Daniel Dae Kim (Jin Kwon)

Biography for
Daniel Dae Kim

Date of Birth
4 August 1968, Pusan, South Korea


Nickname
DDK


Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)


Mini Biography
Daniel Dae Kim may not think of himself as a cultural ambassador, but through his role as native Korean Jin Kwon on the top-rated ABC series "Lost," he has both entertained and enlightened audiences since the show's debut in 2004. Sharing a 2006 Screen Actors Guild Award for his ensemble work in the acclaimed dramatic series, the Korean American actor's universal appeal was also recognized by People magazine, which named him one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" in 2005.

Born in Pusan, Korea and raised in New York and Pennsylvania, Daniel graduated from Haverford College, where he received a B.A. degree. Though briefly considering a career as an attorney, he retained his acting focus and began his professional career with a guest role on "Law & Order." At the same time he began his work on the stage, appearing in productions of "Romeo and Juliet" and an adaptation of the Ibsen classic, "A Doll's House." Despite his early success however, Daniel decided to renew his dedication to the craft by enrolling in the Graduate Acting program at New York University, where he went on to earn an M.F.A.

The choice to go back to school proved to be worthwhile, as he began to work immediately upon graduation. He guest starred on shows such as "NYPD Blue," "Seinfeld," "The Practice," "Ally McBeal," "Star Trek: Voyager," "CSI," "Without a Trace" and "The Shield," among others. He also created several notable recurring characters on popular shows such as "Angel," "ER," and, for two seasons, as Agent Tom Baker on "24." Recently, he also began complementing his television work by lending his voice talents to videogames, creating characters in "Scarface: The World Is Yours," "Saints Row," "Tenchu" and "24," as well as the animated series' "Justice League Unlimited," and "Avatar."

On the big screen, Daniel's career began in earnest with the action film "The Jackal," which led to studio and independent films such as "For Love of the Game," "The Hulk," "Spider Man 2," "The Cave," as well as the Academy Award winner for Best Picture, "Crash." In addition to his work on screen, Daniel remains committed to the stage, most recently performing in a production of Chekhov's "Ivanov" in New York. His body of work ranges from Shakespeare to Beckett to improv comedy, and he credits his love of theater to his training at N.Y.U.

Besides his SAG Award, in 2006 he was individually honored with an AZN Asian Excellence Award, a Multicultural Prism Award, and a Vanguard award from the KoreanAmerican Coalition, all for Outstanding Performance by an Actor.

He currently splits his time between Honolulu, Los Angeles and New York.




Spouse
? (? - present) 2 children


Trivia
He holds an M.F.A. from the Graduate Acting program at New York University.

Son born in 1996.

He has said that playing "Jin" on "Lost" (2004) is a relief to him because he's finally playing someone of his own heritage (Korean), having been cast as characters of almost every other Asian heritage but his own.

Due to his childhood in America, he knew very little Korean before he did "Lost" (2004). He has said that his co-star on that show Yunjin Kim, who is fluent in both English and Korean, has been invaluable in coaching him on his Korean, which has apparently improved. Ironically, to the audience's knowledge, Daniel's character knows nothing but Korean.

Grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College/Bryn Mawr College in Theatre & Political Science.

His acting heroes are Paul Scofield, Gene Hackman, Robert De Niro, Sidney Poitier, Gene Kelly, Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall and, his favorite, Jonathan Pryce.

While getting small parts in plays and writing and performing in an improv comedy group, he seriously considered a career in investment banking.

He attended Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the same high school as The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson).

He was included on People Magazine's list of the sexiest men alive in 2005. Matthew McConaughey topped the list.



Personal Quotes
[on why he loves theater] There's something about being in a house with an audience, and having that immediate feedback. I started acting because of that energy; it's what feeds me on stage and informs my choices. What's great in theater is that you can sustain the arc of a character for a full three hours, whereas in film or TV, you have to create that arc in little pieces, and usually out of sequence.


Filmography

Actor:
In Production
2000s
1990s
The Untitled Onion Movie (2007) (completed) .... Ivy Leaguer


2007 AZN Asian Excellence Awards (2007) (TV) .... Host
"Lost" .... Jin Kwon (69 episodes, 2004-2007)
- Through the Looking Glass (2007) TV Episode .... Jin Kwon
- Greatest Hits (2007) TV Episode .... Jin Kwon
- The Man Behind the Curtain (2007) TV Episode .... Jin Kwon
- The Brig (2007) TV Episode .... Jin Kwon
- D.O.C. (2007) TV Episode .... Jin Kwon
(64 more)
Saints Row (2006) (VG) (voice) .... Johnny Gat
"Justice League" .... Metron (2 episodes, 2006)
... aka JL (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Justice League Unlimited (USA: long title)
- Destroyer (2006) TV Episode (voice) .... Metron
- Alive (2006) TV Episode (voice) .... Metron
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" .... General Fong (1 episode, 2006)
- The Avatar State (2006) TV Episode (voice) .... General Fong
24: The Game (2006) (VG) (voice) .... Agent Tom Baker
The Cave (2005) .... Alex Kim
Crash (2004/I) .... Park
... aka L.A. Crash (Germany)
Spider-Man 2 (2004) .... Raymond
... aka Spider-Man 2.1 (USA: recut version)
... aka Spider-Man 2: The IMAX Experience (USA: IMAX version)
"The Shield" .... Thomas Choi (1 episode, 2004)
- Riceburner (2004) TV Episode (as Daniel Day Kim) .... Thomas Choi
"24" .... Tom Baker (11 episodes, 2003-2004)
- Day 3: 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. (2004) TV Episode .... Tom Baker
- Day 3: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (2004) TV Episode .... Tom Baker
- Day 3: 6:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m. (2004) TV Episode .... Tom Baker
- Day 2: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. (2003) TV Episode (scenes deleted) .... Tom Baker
- Day 2: 11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. (2003) TV Episode .... Tom Baker
(6 more)
"Miss Match" .... Clifford Kim (4 episodes, 2003-2004)
- Miss Communication (2004) TV Episode .... Clifford Kim
- Who's Sari Now? (2003) TV Episode .... Clifford Kim
- Santa, Baby (2003) TV Episode .... Clifford Kim
- All in the Family (????) TV Episode .... Clifford Kim
"ER" .... Ken Sung (4 episodes, 2003-2004)
- Abby Normal (2004) TV Episode .... Ken Sung
- Missing (2003) TV Episode .... Ken Sung
- Death and Taxes (2003) TV Episode .... Ken Sung
- Out of Africa (2003) TV Episode .... Ken Sung
"Enterprise" .... Corporal Chang (3 episodes, 2003-2004)
... aka Star Trek: Enterprise (USA: new title)
- Hatchery (2004) TV Episode .... Corporal Chang
- Extinction (2003) TV Episode .... Corporal Chang
- The Xindi (2003) TV Episode .... Corporal Chang
"Without a Trace" .... Mark Hiroshi (1 episode, 2004)
... aka W.A.T (USA: short title)
- Exposure (2004) TV Episode .... Mark Hiroshi
Sin (2003/I) .... Lakorn
Ride or Die (2003) .... Miyako
... aka Hustle and Heat (Canada: English title: DVD title) (USA: DVD title)
... aka Ride or Die (UK: video title)
"Street Time" .... Vo Nguyen (1 episode, 2003)
- Born to Kill (2003) TV Episode .... Vo Nguyen
Hulk (2003) .... Aide
Momentum (2003) (TV) .... Agent Frears
... aka Momentum - Wenn Gedanken töten können (Germany: DVD title)
... aka Projekt Momentum (Germany)
Tenchu san (2003) (VG) (voice: English version) .... Rikimaru
... aka Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven (USA)
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) .... Visiting Expert
"Angel" .... Gavin Park (12 episodes, 2001-2003)
... aka Angel: The Series (USA)
- Habeas Corpses (2003) TV Episode .... Gavin Park
- Apocalypse, Nowish (2002) TV Episode .... Gavin Park
- Deep Down (2002) TV Episode .... Gavin Park
- Tomorrow (2002) TV Episode .... Gavin Park
- The Price (2002) TV Episode .... Gavin Park
(7 more)
"Any Day Now" .... Mr. Chung (1 episode, 2002)
- Call Him Macaroni (2002) TV Episode .... Mr. Chung
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" .... Special Agent Beckman (1 episode, 2001)
... aka C.S.I. (USA: short title)
... aka CSI: Las Vegas (USA: syndication title)
... aka CSI: Weekends (USA: promotional title)
... aka Experts, Les (Canada: French title)
- Ellie (2001) TV Episode .... Special Agent Beckman
"Charmed" .... Yenlo (1 episode, 2001)
- Enter the Demon (2001) TV Episode .... Yenlo
"Once and Again" .... Co-Worker #3 (1 episode, 2001)
- Won't Someone Please Help George Bailey Tonight (2001) TV Episode .... Co-Worker #3
Looking for Bobby D (2001) .... Timmy
Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For (2000) (TV) .... Everett Jang
"Star Trek: Voyager" .... Gotana-Retz (1 episode, 2000)
... aka Voyager (USA: short title)
- Blink of an Eye (2000) TV Episode .... Gotana-Retz


"Walker, Texas Ranger" .... Kahn (1 episode, 1999)
... aka Walker (Australia)
- The Lynn Sisters (1999) TV Episode .... Kahn
For Love of the Game (1999) .... E.R. Doctor
"Crusade" .... Lt. John Matheson (12 episodes, 1999)
- Each Night I Dream of Home (1999) TV Episode .... Lt. John Matheson
- The Visitors from Down the Street (1999) TV Episode .... Lt. John Matheson
- The Needs of Earth (1999) TV Episode .... Lt. John Matheson
- The Memory of War (1999) TV Episode .... Lt. John Matheson
- Racing the Night (1999) TV Episode .... Lt. John Matheson
(7 more)
"Fantasy Island" (1 episode, 1998)
- Dreams (1998) TV Episode
"Party of Five" .... Ethan (1 episode, 1998)
- Opposites Distract (1998) TV Episode .... Ethan
"Ally McBeal" .... Police Officer (1 episode, 1998)
- The Inmates (1998) TV Episode .... Police Officer
"The Practice" .... Testifying Officer (1 episode, 1998)
- Axe Murderer (1998) TV Episode .... Testifying Officer
Brave New World (1998) (TV) .... James Ingram
"Seinfeld" .... Student #1 (1 episode, 1998)
- The Burning (1998) TV Episode .... Student #1
"The Pretender" .... Le Xuan 'Lenny' Duc (1 episode, 1998)
- Collateral Damage (1998) TV Episode .... Le Xuan 'Lenny' Duc
No Salida (1998) .... Hu-jan
The Jackal (1997) .... Akashi
... aka Chacal, Le (France: dubbed version)
... aka Schakal, Der (Germany)
"NYPD Blue" .... Simon Lee (1 episode, 1997)
- It Takes a Village (1997) TV Episode .... Simon Lee
"Beverly Hills, 90210" .... Dr. Sturla (2 episodes, 1997)
- The Way We Weren't (1997) TV Episode .... Dr. Sturla
- Forgive and Forget (1997) TV Episode .... Dr. Sturla
"Night Man" (1 episode, 1997)
... aka NightMan (USA)
- World Premiere (1997) TV Episode
"Pacific Palisades" .... Kate's Attorney (1 episode, 1997)
- Sweet Revenge (1997) TV Episode .... Kate's Attorney
Addicted to Love (1997) .... Undergrad Assistant
... aka Forlorn
"Law & Order" .... Harry Watanabe (1 episode, 1994)
... aka Law & Order Prime (USA: informal title)
- Golden Years (1994) TV Episode .... Harry Watanabe
American Shaolin (1991) .... Gao
... aka Karate Tiger 5 (Europe: English title)
... aka King of the Kickboxers II (USA: video box title)
... aka No Retreat, No Surrender 5

Self:
"TV Land Confidential" .... Himself - interviewee (1 episode, 2007)
... aka TV Land Confidential: The Untold Stories (USA: second season title)
- Locations (2007) TV Episode .... Himself - interviewee
"The Megan Mullally Show" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode #1.28 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
"Richard & Judy" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 5 July 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
2006 Asian Excellence Awards (2006) (TV) .... Nominee
"The View" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 25 January 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2005) (TV) .... Himself
Welcome to Oahu: The Making of the Pilot (2005) (V) .... Himself
Before They Were Lost: Personal Stories and Audition Tapes (2005) (V) .... Himself

Archive Footage:
Lost: The Answers (2007) (TV) .... Jin Kwon
The Lost Survival Guide (2006) (TV) .... Jin Kwon
Cinco caras de David LaChapelle, Las (2006) (TV) .... Jin Kwon
Lost: Revelation (2006) (TV) .... Jin-Soo Kwon
Lost: The Journey (2005) (TV) .... Jin-Soo Kwon
Destination: Lost (2005) (TV) .... Jin Kwon
Malice in Wonderland: Wolfram & Hart (2004) (V) (uncredited) .... Gavin Park