- David Ury
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David Ury Born David Brian Ury
September 30, 1973
Sonoma, California, U.S.Other names D.B.U. Occupation Actor, stand-up comedian, English<->Japanese translation specialist Height 178 cm David Brian Ury (born September 30, 1973) is an American film and television actor, stand-up comedian and Japanese film, anime and manga translation specialist. He is a descendant of German impressionist painter Lesser Ury.
Contents
Career
Ury began his acting career on Japanese television as the "zany Japanese speaking foreigner". Ury learned to speak Japanese fluently while at college in Tokyo and has worked as a translator in film, television, and manga and currently (As of May 2011[update][1]) translates and writes English adaptations for Japanese comics (manga) (Some of which notable are Rave Master vol.33,34,35, Basilisk, Genshiken, Gacha Gacha and The Wallflower).[2] Ury moved to Los Angeles in August 2001 where he began performing stand-up comedy. In the spring of 2003, Ury became the "Ugly Guy" in Fox's Mr. Personality promo commercials. More recently he has appeared as the "Guy who says Yes" or the "Yes Guy" on the Internet viral Verizon parody short.
Appearances
TV Series & Movies
David Ury has made several film and television appearances, including an episode of Tim Kring's Crossing Jordan and in Shoot 'Em Up. He also appeared in Heroes, Malcolm in the Middle, Life, Without a Trace, Breaking Bad and Zeke and Luther.
YouTube
David Ury also have YouTube channels/accounts/personalities or alter-egos some of which are Karaoke Steve (YouloveKaraokeSteve) and Ken Tanaka (so called adopted twin brother of David Ury, a Caucasian man who was adopted by a Japanese family, Hideo & Mari Tanaka, and been raised in Shimane Prefecture of Japan, then returned to Los Angeles to find his birth parents Jonathan & Linda Smith). Ken Tanaka bears a resemblance to Lonelygirl15 with Ken Tanaka's first appearance on YouTube.[3]
Ken Tanaka speaks Japanese and English with a heavy Japanese accent and makes videos about Ken's search for his birth parents, culture and life in Japan and Los Angeles. Many viewers are convinced that Tanaka's story is true, while others believe that he is merely a character played by David Ury. After some viewers began to comment that Tanaka looked a lot like actor David Ury, Tanaka made a video where Tanaka goes to meet Ury.[4] The video shows David Ury and Ken Tanaka meeting and discovering that they are identical twin brothers.
As of 22 August 2011[update] Ken Tanaka has over 200 YouTube videos in both his two YouTube channels (helpmefindparents and kentanakajapan). Tanaka's videos also document his visual art career and the making of his book "Everybody Dies- A Children's Book for Grown Ups" ISBN 0615464939 . Tanaka's work is sought after by collectors of the work of German impressionist painter Lesser Ury presumably by those who believe that Tanaka is actually David Ury.
David Ury's Ken Tanaka is also famous by YouTube series of "How to speak fluent Japanese (without saying a word #1 - #2; hardly saying a word; with Remi, Takeo, and Ken Tanaka; by Speaking English #1 - #2 - #3)" (with appearances of Remi February (Artist), David "Takeo" Neptune (Short film Director) and Masataka "Polo" Yazaki (Musician of former band Nirf)) and "I AM ROBOT" (which won "YouTube Video Awards Japan 2009" award).
Ken Tanaka has also made appearances in YouTube with MissHannahMinx and Gimmeabreakman (aka Victor from Japan).
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 2009–2011 Zeke and Luther Donut "Don" Donaldson Recurring Role 2011 Bones Larry Wolfram Episode: "The Feet on the Beach" The Young and the Restless Burt Episode: "Daniel Finally Regains Consciousness" 2010 Lie to Me Witness Episode: "Headlock" Rizzoli & Isles Sandy Grotty Episodes: "Boston Strangler Redux" The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It Yes Man 2009 Breaking Bad Spooge Episode: "Peekaboo"
"Breakage"The Revenant ATM robber 2006–2009 Heroes Landlord Episodes: "Chapter Nine 'Turn and Face the Strange'"
"Chapter One 'Genesis'"
"Unaired Premiere Episode"2008–2009 Life Hard Case #1 Episodes: "Re-Entry"
"Trapdoor"2008 Without a Trace Gil Episode: "Better Angels" Parasomnia Record Store Owner Black Widow Bixler 2007 National Treasure: Book of Secrets Barkeep Shoot 'Em Up Diner Holdup Leader Close to Home Rooster Episode: "Internet Bride" 2006 Crossing Jordan Arthur Hay Episode: "Blame Game" Dark Ride Attendant #1 2005 Blue Collar TV Sketch performer Episode: "Fashion" 2004 Charmed Shapeshifter Episode: "Witchness Protection" Paparazzi Fan Able Edwards Franklin Wallace 2002 Malcolm in the Middle Mechanic Episode: "Zoo" References
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1352845
- http://heroeswiki.com/David_Ury
- http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/10/entertainment/et-tanaka10
- http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090528f2.html
- http://www.kentanakalovesyou.com/#aboutshowspresspurchase
- http://ikimashou.net/2006/05/18/interview-with-a-translator-david-ury
External links
- David Ury at the Internet Movie Database
- David Ury at the ISBN Database
- Ken Tanaka at the ISBN Database
Categories:- 1973 births
- Actors from California
- American film actors
- American television actors
- People from Sonoma, California
- Living people
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