James Kyson
He brought a charming, everyman energy to a global phenomenon as the loyal sidekick on the hit series Heroes.
Born 1975 (age 51)·South Korean and American actor·Birthday: December 13·Generation X
Biography
Born Kim Jae-hyeok in Seoul, James Kyson moved to the United States as a teenager, settling first in New York. His path to acting wasn't linear; he studied communications in college and worked in finance before deciding to pursue performance. The gamble paid off when he landed the role of Ando Masahashi on NBC's 'Heroes,' a character who began as a comic-relief office worker and evolved into a crucial partner with his own super-powered destiny. Kyson's portrayal made him a familiar face in households worldwide, embodying the show's international appeal. While 'Heroes' remains his signature work, he has built a steady career as a reliable guest star on numerous procedural and genre shows, from 'Hawaii Five-0' to 'Elementary,' often bringing a grounded warmth to his roles.
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.
James was born in 1975, 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 James Was Born
The biggest hits of 1975
#1 Movie
Jaws
Best Picture
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
James's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1975Born
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1980Started school
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1988Became a teenager
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Could drive
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Could vote
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Turned 21
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2005Turned 30
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 40
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 50
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 51 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the series regular role of Ando Masahashi across all four seasons of the globally popular NBC series 'Heroes'.
- Appeared as a guest star in over a dozen major network television series, including 'NCIS: Los Angeles' and 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders'.
- Served as a presenter and host for international events like the Korean Music Festival in Los Angeles.
Did You Know?
He is a trained martial artist, holding a black belt in Taekwondo.
Before acting, he worked as an account manager for an American financial firm in Argentina.
He is fluent in English, Korean, and Spanish.
“I had to create my own opportunities and tell my own stories.”
