O Yeong-su

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

O Yeong-su

Role / Field:

Acclaimed South Korean actor known for stage mastery and global recognition from Squid Game.

Born:

1944-10-19

Century / Era:

1944s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

O Yeong-su (Korean: 오영수; born O Se-kang, October 19, 1944) is a South Korean actor. He began acting on stage in 1963, from which time he says he has appeared in over 200 plays. He later began acting on screen, often portraying monks due to his experience with Buddhist plays. In 2021, O portrayed Oh Il-nam in the first season of the Netflix survival drama series Squid Game, which earned him worldwide recognition and won him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film, as well as a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. O Yeong-su was born O Se-kang in Kaiho District (then in Japanese-controlled Korea, now Kaepung County in North Korea) on October 19, 1944.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His grandfather was a local educator and landlord. After the 38th parallel line was drawn across Korea, he and his family moved to Paju on the South Korean side controlled by the U.S. Army. During the Korean War that soon followed, his father was killed and his brother was kidnapped by North Korean forces. O began acting in 1963 as part of a theatre crew called "The Square". He was a member of the National Theater Company of Korea from 1987 to 2010, where he worked with actors such as Jang Min-ho, whom he considers his mentor.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Throughout his career, he did productions of A Confession for a Black Prostitute (흑인 창녀를 위한 고백, Albert Camus's play adaptation of the novel Requiem for a Nun by William Faulkner), A Streetcar Named Desire, and The Merchant of Venice, among many others. According to O, he had appeared in over 200 productions by 2013. In his thirties, he played Faust in Goethe's Faust. In retrospect, he said he was probably too young for the role at the time. In his fifties, he played the titular Richard III.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1944 (1944-10-19): Birth of O Yeong-su — Acclaimed South Korean actor known for stage mastery and global recognition from Squid Game.
2. 1963: 1963 Milestone — He began acting on stage in 1963, from which time he says he has appeared in over 200 plays.
3. 1987: 1987 Milestone — He was a member of the National Theater Company of Korea from 1987 to 2010, where he worked with actors such as Jang Min-ho, whom he considers his mentor.
4. 2013: 2013 Milestone — According to O, he had appeared in over 200 productions by 2013.
5. 2021: 2021 Milestone — In 2021, O portrayed Oh Il-nam in the first season of the Netflix survival drama series Squid Game, which earned him worldwide recognition and won him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film, as well as a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: O Yeong-su

True or False: “O Yeong-su won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for his role in Squid Game.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He became the first Korean actor to win this specific Golden Globe category.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdülmecid II — Contemporary (Died in 1944) (1944): Last Ottoman Caliph and prominent Turkish aesthete, head of the Osmanoğlu family.
• Agustín Barrios — Contemporary (Died in 1944) (1944): Paraguayan virtuoso classical guitarist and composer, celebrated for his prolific works.
• Aimee Semple McPherson — Contemporary (Died in 1944) (1944): Pioneering Pentecostal evangelist, famous for founding the Foursquare Church.
• Adam Lindsay Gordon — Shared historical date (10-19 · Born) (1833): Pioneering British-Australian poet, horseman, and politician of the Victorian era.
• Alija Izetbegović — Shared historical date (10-19 · Died) (2003): Bosnian politician, Islamic philosopher, and author who led Bosnia through its tumultuous independence.
• Al Smith — Historical peer (Died in 1944) (1944): Prominent Democratic politician, former Governor of New York, and 1928 presidential nominee.
• Alan Parker — Historical peer (Born in 1944) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Abd el-Krim — Historical peer (Died in 1963) (1963): Moroccan revolutionary leader who spearheaded the revolt against French and Spanish Protectorates.
• Abdul Ghani Baradar — Historical peer (Born in 1963) (1963): Afghan politician and religious leader; co-founder of the Taliban.
• Aaron Beck — Historical peer (Died in 2021) (2021): Father of Cognitive Therapy and CBT, revolutionizing psychiatric treatment.
• 1944 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1944
• October 19 (10-19) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 19

Frequently Asked Questions about O Yeong-su