Poker Pro Doug Kim Transitions to Acting With Release of Sitcom

Poker fans with sharp memories may recall the 2006 WSOP Main Event final table that included Douglas Kim, who at the time was the youngest final tablist ever.

Kim won his ME seat in an online tournament, a la Chris Moneymaker, and parlayed that victory into a 7th place finish at poker's most prestigious tournament for $2,391,520. Not bad for his first live cash.

“I was part of a movement of young internet professional poker players having great success in live tournaments,” Kim told the Digital Journal last year.

While most poker players would likely continue grinding after tasting such success, not so for Kim, who was bitten by the acting bug at a young age and eventually moved to LA to pursue a career in entertainment. That career has just moved up in stakes with the release of "Just Doug," a sitcom that Kim produced, co-wrote, and stars in.

Just Doug is currently a web series and was recently featured on Facebook Watch, a new video platform launched by the social media page. Basically, the show is about Kim's life experiences as a poker player turned struggling actor.

From Web to TV

Doug is hoping that a TV station will take notice and sign on to broadcast the show. Should that become a reality, poker fans can expect future episodes to include a decent portion of poker-related subject matter.

"If the show gets picked up, amongst going in depth about the industry as a whole, I do plan on going into the poker subculture and exploring that world," Kim posted on the 2+2 forum.

Although acting has taken center stage in Kim's life, his poker playing days are by no means over. He min-cashed the 2016 WSOP Main Event for $36,708 after finishing in 283rd place. Including a 7th place showing at the 2011 Borgata Poker Open for $148,848, Kim's lifetime live poker winnings total more than $2.6 million.  

Television needs more shows that pertain to poker. We can all do our part by accessing the Just Doug Series on Facebook and showing some love by liking and sharing Kim's work.