Daniel Henney
An American actor who found stardom in South Korea, bridging cultures with his charm and becoming a leading man in both Hollywood and K-dramas.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American actor·Birthday: November 28·Generation X
Biography
Daniel Henney's career is a trans-Pacific success story. Born in Michigan to a Korean-born adoptee mother and an American father of English and Irish descent, his striking looks led to modeling in Asia. His big break was anything but small: a debut role as the charming Dr. Henry Kim in the massively popular Korean drama 'My Lovely Sam Soon' catapulted him to heartthrob status overnight. He leveraged that fame into a bilingual career, moving seamlessly between Korean productions and Hollywood. He honed his action chops in the 'X-Men' film series as Agent Zero and displayed dramatic range in the CBS drama 'Criminal Minds'. His role in the acclaimed Korean film 'The Last Stand' and later in the hit TV series 'The Secret Life of My Secretary' solidified his status as a versatile leading man who operates effortlessly in two entertainment worlds.
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 1979, 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 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Daniel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Rose to international fame with his debut acting role as Dr. Henry Kim in the hit Korean drama 'My Lovely Sam Soon'.
- Played the mutant Agent Zero in the Hollywood blockbuster 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'.
- Starred as a series regular, FBI Agent Matt Simmons, on the American TV show 'Criminal Minds' and its spin-off 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders'.
- Played a leading role in the popular Korean television drama 'The Secret Life of My Secretary'.
Did You Know?
He was a successful model before acting, appearing in campaigns for major brands like Gucci and Giorgio Armani in Asia.
Henney is fluent in English and Korean, and has also studied Mandarin.
His mother was adopted from Korea by an American family, which inspired his own involvement with adoption advocacy.
He was considered for the role of Superman in the early 2000s before the project became 'Superman Returns' with Brandon Routh.
“My identity is a bridge, and I try to build characters that connect people.”
