Bobby Lee

Robert Young Lee Jr., known as Bobby Lee, was born on September 17, 1971, to Korean immigrant parents Jeanie and Robert Lee. Growing up in Poway, California, he was part of a breakdancing team in high school, and later attended Palomar College. However, he dropped out and started working at cafes and restaurants, until he found his calling in stand-up comedy. In 1994, he worked his way up from odd jobs at The Comedy Store in San Diego to becoming an established comedian with offers to open for both Pauly Shore and Carlos Mencia. His parents, initially unsupportive of his comedic career, warmed up to his success after he made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Notably, he involved his family in his work by featuring his brother in several non-speaking roles on MADtv, and aiming to cast his whole family in a sitcom pitched to Comedy Central.

Bobby's career escalated with notable roles such as being a cast member on MADtv from 2001 to 2009, co-starring in Splitting Up Together, and appearances in films like Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Pineapple Express, and The Dictator. Also, he had a guest appearance as Dr. Kang on the TV comedy series Reservation Dogs. Bobby launched his podcast TigerBelly with ex-partner Khalyla Kuhn in 2015, where they discuss a multitude of topics, often involving Asian American issues. Besides his career in entertainment, Bobby also battled and overcame severe addiction issues, being sober since his teenage years with brief relapses. Despite his struggles, Bobby remains an active figure in the world of comedy and podcasts.