Daniel Dae Kim may not think of himself as a cultural ambassador, but through his role as native Korean Jin Kwon on Lost, he has both entertained and enlightened audiences since the show`s debut in 2004. Sharing a 2006 Screen Actors Guild Award for his ensemble work in the acclaimed dramatic series, the Korean American actor`s universal appeal was also recognized by People magazine, which named him one of the Sexiest Men Alive in 2005, as well as TV Guide, which named him one of TV`s Sexiest Men in 2006.
Born in Pusan, Korea and raised in New York and Pennsylvania, Kim graduated from Haverford College, where he received a B.A. degree. Though briefly considering a career as an attorney, he retained his acting focus and began his professional career with a guest role on Law & Order. At the same time he began his work on the stage, appearing in productions of Romeo and Juliet and an adaptation of the Ibsen classic, A Doll`s House. Despite his early success, he decided to renew his dedication to the craft by enrolling in the Graduate Acting program at New York University, where he went on to earn an M.F.A.
The choice to go back to school proved to be worthwhile, as Kim began to work immediately upon graduating. He guest starred on shows such as NYPD Blue, Seinfeld, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Star Trek: Voyager, CSI, Without a Trace and The Shield, among others. He also created several notable recurring characters on such popular shows as Angel, ER and, for two seasons, as Agent Tom Baker on 24. He complemented his television work by lending his voice talents to videogames, creating characters in Scarface: The World Is Yours, Saints Row, Tenchu and 24, as well as the animated series Justice League Unlimited and Avatar.
On the big screen, Kim`s career began in earnest with the action flick The Jackal, which led to studio and independent films such as For Love of the Game, The Hulk, Spider Man 2 and The Cave, as well as the Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Crash.
In addition to his screen work, Kim remains committed to the stage, most recently performing in a production of Chekhov`s Ivanov in New York. His body of work ranges from Shakespeare to Beckett to improv comedy, and he credits his love of theater to his training at N.Y.U. "There`s something special about being in a house with an audience and having that immediate feedback," he explains. "That energy is what feeds me and informs my choices."
Besides his SAG Award, in 2006 Kim was individually honored with an AZN Asian Excellence Award, a Multicultural Prism Award and a Vanguard Award from the Korean American Coalition, all for Outstanding Performance by an Actor.
