Ronny Chieng

Chieng was born into a Malaysian Chinese{{cite news|last=Hunt|first=Elle|date=27 April 2016|title='Watch it before I get sued': The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng on his new pilot|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/apr/27/ronny-chieng-new-tv-pilot-international-student|access-date=12 October 2016|archive-date=13 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013082916/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/apr/27/ronny-chieng-new-tv-pilot-international-student|url-status=live}} family in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. He does not celebrate his birthday and prefers to keep his date of birth private.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=dqmnuRv_glaJ_ymF&v=SOLKwdO94XU&feature=youtu.be |title=Ronny Chieng on Daily Show's Live Election Coverage, His MAGA Friends & No One Knowing His Birthday |date=27 November 2024|work=Jimmy Kimmel Live |access-date=27 November 2024 |via=YouTube}}{{efn|In his November 2024 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Chieng discussed how rumors that his birthday is in November had been widely circulated on the Internet. He showed his legal ID to Jimmy Kimmel, who verified on air that Chieng was not born in November without revealing Chieng's actual birthdate.}} He grew up in both Singapore and the United States, living in Manchester, New Hampshire from 1989 to 1994.{{Cite web|last=Greenough|first=Jason|date=8 February 2019|title=Ronny Chieng's 'Daily' grind leads him back to Boston|url=https://vanyaland.com/2019/02/08/ronny-chiengs-daily-grind-leads-him-back-to-boston/|website=Vanyaland.com|language=en-US|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803205626/https://vanyaland.com/2019/02/08/ronny-chiengs-daily-grind-leads-him-back-to-boston/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title= Ronny Chieng: 'This Is For The Rich People'|url= https://www.npr.org/2018/11/02/663417093/ronny-chieng-this-is-for-the-rich-people|publisher= |website= NPR.org|language= en|date= 2 November 2018|access-date= 15 January 2020|archive-date= 11 October 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201011224559/https://www.npr.org/2018/11/02/663417093/ronny-chieng-this-is-for-the-rich-people|url-status= live}}

In his youth, he was a Singapore Sea Scout of the Singapore Scout Association. When he lived in Johor Bahru, Chieng commuted to Fuchun Primary School in Woodlands, Singapore.{{cite web|title=Singapore or Malaysia? We made Crazy Rich Asians' Ronny Chieng choose {{!}} CNA Lifestyle| date=28 November 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtQ5AR3xfgI|access-date=15 January 2020|language=en|via=YouTube|archive-date=20 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220222235/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtQ5AR3xfgI&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}} He subsequently attended Pioneer Secondary School and Jurong Pioneer Junior College.{{Cite web |last= 林佳憓 |first= 文 / |date= 20 April 2017 |title= 这里是否留下你的光辉岁月？ |url= https://www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20170420-751121 |website= zaobao.com.sg |language= zh-Hans |access-date= 11 March 2020 |archive-date= 19 October 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201019040450/https://www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20170420-751121 |url-status= live }}

Thereafter, he attended the University of Melbourne in Australia, living at Trinity College and graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree.{{Cite web |title=Ronny Chieng hits the Big Apple! |url=https://www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/whats-happening/news/ronny-chieng-hits-the-big-apple |access-date=21 September 2024 |website=Trinity College, Melbourne |language=en}} He also obtained a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University in 2012.{{cite news |title=Ronny Chieng: Laughing all the way from UniMelb to The Daily Show |url=https://studyinternational.com/news/ronny-chieng-unimelb-australia/ |work=Study International |date=13 January 2021}}

In 2012 Chieng, alongside Matt Okine, won best newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his show The Ron Way.{{Cite web |title=Awards {{!}} Melbourne International Comedy Festival |url=https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/our-history/awards/ |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=www.comedyfestival.com.au}}

Chieng performed with Trevor Noah in 2013 at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal.{{Citation|title=Ronny Chieng on "Crazy Rich Asians" and Representation in Hollywood {{!}} Amanpour and Company| date=17 December 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn38sRXDNUg|language=en|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=19 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219054556/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn38sRXDNUg|url-status=live|via=YouTube}}{{Cite magazine|last=Marikar|first=Sheila|date=2 December 2019|title=Ronny Chieng Defends Dangerous Comedy|magazine=The New Yorker |language=en|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/12/09/ronny-chieng-defends-dangerous-comedy|access-date=16 January 2020|issn=0028-792X}} In 2015, he was asked to audition for the correspondent role on The Daily Show, which Noah hosted from 2015 to 2022. In July 2016, he was named one of 10 Comics to Watch by Variety.{{cite web|date=20 July 2016|title=10 Comics to Watch 2016|url=https://variety.com/gallery/10-comics-to-watch-lilly-singh-james-adomian/#!4/ronny-chieng/|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Variety|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122014750/https://variety.com/gallery/10-comics-to-watch-lilly-singh-james-adomian/#!4/ronny-chieng/|url-status=live}} Three months later, he had a segment on The Daily Show in which he criticized a Jesse Watters clip on Fox News deemed by many as racist. He also revisited New York City's Chinatown neighborhood, where Watters had mocked residents, and conducted more respectful interviews in Mandarin and Cantonese.{{cite news|date= 6 October 2016|title= The O'Reilly Factor Gets Racist in Chinatown|publisher= Comedy Central|url= http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ei86ec/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah--the-o-reilly-factor--gets-racist-in-chinatown|access-date= 12 October 2016|archive-date= 12 October 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161012130731/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ei86ec/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah--the-o-reilly-factor--gets-racist-in-chinatown|url-status= dead}} The video went viral and received coverage in The Washington Post and on Slate.{{cite news|last=Wemple|first=Erik|date=7 October 2016|title='The Daily Show' raps Jesse Watters, Fox News for racist segment on Chinatown|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/10/07/the-daily-show-raps-jesse-watters-fox-news-for-racist-segment-on-chinatown/|access-date=8 October 2016|archive-date=29 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229120635/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/10/07/the-daily-show-raps-jesse-watters-fox-news-for-racist-segment-on-chinatown/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Martinelli|first=Marissa|date=7 October 2016|title=The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng Went to Chinatown, Delivered the Perfect Corrective to Fox News' Racist Segment|work=Slate.com|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/10/07/ronny_chieng_of_the_daily_show_responds_to_fox_s_racist_chinatown_segment.html|access-date=8 October 2016|archive-date=8 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008085321/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/10/07/ronny_chieng_of_the_daily_show_responds_to_fox_s_racist_chinatown_segment.html|url-status=live}}

In 2017, Chieng began co-writing and starring in the sitcom Ronny Chieng: International Student, based on his own experience as a Malaysian student in Australia.{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Simon Leo|date=31 March 2016|title=The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng returns to 'home ground' for Melbourne comedy festival|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-31/daily-show-correspondent-ronny-chieng-returns-to-melbourne/7287784?pfmredir=sm|access-date=21 September 2016|archive-date=9 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009173959/http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-31/daily-show-correspondent-ronny-chieng-returns-to-melbourne/7287784?pfmredir=sm|url-status=live}} It was developed for Comedy Central in America and ABC TV in Australia.{{cite news |last=DiClaudio |first=Dennis |date=5 October 2016 |title=The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng lands his own Comedy Central series |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/daily-shows-ronny-chieng-lands-his-own-comedy-cent-243701 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008135228/http://www.avclub.com/article/daily-shows-ronny-chieng-lands-his-own-comedy-cent-243701 |archive-date=8 October 2016 |work=The A.V. Club}} In 2018, he made his film debut in Crazy Rich Asians, as Eddie Cheng, an obnoxious banker.{{Cite news|last=Ford|first=Rebecca|date=24 April 2017|title='Crazy Rich Asians' Adds Awkwafina|language=en|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/crazy-rich-asians-adds-awkwafina-996699|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-date=25 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425085544/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/crazy-rich-asians-adds-awkwafina-996699|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Kuga |first=Mitchell |date=17 December 2019 |title=Ronny Chieng Can Even Make This Year's News Funny |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/t-magazine/ronny-chieng.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=T |publisher=The New York Times |archive-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218031914/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/t-magazine/ronny-chieng.html }}

In 2019, his first stand-up special with Netflix, Asian Comedian Destroys America!, was released,{{Cite web|last=Sherman|first=Elisabeth|date=20 December 2019|title=The Best Part of Ronny Chieng's Netflix Comedy Special|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/ronny-chieng-netflix-comedy-special-best-bit.html|access-date=21 December 2019|website=Vulture|language=en-us|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225200004/https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/ronny-chieng-netflix-comedy-special-best-bit.html|url-status=live}} directed by his Daily Show collaborator Sebastian DiNatale. In early 2021, Chieng signed a deal with Netflix for two additional stand-up specials and a "docu-comedy."{{Cite web |last=Turchiano |first=Danielle |date=24 February 2021 |title=Ronny Chieng Inks Netflix Deal for Three Comedy Specials (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/ronny-chieng-netflix-comedy-specials-exclusive-1234913356/ |url-status=live |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=Variety |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912161648/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/ronny-chieng-netflix-comedy-specials-exclusive-1234913356/ }} He also appeared as the original character Jon Jon in the Marvel Studios film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,{{cite web|date=7 April 2020|title=Ronny Chieng joins 'Shang Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings' (Exclusive)|url=https://discussingfilm.net/2020/04/07/ronny-chieng-joins-shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-exclusive/|access-date=7 April 2020|website=Discussing Film|archive-date=7 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407211855/https://discussingfilm.net/2020/04/07/ronny-chieng-joins-shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-exclusive/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=23 March 2021|title='Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Pushes Back Release Date as Part of Massive Disney Shuffle|url=https://www.thewrap.com/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-pushes-back-release-date-as-part-of-massive-disney-shuffle/|access-date=11 April 2021|website=TheWrap|language=en-US|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411212427/https://www.thewrap.com/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-pushes-back-release-date-as-part-of-massive-disney-shuffle/|url-status=live}} and it was announced that Chieng and DiNatale will co-write a martial arts action-comedy film for Sony.{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=15 July 2021 |title=Ronny Chieng Sets Martial Arts Comedy at Sony (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/daily-show-ronny-chieng-martial-arts-comedy-sony-1234982900/ |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724102339/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/daily-show-ronny-chieng-martial-arts-comedy-sony-1234982900/ |url-status=live }}

The new "docu-comedy", titled Ronny Chieng Takes Chinatown, was released in 2022 and co-stars YouTuber David Fung, with guest appearances from fellow Shang-Chi actor Simu Liu and professional NBA player Jeremy Lin.{{Cite web |last=Cai |first=Delia |date=21 April 2022 |title="Let's Just Be Funny. Let's Not Teach People Anything": Ronny Chieng Will Use His Platform However He Sees Fit, Thank You |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/04/ronny-chieng-will-use-his-platform-however-he-sees-fit-thank-you |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=Vanity Fair |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209032053/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/04/ronny-chieng-will-use-his-platform-however-he-sees-fit-thank-you }} Chieng's second Netflix special, Speakeasy, was released on 5 April 2022.{{Cite web |title=Ronny Chieng Cleans Up Nicely In the Trailer for His New Special |url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/ronny-chieng-speakeasy-comedy-special-release-date |last=Reese |first=Ashley |date=30 March 2022 |access-date=9 April 2022 |website=Netflix Tudum |language=en |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409215558/https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/ronny-chieng-speakeasy-comedy-special-release-date |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Sean L.|title='Ronny Chieng Speakeasy' Netflix Review: Stream It or Skip It?|url=https://decider.com/2022/04/05/ronny-chieng-speakeasy-netflix-review/|work=Decider|date=5 April 2022|access-date=9 April 2022|language=en-US|archive-date=9 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409215558/https://decider.com/2022/04/05/ronny-chieng-speakeasy-netflix-review/|url-status=live}}

In October 2022, Chieng commented on Rishi Sunak becoming Britain's first Asian Prime Minister during a Daily Show segment. He said, “I know everyone is excited that this is the first Asian prime minister, but let’s be clear: Indians are not Asians, OK? They’re still people — great people — just not Asian people.” Many internet netizens have criticized the joke, particularly Indians.{{Cite web |title='The Daily Show' faces backlash after segments about Rishi Sunak |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/-daily-show-faces-backlash-segments-rishi-sunak-rcna54305 |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=NBC News |date=27 October 2022 |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031185028/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/-daily-show-faces-backlash-segments-rishi-sunak-rcna54305 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=28 October 2022 |title='Indians are not Asians, okay?' Ronny Chieng draws ire for segment on The Daily Show |url=https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/indians-are-not-asians-okay-ronny-chieng-draws-ire-segment-daily-show-rishi-sunak |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=AsiaOne |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031185029/https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/indians-are-not-asians-okay-ronny-chieng-draws-ire-segment-daily-show-rishi-sunak |url-status=live }}

In July 2024, Mayor of Honolulu, Rick Blangiardi signed a proclamation that 27 July, will be known as Ronny Chieng Day for his contributions to the entertainment industry, during Chieng's stay in Honolulu for his The Love to Hate It tour.{{Cite web |date=28 July 2024 |title=July 27 is now Malaysian comedian Ronny Chieng's Official Day…in Oahu (VIDEO) |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2024/07/28/july-27-is-now-malaysian-comedian-ronny-chiengs-official-dayin-oahu-video/145216 |access-date=29 July 2024 |website=Malay Mail |language=}}

In November 2024, Chieng was featured in the lineup for Comics Come Home 28 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.{{Cite web |title=28th Annual Comics Come Home |url=https://www.tdgarden.com/events/detail/comics-come-home-28|publisher=TD Garden}}

Chieng has lived in New York City since moving to the U.S. in 2015.{{cite web| title= Ronny Chieng {{!}} Bio| url= https://press.cc.com/series/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/bio/435805| access-date= 22 December 2019| website= Comedy Central| publisher= Comedy Central| archive-date= 19 October 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211019012153/https://press.cc.com/series/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/bio/435805| url-status= dead}} He is married to Hannah Pham.{{Cite news |last=Luisa Paúl |first=María |date=15 April 2022 |title=Ali Wong announces divorce from her husband — but media got the #WrongAsian |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/04/15/ali-wong-divorce-media-wrong-asian/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=13 September 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |quote=In 2019, “Crazy Rich Asians” actor Ronny Chieng called out People magazine for confusing him and his wife, Hannah Pham, as Park and Jae W. Suh. |archive-date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106194100/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/04/15/ali-wong-divorce-media-wrong-asian/ }} The couple met and began dating while studying commerce and law at the University of Melbourne. Pham later obtained a master's degree in law at New York University and worked as an attorney in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Belus |first=Amber |date=10 January 2023 |title=Meet Ronny Chieng's Hot Successful Wife, Hannah Pham! |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/ronny-chieng-wife |publisher=Distractify |access-date=26 May 2023 |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526145551/https://www.distractify.com/p/ronny-chieng-wife |url-status=live }} Although Chieng lived in Australia for a decade, he does not have citizenship or permanent residency status there.{{cite web| url= https://www.beat.com.au/ronny-chieng/| title= Ronny Chieng| website= beat.com.au| first= Nick| last= Taras| date= April 2015| publisher= | access-date= 11 February 2022| archive-date= 24 June 2019| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190624002658/https://www.beat.com.au/ronny-chieng/| url-status= live}}{{cite web|last=Maddox|first=Garry|date=3 September 2015|title=Ronny Chieng named as correspondent on the new Daily Show|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/comic-ronny-chiengs-big-break-as-correspondent-on-the-new-daily-show-20150903-gjdxo7.html|access-date=13 February 2020|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-date=24 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624002658/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/comic-ronny-chiengs-big-break-as-correspondent-on-the-new-daily-show-20150903-gjdxo7.html|url-status=live}} In April 2025, Chieng became a United States citizen.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-yBmQUFrbE |title=Bill Murray Celebrates Ronny Chieng Becoming a U.S. Citizen - After The Cut {{!}} The Daily Show |date=5 April 2025 |last=The Daily Show |access-date=6 April 2025 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite news |date=7 April 2025 |title=Malaysia-born comedian Ronny Chieng takes up US citizenship |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/malaysia-born-comedian-ronny-chieng-takes-up-us-citizenship |access-date=7 April 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}

He practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu and holds the rank of blue belt.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Phil |title=Watch Comedian Ronny Chieng Grappling With Khalil Rountree |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/watch-comedian-ronny-chieng-grappling-with-khalil-rountree/ |website=Jits Magazine}}

Chieng is an avid collector of watches, an interest that first began with a Seiko 5 that he purchased during his university years in Australia. His watch collection was featured on an episode of the Hodinkee series Talking Watches and includes a rare variant of the Seiko Chronograph Ref. 6139-6010 and a vintage GMT-Master Ref. 16753 "Root Beer".{{Cite web|last=Bues|first=Jon|date=23 September 2021|title=Talking Watches With Ronny Chieng, Actor, Comedian, And 'Daily Show' Correspondent|url=https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/talking-watches-with-ronny-chieng|access-date=3 October 2021|website=Hodinkee|language=en-US|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003033744/https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/talking-watches-with-ronny-chieng|url-status=live}} Another of his watches, a two-tone Rolex dated to 1984 that he inherited from his late father, appeared on an episode of Antiques Roadshow and was valued at $5,000.{{Citation |title=Appraisals: Actor Ronny Chieng Celebrity Edition, Hour 3 Antiques Roadshow PBS |date=23 June 2021 |work=Antiques Roadshow |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV5DzZdkBcM |access-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003033733/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV5DzZdkBcM |archive-date=3 October 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}

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{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.ronnychieng.com/}}
• {{IMDb name|id=5307044}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chieng, Ronny}}

Category:21st-century Malaysian male actors

Category:Australian National University alumni

Category:Comedians from New Hampshire

Category:Living people

Category:Malaysian comedians

Category:Malaysian emigrants to Australia

Category:Malaysian emigrants to the United States

Category:Malaysian male film actors

Category:Malaysian male television actors

Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent

Category:Malaysian stand-up comedians

Category:Male actors from Manchester, New Hampshire

Category:People educated at Trinity College (University of Melbourne)

Category:People from Johor Bahru

Category:People from Singapore

Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners

Category:Singaporean comedians

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Late night television talk show hosts

Category:American comedians of Chinese descent

Category:American male comedians