Daniel Dae Kim
He broke barriers for Asian-American actors, moving from memorable TV roles to becoming a powerful voice for representation in Hollywood.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American actor·Birthday: August 4·Generation X
Biography
Daniel Dae Kim's journey from a childhood in South Korea and Pennsylvania to a defining presence on American screens is a story of quiet determination. After studying theater, he built a career on character depth, most notably as the steadfast Jin-Soo Kwon on 'Lost,' a role that transformed a potential stereotype into a complex fan favorite. His work on 'Hawaii Five-0' further cemented his status, but his departure from the show over a pay disparity issue made headlines, positioning him as a principled advocate for equity. Beyond acting, he runs his own production company, 3AD, actively developing projects that center Asian and Pacific Islander narratives, and has become a significant cultural figure pushing the industry toward meaningful inclusion.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Daniel was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Daniel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Daniel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2025.
- Produced and starred in the acclaimed television adaptation of 'The Good Doctor'.
- Founded 3AD, a production company focused on creating inclusive content for television and film.
- Portrayed Jin-Soo Kwon on the global phenomenon 'Lost,' earning a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Did You Know?
He is fluent in both English and Korean.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in theater and political science from Haverford College and an MFA from New York University.
He provided the voice for a character in the popular video game 'Saints Row: The Third'.
He made his Broadway debut in the 2011 revival of 'The King and I'.
““Representation is not just about seeing someone who looks like you on screen; it’s about seeing someone who looks like you in charge of the story.””
