townsend (2007), which debuted at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, and had a cameo appearance in the Hilary Duff feature, Material Girls (2006).
She starred in the short film Seoul Mates (2002), which won Best Acting Award and Audience Award at the Los Angeles 48 Hour Film Festival. In Fais comme chez toi (1992), with Steve Martin, she played Mr. Moseby's secretary. She wrote and starred in a sold-out one-woman show, I Make You Laughing, and got standing ovations every night.
She hosted House Hunters (1999), the #1 rated show on HGTV (Home & Garden Television Network), for almost 10 years. She was also the host of its spin-off show, House Hunters International (2006). She also hosted Blitz Build 2000 (2000), The Making of the Rose Parade 2005 (2005) and The Making of the Rose Parade 2006 (2005), among other shows on the same network. She and Dick Clark's co-hosted TV Censored Bloopers 98 (1998) for NBC, while simultaneously co-hosting New Attitudes (1999) on Lifetime Television. Prior to that, she was a field host/fill-in co-host for Fox After Breakfast (1996), and a field host for Breakfast Time (1994), Personal FX: The Collectibles Show (1994), and The Pet Department (1996) on the FX cable network.
She garnered a NAMIC Award nomination for her work on Breakfast Time. Also an accomplished emcee, she was a red carpet host for An Evening at the Academy Awards on ABC, and she hosted the 20th Anniversary Gala Concert of the Korean Concert Society at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She was featured as one of "Ten Women to Watch" in "A" Magazine.
She was a celebrity presenter at the 2003 Vision Awards, which celebrates diversity in cable television. She co-hosted the America's Promise children's charity awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, and she also co-hosted the Miss Chinatown pageant in Seattle. She emceed many charity events, including a Lupus Gala Charity Benefit and a Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Benefit as well as public speaking gigs across the country, at high schools, universities, conventions, etc.
As a stand-up comedian, she won the First Annual Andy Kaufman Award at the New York Comedy Festival! She was recognized for her Courage, Creativity, Originality and Humor by the festival judges. This award guaranteed her appearance on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. She also won Best Up & Coming Comedian at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, playing her controversial, shocking, and politically incorrect alter-ego, Sung Hee Park. The act is a satire of racism in America, reminiscent of Archie Bunker's character in the phenomenal sitcom, All in the family (1971). She performed one-week stints at the Las Vegas Improv, the Lake Tahoe Improv, and The Vixen in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She performed in Los Angeles at the Comedy Store, the Laugh Factory, the Improv, the Ice House, the Friars Club, the HaHa Cafe, the House of Blues Foundation Room, and the Comedy Union. She also performed at clubs in New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco.
Suzanne Whang is a graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Psychology, and holds a Master's Degree in Cognitive Psychology from Brown University. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and given only 6 months to live in 2011. She prove the doctors wrong, living and working eight years longer, finally passing away in 2019 after a brave battle with the disease.
As an actor, Suzanne has appeared in numerous television series, including a hilarious recurring role as Polly, the oversexed spa manager on Las Vegas (2003), a memorable guest starring role as the young Mrs. Lee on Cold Case : Affaires classées (2003), and co-starring roles on Mon oncle Charlie (2003), Boston Justice (2004), Une famille presque parfaite (2002), Esprits criminels (2005), Nip/Tuck (2003), The practice: Bobby Donnell & associés (1997), La vie avant tout (2000), Robbery Homicide Division (2002), The Norm Show (1999), and New York Police Blues (1993). She appeared in the Keanu Reeves feature film Constantine (2005) as a screaming mother whose daughter is possessed by soldier demons. She made another feature film, Traci Townsend (2007), which debuted at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, and had a cameo appearance in the Hilary Duff feature, Material Girls (2006).
She starred in the short film Seoul Mates (2002), which won Best Acting Award and Audience Award at the Los Angeles 48 Hour Film Festival. In Fais comme chez toi (1992), with Steve Martin, she played Mr. Moseby's secretary. She wrote and starred in a sold-out one-woman show, I Make You Laughing, and got standing ovations every night.
She hosted House Hunters (1999), the #1 rated show on HGTV (Home & Garden Television Network), for almost 10 years. She was also the host of its spin-off show, House Hunters International (2006). She also hosted Blitz Build 2000 (2000), The Making of the Rose Parade 2005 (2005) and The Making of the Rose Parade 2006 (2005), among other shows on the same network. She and Dick Clark's co-hosted TV Censored Bloopers 98 (1998) for NBC, while simultaneously co-hosting New Attitudes (1999) on Lifetime Television. Prior to that, she was a field host/fill-in co-host for Fox After Breakfast (1996), and a field host for Breakfast Time (1994), Personal FX: The Collectibles Show (1994), and The Pet Department (1996) on the FX cable network.
She garnered a NAMIC Award nomination for her work on Breakfast Time. Also an accomplished emcee, she was a red carpet host for An Evening at the Academy Awards on ABC, and she hosted the 20th Anniversary Gala Concert of the Korean Concert Society at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She was featured as one of "Ten Women to Watch" in "A" Magazine.
She was a celebrity presenter at the 2003 Vision Awards, which celebrates diversity in cable television. She co-hosted the America's Promise children's charity awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, and she also co-hosted the Miss Chinatown pageant in Seattle. She emceed many charity events, including a Lupus Gala Charity Benefit and a Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Benefit as well as public speaking gigs across the country, at high schools, universities, conventions, etc.
As a stand-up comedian, she won the First Annual Andy Kaufman Award at the New York Comedy Festival! She was recognized for her Courage, Creativity, Originality and Humor by the festival judges. This award guaranteed her appearance on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. She also won Best Up & Coming Comedian at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, playing her controversial, shocking, and politically incorrect alter-ego, Sung Hee Park. The act is a satire of racism in America, reminiscent of Archie Bunker's character in the phenomenal sitcom, All in the family (1971). She performed one-week stints at the Las Vegas Improv, the Lake Tahoe Improv, and The Vixen in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She performed in Los Angeles at the Comedy Store, the Laugh Factory, the Improv, the Ice House, the Friars Club, the HaHa Cafe, the House of Blues Foundation Room, and the Comedy Union. She also performed at clubs in New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco.
Suzanne Whang is a graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Psychology, and holds a Master's Degree in Cognitive Psychology from Brown University. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and given only 6 months to live in 2011. She prove the doctors wrong, living and working eight years longer, finally passing away in 2019 after a brave battle with the disease.
