Simu Liu
From struggling accountant to Marvel's first Asian superhero lead, he shattered Hollywood ceilings with a mix of martial arts and sharp wit.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Canadian actor·Birthday: April 19·Millennials
Biography
Simu Liu's path to stardom was anything but conventional. After being laid off from an accounting job, he took a leap into the uncertain world of acting, landing background work and a starring role on the Canadian sitcom 'Kim's Convenience.' His charisma and physicality there caught the industry's eye, but it was his vocal, online campaign for greater Asian representation that truly set his destiny in motion. Marvel answered, casting him as Shang-Chi, a role that made him the first actor of Asian descent to headline a Marvel Studios film. With that blockbuster, Liu didn't just perform stunts; he carried the hopes of a community, blending heartfelt drama with spectacular action to prove an Asian-led film could dominate the global box office.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Simu was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Simu Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Simu's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
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
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
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
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
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 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Broke ground as the first Asian actor to headline a Marvel Cinematic Universe film in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' (2021).
- Was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.
- Starred as Jung Kim in the acclaimed CBC Television sitcom 'Kim's Convenience' for five seasons.
- Hosted the 2021 Juno Awards, Canada's premier music awards show.
Did You Know?
He worked as a stock photo model before his acting career took off.
He is a trained stuntman and performed many of his own stunts in 'Shang-Chi'.
He wrote and published a memoir titled 'We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story'.
“"I spent the better part of my career hearing that I was not leading man material, and I internalized that."”
