One of the most popular Asian-American TV personalities, actress, and blogger, Jamie Jilynn Chung rose to fame when she was cast on the MTV reality TV series, The Real World San Diego in 2004 and subsequently in Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno II. After her TV appearances, Chung eventually ventured into films and established a successful career, courtesy her brilliant performances in films like Dragonball Evolution (2009), Grown Ups (2010), The Hangover Part II (2011), and Big Hero 6 (2014).
Early Life
Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Chung is the second generation Korean-American who was raised by her traditional parents who moved to the United States in 1980. Chung and her elder sister had a simple upbringing; their parents ran a hamburger restaurant in SF. The actress went to Lowell High School and after completing her schooling in 2011, she pursued her graduation from the University of California, Riverside with B.A in economics.
Personal Life
Jamie Chung started dating actor, musician Bryan Greenberg in 2012 and they got engaged in December 2013. After two years of being together, the couple tied the knot on 31st October 2015 at the El Captain Canyon resort in Santa Barbara, California. The duo had an elaborate wedding ceremony; it was a three-day celebration including a dinner on the Halloween’s eve where the guests were required to wear special costumes.
Movie Career
With more than three years of experience acting in the TV series’, Jamie Chung made her acting debut on the big screen with I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry in 2007. The American comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan featured Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Jessica Biel in the lead roles. Upon release, the film was panned by the critics and it received eight nominations at the Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actor, and Worst Director. Following the debacle of her debut film, director James Wong cast Chung alongside Justin Chatwin, Emmy Rossum, and Chow Yun-fat in his 2009 American action-adventure film, Dragonball Evolution. The film first released in Japan and several other Asian countries in March 2009 and later released in the US in April 2009. Upon release, it turned out to be both commercial and critical failure and was considered to be one of the worst films ever made.
After back-to-back failures, the actress got her first major hit in 2009 as she starred in Sorority Row, an American Slasher film directed by Stewart Hendler. The film co-starring Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, and Rumer Willis got mostly positive reviews from the critics as well as was a commercial hit. The actress got her next major hit in 2011 as she starred in the American comedy film, The Hangover Part II. The film directed by Todd Phillips was the second installment of the Hangover series’ and it featured Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeon in pivotal roles. Upon release in March 2011, it became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy film that year.
In 2012, Jamie Chung had four releases, viz. Premium Rush, The Man with the Iron Fists, Eden and Knife Fight. Whilst the first two films did not fare well at the box office, her role as Hyun Jae Eden in Eden was much appreciated by the critics. The film directed by Megan Griffiths and co-starring Matt O’Leary and Beau Bridges premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2012 and after its theatrical release, it received mostly positive reviews. The following year, Chung reprised her role as Lauren Price in the third and final installment of the Hangover series titled The Hangover Part III. Unlike the first two films, it got mostly negative reviews but emerged to be a commercial hit; it grossed more than 360 million USD at the box office.
Post-2013, the actress appeared in six films, but none garnered any attention at the box office. In her first 2016 release, Chung shared the screen with Chris D’Elia, Hannah Simone and Hilary Duff in Bob Castrone directed comedy film, Flock of Dudes. The film released in theaters worldwide in September 2016. Her other release of the year includes Office Christmas Party, an American comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck.
TV Career
Jamie Chung started her acting career with TV series, she rose to fame with her maiden TV appearance in The Real World: San Diego in 2004. The reality TV series was the 14 edition of The Real World series’. The show had a huge fan following across the United States; the premiere was watched by four million viewers and Chung played herself in 28 episodes of the series. One year later, the actress’ popularity skyrocketed as she featured in the 10th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge which was titled Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno II.
From 2006 to 2008, the actress appeared in several TV series’ like Veronica Mars (2006), ER (2007), Samurai Girl (2008) before eventually getting a big break in 2009 as she starred in the popular crime-comedy-drama series, Castle. Two years later she starred as one of the leads in the 2014 series’ Believe, an American fantasy drama, which was created by the Academy Award winner, Alfonso Cuaron and Markus Friedman. Jamie Chung’s other TV series’ appearances include Resident Advisors (2015) and Gotham (2016).