Daniel Dae Kim
Born 1968 · Age 57
American actor, producer and activist known for lead TV roles (Lost, Hawaii Five-0), film roles, and as founder of production company 3AD.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Busan, South Korea
Born Kim Dae-hyun (Daniel Dae Kim) to Jung Kim and Doo-tae Kim in Busan, South Korea.
Family emigrated to the United States
Moved to the United States with his family at approximately one year old; grew up in New York City and later Easton and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
High school graduation (estimated)
Graduated Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (year estimated based on college timeline).
Studied at National Theater Institute (Eugene O'Neill Center)
Spent the 1989 spring semester studying at the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center while attending Haverford.
Graduated Haverford College (BA)
Earned double bachelor's degrees in theater and political science from Haverford College.
Early stage roles: Romeo & Juliet, A Doll's House
Performed on stage in productions including Romeo and Juliet and A Doll's House with Pan Asian Repertory and New Victory Theater.
Film role in American Shaolin (early film credit)
Played Gao Yun, showcasing taekwondo skills; one of Kim's earliest film credits.
Married Mia Rhee
Married Mia Haeyoung Rhee on June 12, 1993.
Birth of first son
First son born in 1996 (publicly reported).
Earned MFA from NYU Graduate Acting Program
Completed Master of Fine Arts at NYU's Graduate Acting Program.
Film role: The Jackal (minor role)
Appeared in the feature film The Jackal (minor role credited as Akashi).
Film role: For Love of the Game
Appeared in For Love of the Game (small role).
Recurring TV roles: Angel, 24 and others
Appeared in recurring roles on Angel (2001-2003) and CTU Agent Tom Baker on 24 (early 2000s).
Birth of second son
Second son born in 2002 (publicly reported).
Film role: Hulk (minor role)
Had a minor role as an aide in Ang Lee's Hulk (2003).
Small film roles: Spider-Man 2, Crash
Appeared in Spider-Man 2 as a scientist and in the ensemble drama Crash (2004).
Cast as Jin-Soo Kwon on Lost (series run 2004–2010)
Became a regular cast member of ABC's Lost portraying Jin-Soo Kwon; role required relearning Korean.
Named in People Magazine's 'Sexiest Men Alive'
Included on People Magazine's annual list of Sexiest Men Alive.
Screen Actors Guild Award (ensemble) for Lost
As part of the Lost cast, won the 2006 SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Multiple individual honors (AZN, Multicultural Prism, Vanguard)
Received AZN Asian Excellence Award, Multicultural Prism Award, and a Vanguard Award from the Korean American Coalition for Outstanding Performance by an Actor.
Began voice role: Johnny Gat (Saints Row series debut)
Provided the voice of Johnny Gat in the Saints Row video game series (character debut 2006).
Voice role: Metron in Justice League Unlimited
Provided the voice of Metron in the last two episodes of Justice League Unlimited (2006).
Video game roles continued (Saints Row franchise)
Provided voice for multiple Saints Row titles (Saints Row 2006, Saints Row 2 in 2008, Saints Row: The Third 2011, Saints Row IV 2013, Gat out of Hell 2015).
KoreAm Achievement Award (Arts & Entertainment)
Recognized with the KoreAm Achievement Award in Arts and Entertainment.
Starred as the King in Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I (Royal Albert Hall)
Performed as The King of Siam at Royal Albert Hall, London, from June 12 to June 28, 2009.
Announced joining Hawaii Five-0 as Chin Ho Kelly
Shortly after Lost concluded, it was announced he would join the CBS reboot Hawaii Five-0; he was the first actor officially cast.
Hawaii Five-0 premiered
The CBS reboot Hawaii Five-0 premiered on September 20, 2010, with Daniel Dae Kim as a series regular.
Reported service as Cultural Envoy / U.S. Presidential Delegation at World Expo in Korea (timing reported)
Reported to have served as Cultural Envoy and as a member of the U.S. Presidential Delegation to a World Expo in Korea (sourced in Goldhouse/IMDB summaries; exact year in public profiles varies).
Narrator: Linsanity documentary
Narrated the documentary Linsanity (2013).
Signed first-look / overall deal with CBS Television Studios (3AD)
As founder of 3AD, Kim signed a first-look development deal with CBS Television Studios (reported Oct 2013 / Jan 2014 in sources).
3AD's first-look deal notable as a milestone for Asian-American actor-producer
The first-look / overall deal with CBS Television Studios was cited as the first of its kind with an Asian-American actor (reported in press coverage).
Founded production company 3AD
Established production company 3AD to develop film & TV content; later partnered with ITV Studios America (IMDB/Goldhouse/press).
Made directorial debut on Hawaii Five-0 ('Kuka'awale')
Directed the Hawaii Five-0 season five episode 'Kuka'awale' (season 5 timeframe 2014–2015).
Cast in The Divergent Series: Insurgent (announced)
Was reported (June 5, 2014) to join the cast of Insurgent as Jack Kang.
Commencement speaker, University of Hawaii
Served as speaker at the University of Hawaii spring 2014 commencement ceremony.
Film release: The Divergent Series: Insurgent
Appeared as Jack Kang, leader of the Candor faction, in Insurgent (2015).
Broadway Beacon Award & Theater Legacy Award
Received a Broadway Beacon Award for The King and I and Theatre Legacy Award from Pan Asian Repertory Theater (2016).
Film release: The Divergent Series: Allegiant
Reprised role of Jack Kang in Allegiant (2016).
Broadway debut: The King and I at Lincoln Center (May 3–June 26, 2016)
Made Broadway debut as the King of Siam at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre.
3AD produces The Good Doctor (series launched in U.S.)
3AD was producing ABC's The Good Doctor (U.S. series premiered Sept 25, 2017); Kim later became executive producer and actor on the series.
Asian Hall of Fame induction & ArtsQuest Linny Award
Received recognition: Asian Hall of Fame (2017) and ArtsQuest's Pinnacle of the Arts (Linny Award) in 2017.
Exited Hawaii Five-0 over salary dispute
Departed Hawaii Five-0 (late June 2017) alongside Grace Park after failing to secure pay parity with co-stars.
Film roles: Hellboy (Ben Daimio) and Always Be My Maybe
Played Ben Daimio in Hellboy (recasting to avoid whitewashing controversy) and appeared in Netflix film Always Be My Maybe (2019).
Joined The Good Doctor as Dr. Jackson Han and executive producer (season 2)
Added a recurring acting role (chief of surgery Dr. Jackson Han) while credited as an executive producer starting in season 2 (2019).
Tested positive for COVID-19 and spoke against anti-Asian racism
Publicly announced COVID-19 diagnosis and urged an end to xenophobia and violence targeting Asian people (March 2020 coverage).
Film role: Stowaway (David Kim)
Appeared as David Kim in the sci-fi film Stowaway (2021).
Voice role: Raya and the Last Dragon (Chief Benja)
Provided the voice of Chief Benja in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon (released March 2021).
Cast as Fire Lord Ozai in Netflix's live-action Avatar
Announced casting as Fire Lord Ozai for Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender (reported Nov 3, 2021).
Portrayed Francis in Los Angeles production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Performed in Peter Pan Goes Wrong in Los Angeles in August–September 2023.
Film role: Joy Ride released
Appeared as Dae Han in the film Joy Ride (2023 release).
Audible first-look deal for audio originals
Signed an Audible first-look deal for audio originals (reported Jan 17, 2023).
Podcast/audio production: Yellow Face audio / Audible projects
Participated in Yellow Face audio and expanded audio-original production via Audible partnership (2024 audio activity reported).
Starred in Broadway revival: Yellow Face
Played the lead in David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face on Broadway (Roundabout Theatre Company production, 2024).
Tony Award nomination: Best Leading Actor in a Play (Yellow Face)
Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for Yellow Face — first Asian American actor nominated in that category (2025 Tony nominations).
Named to TIME's 100 Most Influential People
Listed by Time magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people (April 16, 2025).
Key Achievement Ages
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