LOS ANGELES — The comedic actor best known for his roles in Marvel and DC Comics movies will give this year’s commencement address at the University of California, Los Angeles. A UCLA alumnus, Park will deliver the keynote address.
“College graduation is the most pivotal day of any person’s life — more significant than marriage, more special than the birth of a child, more monumental than the signing of the Declaration of Independence, so I do not take this responsibility lightly,” Park said in a statement on the UCLA website.
Born and raised in Los Angeles by parents who immigrated from Korea, Park earned his bachelor’s degree in 1997 with a major in English and a minor in Asian American studies. While a student, he co-founded the Asian American troupe, Coyote that Cares Theatre Company, which continues to be active on the UCLA campus today.
“In my humble opinion, there is no one better to connect with these young minds than me: a 49-year-old man who is not on social media and still listens to Wham!” Park said of the keynotes he will give for all three college commencement ceremonies on June 16. “My hope is to inspire, uplift, encourage, stimulate and other synonyms for the word ‘inspire.’”