Ali Wong is a famous American comedian and actor who has made millions of people laugh with his funny and brave jokes.
She is best known for her Netflix specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong, where she addresses topics such as race, gender, sexuality, and motherhood in a witty and honest.
She also starred in the romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe and in the Netflix dark comedy series Beef. She was included in Time’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2020 and 2023.
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- Full name: Alexandra Dawn Wong
- Nickname: Ali Wong
- Date of birth: April 19, 1982
- Age: 41 years old
- Female
- Place of birth: San Francisco, California, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Stand-up comedian and actor
- Height: 5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
- Parents: Tam Wong and Adolphus Wong
- Siblings: Andrew Wong, Mimi Wong and another sibling whose name is not widely known
- Spouse: Justin Hakuta (d. 2014; div. 2022)
- Children: Mari Hakuta and Nikki Hakuta
- Relationship status: Divorced
- Net worth: 16 million USD
Early Life & Education
Ali Wong, now 41, was born to Tam Wong and Adolphus Wong on April 19, 1982, in San Francisco, California.
Her mother is a Vietnamese-American social worker who immigrated to the US in 1960, and her father is a Chinese-American anesthesiologist who worked for Kaiser Permanente for 30 years.
She is the youngest of four children and has an older brother, Andrew, an older sister, Mimi, and another sibling whose name has not been made public.
She grew up in the Pacific Heights section of San Francisco and attended the University of San Francisco High School, where she was class president and editor of the school newspaper.
She graduated from UCLA in 2004, where she majored in Asian American studies and joined the LCC Theater Company, a comedy group that performed sketches and improv. She also studied abroad in Hanoi, Vietnam, where she learned Vietnamese.
Personal life
Ali Wong met her husband, Justin Hakuta, at a wedding in 2010. Hakuta is a Harvard Business School graduate, Fulbright scholar, technology entrepreneur, and son of famous television inventor Ken Hakuta .
They married in 2014 and have two daughters, Mari and Nikki. Mari was born in November 2015 and Nikki was born in December 2017.
Both were featured in Wong’s Netflix comedy specials, Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife. Wong wrote a book dedicated to her daughters called Dear Girls: Intimate Stories, Untold Secrets, and Advice for Living Your Best Life, published in year 2019.
However, in 2022, Wong and Hakuta announced their divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Wong did not reveal details about their separation but said they remained friends and co-parented.
Career
Ali Wong began his comedy career at age 23, performing at pop nights and small clubs in San Francisco.
She moved to New York in 2008, where she honed her skills and met other comedians such as Amy Schumer, John Mulaney, and Aziz Ansari.
She also worked as a writer for Fresh Off the Boat, a sitcom based on the memoir of chef Eddie Huang.
She has appeared on several television shows such as Inside Amy Schumer, Black Box and Are You There, Chelsea? She also voiced characters in the animated series Tuca & Bertie and Big Mouth.
Wong rose to fame in 2016 when she released her first Netflix special, Baby Cobra, which she filmed while seven months pregnant with her first child.
The special was a huge success, receiving rave reviews and millions of views. She followed it up with another Netflix special in 2018, Hard Knock Wife, which she filmed while pregnant with her second child.
The special was equally acclaimed and showcased Wong’s candid and hilarious views on motherhood, marriage and feminism.
In 2020, she released her third Netflix special, Don Wong, in memory of her father, who passed away in 2019. The special was well received and showcased her ability to balance humor and Wong’s feelings.
Wong has also ventured into acting, starring in the romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe, which she co-wrote and co-produced with longtime friend and comedian Randall Park. The film released on Netflix in 2019 was a huge success and featured Keanu Reeves.
Wong also stars in the Netflix dark comedy series Beef, which she co-created and co-created with Lee Sung Jin. The film, set to premiere in 2022, is about two people who encounter road rage and become obsessed with destroying each other’s lives.
Wong is considered by many to be one of the most unique and influential comedians of her generation. She is known for her frank and fearless style of humor, which often addresses topics such as race, gender, sexuality and motherhood.
She has faced challenges and stereotypes as an Asian American woman in the comedy industry but never compromised her voice or visibility.
She was praised by critics and fans alike. She has received several awards and nominations, including the American Comedy Award for Best Comedy Special, the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.
Net value
According to many sources, Ali Wong has a net worth of about $16 million.
She has made the majority of her wealth from her stand-up comedy specials that millions have streamed on Netflix. She also makes money from acting, book sales, and live tours.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @aliwong
- Twitter name: @aliwong
Filming
Ali Wong has appeared in the following films and television shows:
- Barbarian
- Deal with idiots
- Are you there, Chelsea?
- Hey girl
- Inside Amy Schumer
- Black box
- Hero
- American housewife
- father character
- Always my can
- Tuca & Bertie
CD
Ali Wong has released the following comedy albums:
- Baby cobra
- Wife hits hard
- Don Wong
