Bowen Yang originally joined SNL as a writer and became the show’s first Chinese-American cast member and one of its first openly gay male performers. He quickly established himself as a niche star with his flamboyant and hilarious ‘Weekend Update’ characters. From the sassy Iceberg that sank the Titanic to the proud Chinese trade representative Chen Biao, Yang’s performances were frequently bold. He earned an Emmy nomination in his first season, a rare feat. Yang was a modern voice on the show, occasionally delivering some of the most memorable moments during his time in Studio 8H. Unusual for SNL, Yang was sent out in an emotional sketch that capped his final episode.
