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 played Jin-Soo Kwon on 'Lost,' turning a potential stereotype into a layered, beloved character across six seasons. Born in South Korea and raised in Pennsylvania, he studied theater before building a career defined by character depth. On 'Hawaii Five-0,' he portrayed Chin Ho Kelly for seven seasons. When negotiations revealed a significant pay disparity between him and his white co-stars, Kim requested equitable compensation. Denied, he left the show. The departure made national headlines, establishing him as a vocal advocate for industry equity. He founded the production company 3AD, which develops projects centering Asian and Pacific Islander narratives. Through these efforts, he pushes American entertainment toward more 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.””
