Metro Detroit’s Steven Yeun wins best acting Golden Globe for ‘Beef’
Steven Yeun, who grew up in the Detroit suburbs of Taylor and Troy, took home a Golden Globe on Sunday night for his performance in the Netflix series “Beef.”
Yeun won for best actor in a limited series, anthology series or TV movie for playing Danny Cho, a struggling contractor who is swept up in a destructive quest for revenge after a road rage incident.
“Beef”alsonabbedbestlimitedserieshonors and a best actress award for Ali Wong, giving it a major sweep of the night.
Yeun thanked his wife, Joana, during his acceptance speech, calling her “my strength” and brought up a certain Disney smash hit.
“The story I usually tell myself, to myself, is one of isolation and separateness and then you come up here and you have this moment, and you can only just think about everyone else and that feels like the plot of ‘Frozen,’ ” he said, adding a “shoutout to my daughter Ruthie, family movie night.”
Continued Yeun, “I’m just so thankful. I’m just the recipient of a long line of compassion and love and protection and goodwill, so I appreciate this.”
Born in South Korea, Yeun spoke to the Free Press in 2016 about growing up in metro Detroit. He went to elementary school in the downriver suburb of Taylor.
In past interviews, he has talked about how his father, Jay, and mother, June, owned a couple of beauty supply stores and put in long hours of hard work in downtown Detroit. By the mid-1990s, they moved their family to Troy.
Yeun graduated from Troy High School in 2001 and studied psychology at Kalamazoo College, but soon realized his real passion was acting. He spent seven seasons on the AMC series “Walking Dead” in his breakthrough role as Glenn. In 2021, he was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his lead role in “Minari.”
Yeun is nominated for a 2023 best actor Emmy in a limited or anthology series or TV movie for “Beef.” The ceremony, which was delayed by the actors and writers strikes, is set to air live on Jan. 15 on Fox.