Helen Hong () is an American stand-up comedian, actress, director, and producer. She has appeared in such works as Jane the Virgin, Parks and Recreation, and the Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis. She has a regular spot on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and hosts a trivia podcast called Go Fact Yourself. She formerly hosted the podcast Little Ethnic Girls. She has a recurring role on Nickelodeon's The Thundermans and had a recurring role as Mrs. Song in Starz's Blunt Talk. Hong is known for her comedic NowThis videos.
Early life Helen Hong was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents emigrated to New York City from South Korea. She was raised on the East Coast, but spent some time in South Korea, as well. Hong attended high school at Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York and North Andover High School in North Andover, Massachusetts, and attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Career Hong was not a standup comedy fan before a random shot of inspiration prompted her to take standup classes at New York City's Carolines on Broadway. During the course of the class, she realized that standup was what she wanted to pursue as a career.
Hong has performed at The Laugh Factory, Bonkerz, The Hollywood Improv, Zanies Comedy Club, Stir Crazy Comedy Club, Flappers Comedy Club, The Ice House Comedy Club, the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, Punch Line San Francisco and numerous other venues.
Hong has performed at events such as the Sedona International Film Festival, the Punchlines & Pumps Comedy Show at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, the New York Underground Comedy Festival, and The Great American Comedy Festival.
Hong has also performed in Puerto Rico for Armed Services Entertainment.
In March 2025, it was announced that Hong would be performing at Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival alongside other comedians such as Margaret Cho, Irene Tu, and Kumail Nanjiani.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/belly-laughs-comedy-los-angeles-food-festival-asian-american-1236175107/
Personal life Hong is the daughter of two Korean immigrants and was raised in New York. She has publicly expressed her passion for feminist movements and regularly shares her political stances and opinions on different forms of media. Hong is an active Bernie Sanders supporter.
Hong is a survivor of breast cancer.
Awards and recognition In 2014, BuzzFeed named Hong as one of "18 Comedians Who Could Take Over The Late Show" In 2011, The Huffington Post included her on their list "53 Of Our Favorite Female Comedians"
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes2013EpicThistleVoiceInside Llewyn DavisJanet Fung2018Chasing SunshineBianca20202 Minutes of FameCustomerThe Babysitter: Killer QueenPrincipal Highbridge2023Sid Is DeadJanet Han2024The Thundermans ReturnMrs. Wong 2025 If I Had Legs I'd Kick You Eva
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2013Adam Devine's House PartyHelenEpisode: "Neighbor Party"2013–2018The ThundermansMrs. Wong22 episodes2014The Crazy OnesJennyEpisode: "Outbreak"New GirlTeacherEpisode: "Fired Up"Inside Amy SchumerGirlEpisode: "Tyler Perry's Episode"Pretty Little LiarsLynnEpisode: "The Silence of E. Lamb"My Super-Overactive ImaginationPatronEpisode: "Friday Night"BonesAttendee #1Episode: "The Corpse at the Convention"2015Parks and RecreationJanet TrungleEpisode: "2017"2015–2016Blunt TalkMrs. Song4 episodes2016TogethernessFumiEpisode: "The Sand Situation"Scream QueensPhlebotomistEpisode: "Blood Drive"Baked GoodesSweet WifeEpisode: "Spice Up Your Life"2017Don Paco's CasaNurse CindyEpisode: "Health"2018Jane the VirginFeliciaEpisode: "Chapter Seventy-Nine"Hollywood DarlingsDr. Helen HongEpisode: "Till Death Gets Me a Part"Splitting Up TogetherSunnyEpisode: "Glowing Pains"2019SmotheredDr. Arielle AllenEpisode: "Everyone Hates You"Huge in FranceDr. Barb2 episodesKingpin KatieLinda PackmanEpisode: "KOOM"The FilthPriestEpisode: "Filthy Mind Maps"Gods of FoodPak Jang-miEpisode: "Pak Jang-mi: A Nun, Not A Chef"Silicon ValleyTracy Robertson4 episodes2019–2021The UnicornEmma6 episodes2020OutmatchedKourtney KamanskiEpisode: "Bad Guy"Magical Girl Friendship SquadDaisy's Mom2 episodesThe Expanding Universe of Ashley GarciaDr. Ling3 episodes2021Peeling the Stinky OnionDr. LivelyTelevision filmNever Have I EverSharon2 episodes2022KenanPrincipal ManningEpisode: "Work Friends"2025The Thundermans: UndercoverMrs. Wong4 episodes2025–presentSplinter Cell: DeathwatchJo AhnVoice
References
External links
Helen Hong official website