7 times 'Minari' star Steven Yeun was a total scene-stealer

Steven Yeun has already made history at this year’s Academy Awards with his Best Actor nomination for Best Picture nominee Minari and he stands to do it again if he takes home a win at the ceremony Sunday, April 25 (watch live at 8pET on CTV).

Most viewers recognize Yeun for his role as the beloved Glenn Rhee from The Walking Dead, a character who was horrifically killed on-screen after seven seasons in 2015 (we still can’t talk about Glenn’s death). But ~real fans~ know Yeun’s resume extends much further beyond the zombie-filled fields of apocalyptic Atlanta.

Yeun has amassed an impressive body of voice work, lending his vocals to TV series like Invincible, Final Space, Wizards, Tuca & Bertie, Voltron and many more. Truly, the man has a tendency to steal any scene he's in, whether it be dramatic or comedic -- yes, including that time he was onscreen for about 15 seconds on The Big Bang Theory in 2010. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite scene-stealing Yeun moments below that fans should definitely check out to see the (future) Oscar winner in action.

The Big Bang Theory (2010)

In Season 3, Episode 22 of The Big Bang Theory (watch now on Crave), Yeun has a brief but oh-so-memorable appearance as Sebastian, a man who made the mistake of signing his rights away in Sheldon Cooper’s (Jim Parson) Roommate Agreement before Leonard (Johnny Galecki) moved in.

Already looking like he was ready for a zombie apocalypse, Sebastian warned Leonard to "run fast and run far." Iconic.

I, Origins (2014)

In 2014, Yeun starred opposite Michael Pitt, who played a scientist that falls in love with Astrid Berges-Frisbey’s character Sofi. Yeun’s small but impactful role as Pitt’s common sense friend was one of his first feature roles and helped expand his filmography to include a major release.

Drunk History (2014)

In a 2014 episode of Drunk History, Yeun played Japanese-American soldier Daniel Inouye and helped to tell the heroic history of the WWII vet who managed to destroy several German machine gun nests in Italy even after being shot in the stomach and in the arm.

Yeun portrayed the lieutenant, who later became a Senator for Hawaii, with just the right balance of drama and comedy that makes Drunk History one of the most entertaining shows on TV.

Mayhem (2017)

While in-between seasons of The Walking Dead, Yeun spent his 2017 break doing something totally different. He starred in the film Mayhem, which covered a zombie outbreak in an office setting. Totes different.

If TWD is too light on blood and gore for you, the outrageous Mayhem, which starred Yeun opposite Samara Weaving, should hit your high level of bloodlust.

Burning (2018)

Minari is not the first time Yeun has captivated audiences in a role that required the Korean-born actor to speak his native language.

In the 2018 psychological thriller Burning, which is based on a short story by celebrated author Haruki Murakami, Yeun stars as Ben, a mysterious and wealthy man who befriends two strangers that know little about his past. The dramatic film was shot in South Korea and captures Yeun’s incredible charisma and ability to play a secretive character who keeps the audience guessing until the very end. 

Sorry To Bother You (2018)

Steven Yeun was part of the impressive cast in Boots Riley’s fever dream 2018 film Sorry To Both You, playing a union organizer named Squeeze opposite film lead Lakeith Stanfield. A stunning piece of film, Yeun shows off his flair for the absurd in Sorry To Bother You, as well as some impressive sign spinning skills.

The Twilight Zone (2019)

In 2019, horror and mystery lover Jordan Peele took a break from winning Oscars to reboot the iconic TV series The Twilight Zone. In the episode titled "A Traveler," Yeun played the mysterious title character who arrives as a Christmas party taking place in an Alaskan police station.

The role must have had a big impact on Peele, who has now cast Yeun opposite Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya in his upcoming horror film scheduled for release in 2022.

BEFORE YOU GO: Black artists make history at the ACM Awards

[video_embed id='2184155']BEFORE YOU GO: Black artists make history at the ACM Awards[/video_embed]