Comedian Uses Real-Life Training as Doctor When He Jumps Off Stage To Save Woman
Comedian Ken Jeong, 48, was performing in Phoenix on May 5 when he faced a scenario that was not a laughing matter.
But Jeong is a multi-faceted talent, and he was able to handle the crowd with excellence.
Jeong, formerly a doctor, is widely known for his television fame on the ABC sitcom Dr. Ken, which ran for two seasons. He also played a doctor in the 2007 film Knocked Up.
And Jeong got to reprise his role as a doctor once again in Phoenix, only this time, he wasn’t acting. According to USA Today, Jeong was in the middle of his comedy set when a woman in the audience had a seizure.
Jeong tried to figure out what all the commotion was about, and figured it was just a few audience members messing with him.
In true comedic fashion, Jeong tried playing along with the audience hecklers, until he realized the situation was serious.
“He couldn’t see what was going on with the lights,” said audience member Heather Holmberg. “He thought he was being heckled.”
When Jeong realized the situation was not a joke, he jumped down off the stage to assist the woman. “It was a moment where time stands still,” Holmberg recalled.
Jeong cleared the area around the woman and stayed with her until an ambulance arrived, and then returned to the stage to finish out the show. The crowd expressed gratitude for Jeong’s compassionate attitude with a generous round of applause.
@kenjeong at Stand Up Live! A woman had a medical emergency during the show. Ken thinks its heckling, when people are asking for his help. He jumps off stage to assist. An EMT helped, too. Then on with the show! Great night! He is gracious and grateful…AND flipping funny! pic.twitter.com/G0nMWb5wMM
— Heather Holmberg (@TippedHatEnt) May 6, 2018
Jeong graduated with his medical degree in 1995, but enjoyed doing stand-up comedy during his time off. He eventually transitioned to acting and performing full-time, and no longer practices medicine.
“I was so intense as a doctor, and I was always stressed out, patients were surprised I did stand-up comedy on the side,” Jeong said in 2015. But the funnyman proved his medical instincts are still there, along with a healthy dose of compassion.
According to The Washington Post, the woman who needed medical assistance did regain consciousness before she left the building. The audience demonstrated respectful behavior, remaining quiet and abstaining from recording any intrusive videos.
“And he was brilliant,” Holmberg said of Jeong. “He’s a very funny man but you were able to see a side of him that’s very compassionate. You don’t often see that in comedians.”
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