Best Steven Yeun Movie & TV Roles

Summary

• Yeun’s career is set to soar in 2025, with the actor appearing in Mickey 17 and Season 3 of Invincible.
• Notable performances in Sorry to Bother You, Okja, and Burning solidified Yeun’s versatile acting prowess.
• Yeun’s diverse roles in Beef, Minari, and The Walking Dead showcase his exceptional range and talent.

The year 2025 is set to become Steven Yeun’s oyster, with the actor being fresh off the start of Season 3 of Invincible and the anticipated blockbuster release of the Bong Joon-ho and Robert Pattinson sci-fi movie Mickey 17. While Yeun rose to fame from his expeditions in The Walking Dead, the actor has since become a household name in the industry, becoming a significant presence in film and television, both in lead and supporting roles.

While still enjoying a promising career in Hollywood, Yeun has collected an impressive resume filled with star-studded directors and co-stars who he has been able to collaborate with to a high standard. While plenty of prominent roles are set to arrive in his dazzling career, Yeun’s current catalog of roles has paved the way for a lasting legacy for the versatile actor.

8

Squeeze – Sorry To Bother You (2018)

A Slick Friend Working As A Union Organizer

The quirky black comedy Sorry to Bother You provided Yeun with a chance to flex his talents, opening the door for the actor to become a noteworthy film star. In a complex story, Sorry to Bother You follows Cassius Green, a telemarketer who utilizes a white voice to embark on a road of success. However, his greed causes him to start losing friends and relationships, with the narrative providing many eccentric twists and turns.

While being a supportive friend to Cassius in his role as the confident union organizer, Squeeze, Yeun operates as a smooth and slick operator, even pursuing Cassius’ girlfriend, Detroit. The role provides Yeun with plenty of room to play thanks to the movie’s outlandish setting.

7

K – Okja (2017)

An Activist Who Translates From Korean To Facilitate His Group’s Plan

In what became one of Yeun’s big breaks in film, the actor played a dynamic role in the Bong Joon-ho-directed Okja, the Korean-American production that emerged as one of Netflix’s premier movies of the last decade. Okja follows the adventures of a young girl named Mija and her pet pig Okja, as the famed animal is kidnapped by a US company that takes Okja to New York. Here, Mija is tasked with rescuing her friend, with activists and eccentrics playing their part in the battle for the super pig.

As an activist, Yeun’s K acts as a translator between his ALF group and Mija, with Yeun’s bilingual abilities allowing the movie to connect its absurd storyline.

6

Jupe – Nope (2022)

An Eccentric Theme Park Owner In A UFO Horror Flick

One of Yeun’s most prominent performances can be seen in Jordan Peele’s Nope, a movie that sees the actor play the lavish and over-the-top theme park owner named Jupe. Nope‘s central premise is based on two ranch-owning siblings who try to gain evidence of possible UFO activity in their area, with Yeun’s Jupe doing his part to attract the unidentified object.

Much like his profession, Jupe comes across as a natural showman, spanning from his days as a child actor. However, the tragedy that struck during his adolescence left a mark on his mind, pushing Jupe to strive for greatness. Yeun undeniably knocks this peculiar role out of the park.

5

Ben – Burning (2018)

A Mysterious And Strange Friend In A Korean Drama

Yeun’s starring role in the mystery thriller Burning ranks as one of his most critically acclaimed performances. After childhood friends Lee Jong-su and Shin Hae-mi reunite, their reunion is interrupted when Ben, a stranger Hae-mi recently met, comes between the former classmates. To further complicate matters, his and Hae-mi’s distressing behavior prompts questions from Jong-su.

In his mysterious role as Ben, the wealthy but unusual character gives off sinister vibes, leaving Jong-su to become even more suspicious of his activities and involvement with Hae-mi. Yeun’s role as a villain was new territory for the actor at the time of release.

4

Mark Grayson – Invincible (2021-Present)

A Voice Acting Portrayal Of A Teenage Superhero Entrusted To Save Earth

Invincible has given Yeun plenty of room for variation and experimentation, with his voice acting portrayal of its superhero protagonist, Mark Grayson, becoming a mainstay in pop culture in recent years. Centered on a teenage superhero who becomes the hope of the planet after his father Omni-Man’s betrayal, Mark has to deal with a myriad of problems involving love, family, extraterrestrial threats, and the villainous Viltrumites that threaten to eliminate human civilization.

While Mark is hampered by the traumatic events he has endured in his short span as a superhero, Yeun has perfectly captured the teenage angst, comedic sensibilities, and emotional vulnerability that make the character such a compelling protagonist.

3

Danny Cho – Beef (2023)

An Aggressive And Loud-Mouthed Character Who Endures A Season-Long Feud

The Netflix limited series Beef brought Yeun further international fame, with his role as Danny Cho producing a feisty and explosive viewing experience. After a car collision between two strangers leads to a confrontation, Danny and Amy Lau take their beef to the extreme, mercilessly trying to wreak havoc on each other in a series of chaotic and comedic events.

In his role as Danny, Yeun churns out a tremendous performance fueled by hate and rage, with his pulsating chemistry with Ali Wong as they go back and forth making for an excellent showcase of the actor’s exceptional range.

2

Jacob Yi – Minari (2020)

A Korean Immigrant Drama That Earned Yeun An Oscar Nomination

While Yeun has appeared in several high-profile projects, Minari happens to be the actor’s most critically acclaimed piece of work, with the Korean immigrant drama netting him his first and only nomination at the Oscars thanks to his well-rounded performance. Minari follows the journey of a Korean family that immigrates to Arkansas, hoping to achieve the American Dream that became the basis for their relocation. However, the sudden culture change and struggles of running a farm grow to become a hindrance.

As the head of the family, Yeun’s performance as a young father trying to provide for his family in a foreign land is truly heartbreaking, with the nuanced and subdued portrayal of his character undergoing marriage problems and experiencing job security fears acting as the movie’s heartbeat.

1

Glenn Rhee – The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

A Resourceful Scavenger That Represented The Heart And Soul Of TWD

In his breakout role, Yeun was in for the long haul as Glenn Rhee, the young resourceful scavenger in the hit zombie show The Walking Dead, becoming one of the most iconic and celebrated characters in the story. From the show’s very beginning, Glenn’s cocky and cheeky personality endeared itself to audiences. Much of TWD revolved around constant death and heightened drama, and Glenn became a symbol of fun and youthful exuberance, especially in the earlier seasons.

As Yeun’s character develops, his romantic chemistry with Maggie becomes one of the best aspects of the show, with their close-knit bond seeing Glenn transition into a responsible adult. He even acts as Rick Grimes’s right-hand man throughout the ongoing conflict and turmoil that their group encounters. While Glenn’s death remains one of the show’s most devastating and shocking moments, Yeun’s tenure on TWD was nothing but thrilling, with Glenn representing the heart and soul of an often bleak and morbid series.