TV - Movies
Why Kumu From
Magnum P.I. Looks
So Familiar
By CHARLES SWITZER
ABC's “All-American Girl” debuted in 1994, and it helped jumpstart Amy Hill’s career when she played the iconic of Yung-hee Kim, aka Grandma. The show made history as the first U.S. sitcom to revolve around a family of Asian descent and would hold the record for two decades until “Off The Boat” premiered in 2015.
All-American Girl
From 1995 to 2005, Hill was a small screen mainstay, appearing as a guest on a litany of popular series, including “Seinfeld,” “Boston Common,” “Mad About You,” and “Friends,” just to name a few. She also starred alongside the legendary Betty White in the short-lived sitcom, “Maybe This Time.”
Sitcom Success
In the early 2000s, Hill was a big screen go-to, starring as Mrs. Ho-Kym in “Next Friday,” Miss Hozzie in Shawn Levy's “Cheaper by the Dozen” reboot, and the all-important local diner owner, Sue, in Peter Segal's “50 First Dates.” In 2005, she moved into a more artful brand of comedy in the quirky and poignant “Duck,” before returning to romcoms in 2009.
The Early Aughts
Hill has made her mark in courtrooms and hospitals, appearing in shows and movies such as, “Let’s Go To Prison,” “Law & Order: LA,” “General Hospital,” and “Growing Pains.” She would go on to play a nurse, doctor, or therapist in a multitude of series and films over the course of her career.
Patients and Juries
In 2015, the prolific star portrayed the manipulative Dr. Wagerstein on Lifetime's highly-rated but short-lived "UnREAL." The series is a biting and smart commentary on the hellscape that is the reality TV dating show and received a lot of praise, including two Emmy nominations, an AFI award, and a Peabody.
UnReal
Over the next few years, Hill expanded her range and worked in many series that involved neighbors, grandkids, vampires, and crazy ex-girlfriends. She starred and appeared in shows like “The Great Indoors,” “Preacher,” CBS' “Mom,” “Black-ish,” and “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”
Second Wind
From 2016-2019, Hill starred as an on-again-off-again antagonist and mysterious shop owner, Mama P, in Amazon Studios' "Just Add Magic." In the series, Hill’s Mama P portrays an arc that begins as a "friendly, wise local grocer" and moves through various personas such as a misunderstood villain and eventual friendly cohort.
Just Add Magic