# Hoài Linh

Võ Nguyễn Hoài Linh (born December 18, 1969), better known by his stage name Hoài Linh, is a Vietnamese and American comedian and actor. A frequent collaborator of Thúy Nga center, he is known for his comedy performances alongside other artists such as Vân Sơn and Chí Tài.

## Biography

Hoài Linh was born on December 18, 1969, in Cam Ranh, Khánh Hòa in a Catholic family with 6 children (3 boys, 3 girls). He is the third child and the eldest son in the family. His parents are from Đại Lộc, Quảng Nam. With the exception of his eldest sister - who were married and remained in Vietnam, his family moved to the United States under the HO status in 1995 - due to the fact that his father previously served in the Republic of Vietnam's Special Forces as a captain. His mother, Nguyễn Thị Lệ Phương, ran a private maternity home in Cam Ranh.
Hoài Linh lived in Cam Ranh up until 1975. He then moved with his family to Dầu Giây. In 1988, his family returned to Cam Ranh. Later, they moved to Ho Chi Minh City in 1992 and migrated to the United States at the end of 1993. During this time, Hoài Linh joined the Ponaga music and dance troupe. He studied at a specialized dance school up until 1994, when he returned to the dance group.
In 1991, he participated in a singing contest in Nha Trang. Here, he met Thanh Lộc - an actor from Khánh Hòa's recently disbanded theater department. Thanh Lộc proposed that they formed a comedy duo in the Ponaga group's performances. Hoài Linh happily accepted the invitation. Since then, he officially entered the comedy industry. His first performance took place at Diên Khánh.
Hoài Linh is known for his ability to speak various Vietnamese dialects. Upon moving to Long Khánh, he had the opportunity to talk to people from different regions, this allowed him to learn how to imitate their accents.
After migrating to the United States, his family stayed in Orlando, Florida. Here, he was invited to host a wedding at Saigon restaurant. After that, he was regularly invited to perform at many shows.
Around October 1994, Hoài Linh returned to California. He lived at his 10th uncle's house in Los Angeles. Two weeks later, he had the opportunity to visit Little Saigon and was taken by Nhật Tùng to Tao Nhân cafe. Here, he performed a comedy of Chuyện tình Karaoke. His acting captured the attention of scriptwriter Ngô Tấn Triển. One week later, Hoài Linh met comedian Vân Sơn and was invited to cooperate with him after comedian Bảo Liêm suddenly stopped collaborating with Vân Sơn.
In October 1994, the duo Vân Sơn - Hoài Linh officially performed together in an event held in Orange County. In 1999, after his return to Vietnam, Hoài Linh established his own business called "Hoài Linh Comedy Music". Later, he started collaborating with Thúy Nga Center and New Smile Company. He and comedian Chí Tài remained friends up until the latter passed away on December 9, 2020.
On January 10, 2016, Hoài Linh was honored with the title of Meritorious Artist. He was the first overseas Vietnamese artist to receive this recognition.

## Personal life

In August 1996, Hoài Linh returned to Vietnam to visit his lover Lê Thanh Hương, whom he had known for a while before leaving Vietnam. Thanh Hương originally worked at a karaoke bar where he often went to sing. The purpose of his trip to Vietnam was to officially marry Lê Thanh Hương and bring her to the United States. However, the couple broke up in 2010.
Hoài Linh has two biological children, Võ Lê Thành Vinh (born in 1990) and a younger daughter (born in 2012). In addition, he also has a lot of adopted children, including Hoài Lâm and Cao Hữu Thiên.
Hoài Linh is the brother of singer Phương Trang and singer Dương Triệu Vũ (whose real name is Võ Nguyễn Tuấn Linh).
Although his parents were Catholics, Hoài Linh has converted to Đạo Mẫu.

## Acting work

* Kì Phùng Địch Thủ: as Hoài Linh (performing with Bảo Chung)
* 10 Năm Nhìn Lại
* Ai Câm: as the rich man (Liveshow Chí Tài Comedian 2008)
* Áo em chưa mặc một lần
* Anh không đòi quà
* Anh Sáu Về Quê
* Âm dương đôi đường: as the wizard Trần Phiêu Diêu
* Bà ơi! Đóng Cửa Lại: as the old husband
* Bà Tốn Lấy Le: as the old husband
* Bà mẹ vợ (Bán hoa bạo lực): as the mother-in-law
* Bác Ba Phi: as Mr. Ba Phi
* Bác sĩ Miệt Vườn: as the doctor
* Bầy Vịt Cái: as the pregnant wife
* Bốn Mùa
* Con sáo sang sông
* Cá Cuộc
* Cha Yêu
* Chân Dài: as the director's assistant
* Chân Quê
* Chết chắc rồi
* Chị Dâu Té Giếng
* Chia gia tài
* Chồng Ghen
* Chưa Chắc Đâu Ba: as Tí's father
* Chuyện Nàng Hoa hậu
* Chuyện Tình Chàng Họa Sĩ
* Chuyện Tình Yêu
* Chuyện Xứ Người: as the husband
* Con ma mặc áo bà ba
* Cờ Bạc
* Cổ tích một tình yêu: as Nhi's father
* Của Tôi Mà
* Cuộc thi Không Chuyên: as Hoài Linh
* Cướp cạn
* Cười Với Việt Hương 3
* Cương Thi Thiếu Nợ
* Đại Nhạc Hội Hài Hoài Linh & Kiều Oanh
* Đánh Ghen: as the jealous wife
* Đạo diễn kỳ tài
* Dâu đất khách: as Mr. Chín
* Đây không phải là Thiên đường
* Đệ nhất thần thấu
* Đèo gió hú: as Linh
* Đèn thần
* Đi chùa cầu duyên: as Thị Mầu
* Đi Hỏi Già, Về Nhà Hỏi Trẻ: as the grandpa
* Đi Thi Hoa hậu: as the beauty contestant
* Du Học: as Mr. Tám
* Đường Đại gia: as Đường đại gia
* Duyên Nợ
* Gã lưu manh và chàng khờ
* Gái: as the brother
* Gia tộc hà tiện: as the old wife
* Gieo quẻ đầu năm
* Kẻ gian (performing with Nguyễn Dương)
* Khó: as the friend of Mười Khó
* Hạc tiên
* Hết lông rồi
* Hội thi chim
* Lầm
* Qua cơn giông bão: as Thuận
* Quả Đào Lửa
* Ra Giêng anh cưới em: as Sáu Bảnh
* Rượu: as Nguyễn Văn Hải
* Ru lại câu hò
* Tân Ngao Sò ốc Hến: as Hến (Liveshow Bảo Quốc 50 năm vui cười cùng sân khấu)
* Tệ hơn vợ thằng Đậu 2
* Thám tử Sê Lốc Hom
* Thà ăn mày hơn ăn cướp
* Thằng Mắm Con Muối: as Mắm
* Thiện ác vô song: as the master
* Tiều Phu bỏ mẹ: as the woodcutter
* Tình cha
* Tình con
* Tommy Tèo: as Tommy Tèo
* Tuyển Lựa ca sĩ
* Trạng chết chúa băng hà: as Trạng Quỳnh
* Thế giới huyền bí
* Trời xanh nhổ lệ
* Tư Ếch nằm mơ: as Tư Ếch's child
* Trăm nhớ ngàn thương
* Sư lịnh tích thành hoàng sống: as Tân
* Oan gia ngõ hẹp
* Ông Bà Vú
* Ông Địa: as the land genie
* Ở đợ siêu cấp
* Lấy Chồng Đi Con
* Lấy Vợ Năm Rồng
* Lỗi Ai
* Lưu Bình - Dương Lễ: as Lưu Bình
* Lý Lửa Gần Rơm
* Ly Miêu Hoán Chúa: as Quách Hòe
* Lý Phụ Tình
* Ma Túy
* Mất Trí Nhớ / Kém trí nhớ: as the doctor (performing with Vân Sơn)
* Mẹ Yêu
* Món Quà Kỳ Diệu: as the husband
* Một Bà Hai Ông
* Một Duyên Hai Nợ Ba Tình
* Một Ngày Ở Trần Gian
* Một Ông Hai Bà: as the husband
* Mộng ca sĩ
* Nàng Dâu Tương Lai
* Nỗi đau đất dày: as the King of Hell
* Ngao Sò ốc Hến: as the district official
* Ngang trái: as Mạnh Dữ
* Nghề Chân Dài
* Ngôi nhà hạnh phúc: as Kim Yang Gay
* Ngôi Sao Một Ngày
* Ngủm vì game online: as Huy's father
* Người Hoài Cổ: as the old husband
* Người Nhà Quê: as Đặng's father
* Người Ở Siêu Cấp
* Nhà Bảo Sanh: as the husband
* Nợ Duyên
* Nơi Bắt Đầu Một Dòng Sông (Thanh Ngân Live Show)
* Nhà dột từ nóc: as the father
* 2!Idol
* Viện dưỡng lão
* Vợ chồng thằng đậu bây giờ: as Đậu
* Vỡ mộng
* Vợ thằng đậu: as Đậu's father
* Xem mắt nàng dâu: as Nga's mother
* Xuất giá tòng phu
* Xe ôm: as Linh the driver