Note: This article was first published at USAsians.net. I am republishing it here since I have heard from people having difficulty with the USAsians.net site (as a Tripod site, it is sometimes blocked by website filters and the page has also crashed my browser more than once). I have received explicit permission from the author, who retained second publication rights. I encourage you to go view the original article if you are able, to support Daniel and Christine.

Daniel Dae Kim

Choosing It All

Article written by Christine Berni

There’s much more to Daniel Dae Kim than his good looks and charm. This up and coming actor has talents ranging from the stage to the big screen, from teaching to directing, from Science Fiction to Shakespeare.

The year 2001 was a busy one for Korean American actor Daniel Dae Kim. In the last half year alone, he had guest appearances on TV in Charmed and CSI, landed a recurring role as an evil lawyer on the popular WB series Angel (see box), and has just finished shooting a movie called Sin with Gary Oldman and Ving Rhames. Not bad at all for someone who had taken the previous year out to do a job in the business world.

Short "DDK" Biography

Daniel Dae Kim

Excerpt of a detailed biography at http://www.danieldaekim.org

Daniel Dae Kim was born in Pusan, Korea. His family immigrated to the US when he was two years old, and he grew up in Pennsylvania.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College/Bryn Mawr College in Theatre & Political Science, and spent a semester studying at the National Theatre Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut during junior year. In 1993, Daniel started the MFA acting program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and graduated with a Masters in Acting in 96. While in New York, he performed in original comedies that he co-wrote and performed in while part of an improv group. After moving to Los Angeles in 1997, he immediately began finding work in television and film, appearing in over twenty projects in two years.

Some of his idols are Paul Scofield, Gene Hackman, Robert DeNiro, Jonathan Pryce, Sidney Poitier, Gene Kelly, Denzel Washington, and Robert Duvall. He loves sports, including tennis, football, skiing and Tae Kwon Do.

Daniel is married and has one son.

When as a young adult, Daniel decided to pursue acting, his parents were initially less than thrilled. When I asked if he could give any advice to young people who want to pursue a career that their parents don’t agree with, Daniel’s answer was, "Communicate. Relationships with parents are fragile, precious things, and I can't imagine my life without their support. I also think that ultimately what every parent wants is for their children to be happy, so if the child's choice is truly well thought out, sometimes just communicating that in an honest way that can serve as a beginning to a resolution. I don't want to preach, though. It's a very tricky issue - I know from experience!"

It must have been especially difficult for Daniel, since even though he’d chosen Theatre as his second major at Haverford College/Bryn Mawr College, he hadn’t really considered an acting career: "At the time I didn't think I absolutely had to be an actor. When I was actually faced with offers from investment banks and law firms though, I knew it didn't feel right. Looking back at it now, I still think it was the right choice - and I know I would have regretted not choosing acting had I gone into one of those other disciplines. On the other hand, life is long. Who knows where any of us will be in ten years, right?"

Gavin Park (recurring character on Angel)

Angel episode "Over the Rainbow"

Fans of the popular TV series Angel were introduced to Daniel Dae Kim late in the show’s second season. In the episode "Over the Rainbow", he played Gavin Park, lawyer at the demonic law firm Wolfram & Hart. Though he only had one scene, the Angel creators apparently were impressed enough with Daniel’s performance to bring him back for the third season, where he’s so far appeared in six out of ten episodes.

There’s not a lot that we know about Gavin Park yet: Gavin makes his second appearance in the episode "That Vision Thing". By this time, he has been moved from the Real Estates department to the more ominous Special Projects division. That is also when he first clashes with co-worker and already established Angel nemesis, Lilah Morgan. From that moment on, the two of them have been constantly trying to one-up each other in persecuting Angel. But if the situation requires it, they actually work together quite well.

Daniel Dae Kim in Angel episode
Angel episode "Billy" (with Stephanie Romanov)

It says a lot about Gavin’s inventiveness that he managed to get a surveillance system installed at the old hotel where Angel lives, which gave Wolfram and Hart crucial inside information. We can be sure that Gavin will come up with yet more devious plans in the future.

So far, it’s not clear where Angel’s creators are going with Gavin Park, but hopefully they will reveal more about him as the season and the series go on.

Gavin Park Quotes:

"Very well. We'll contact your real estate company and notify them of your noncompliance. They should send you a notice of obligation and, after that, if you still refuse to cooperate, well, I'm sure that somewhere in your lease agreement, there must be one or two loopholes to be ... exploited."
"You're a tough one. I know I'm gonna have to earn your respect. But give me a little time, you'll see I'm a creative guy."
"We? There is no 'we'! I decided it was time you understood the full scope of what I've been doing these past few months."

His growing fan base surely hopes that "DDK’s" career will continue to prosper. But if things go according to Kim’s wishes, that career may not be in acting alone. In spring 2001, he ran a workshop on acting in Shakespeare, and subsequently directed a production of Hamlet in Los Angeles. Daniel was able to draw on his extensive theatre experience, both as actor and director. "I love teaching, and I love directing for the stage. It's exhilarating. Somehow I find that I have much more energy as a director than as an actor. It's definitely something I hope to continue."

So if a good fairy offered him a free choice and guaranteed life-long success at whatever he chose, would Daniel prefer to act, direct, or teach, or all of the above? "Ahhh, if only... Actually, I would choose all of the above, and since we're fantasizing here, I'd also ask the fairy to help me be a success as a son, a father, a brother, a husband, and a friend as well."

Another of Daniel's talents was brought to the attention of a bigger audience in the Star Trek: Voyager episode, "Blink of an Eye". In that episode, Voyager is trapped in orbit around a planet where time was rapidly accelerated in relation to the rest of the universe. Daniel played Gotana-Retz, a pilot from that planet who sacrifices years of his life to help Voyager break free. While telling Voyager’s Captain Janeway about his life and his planet, he sings a child’s prayer to the ‘sky ship,’ Voyager, which had been in their sky for centuries. How nervous did the singing make him? "It didn't make me nervous at all, actually. It was my choice, in fact. The speech wasn't written as a song, but I thought it sounded like a children's lullaby, so at the audition I made up a melody to go with it. The producers liked it, so it stayed in. I'm not the best of singers, but that hasn't stopped me before."

Did he ever have to sing in any other role before this one? "I've mangled many a quality tune in my day... My favorite musical experience was a Cabaret that I performed in while I was still a student in NYU's MFA program. It's put on every year during the holidays, and it's just a great time." And did he get to dance too? "Sure did. Singing, dancing, the whole nine yards!" Despite Daniel's humble self-assessment of his singing, he might have made a career out of it, according to his former New York theatrical agent, Beth Schacter. A few years ago, Schacter was quoted as saying, "If Daniel sang he'd be a Broadway star." Looking at how his career has progressed over the last years, Schacter now adds, "As it is I would have guessed he'll be a TV and film one anyway. Turns out I was right on one front." And as hard as Daniel is working, he may become a star in all of the above.

Lt. John Matheson (series regular on Crusade)

Excerpt of the Lt. Matheson page at http://www.danieldaekim.org

Crusade

Daniel Dae Kim's largest role so far is as Lieutenant John Matheson on the Babylon 5 spin-off, "Crusade". The series is no longer on the air, though there is a viable effort to convince the Sci-Fi Channel to pick it up to go with its Babylon 5 screenings. Babylon 5 and Crusade's creator, J. Michael Straczynski, did not have a great deal of time to flesh out Lieutenant Matheson's character before Crusade was cancelled. Crusade ran a total of thirteen episodes.

Crusade is the story of a desperate search. After a failed attempt to destroy Earth, the mysterious Drakh "poisoned the well" - they seeded Earth with a deadly plague. Thankfully, the Drakh did not have the time to set the virus for human biology, so it is having to adjust itself. It is estimated that the virus will wipe out all life on Earth within five years. Earth was placed under strict quarantine and the best ship in EarthForce, the Excalibur, was given the impossible task of trying to find a cure before the five years are up. Among the crew members of the Excalibur are its Captain, Matthew Gideon, and his Executive Officer, John Matheson.

While his character is still becoming clear, there are some things that we do know about Lieutenant John Matheson. John is the first Telepath to be allowed into EarthForce since the disbanding of the Psi Corps. He has wanted all his life to be in EarthForce and is determined to succeed, both as an individual and as an example of how telepaths can work alongside "normals".

"This is like a trial programme," explains series creator J. Michael Straczynski, "and if it works, they'll keep it going. There are a lot of senators who are very suspicious about this whole thing who are saying, 'If it doesn't work, we're putting everything back; we'll just control it better this time!'" (Quote from Spectrum Magazine)

John is very loyal to Captain Gideon, at least in part because Gideon gave him the chance to prove himself as an officer. He served as Gideon's First Officer on his previous ship.

Crusade episode "Each Night I Dream of Home" (with Gary Cole)

Since the end of the Telepath War, and society's realization of the destructiveness of shutting all the telepaths away in one place together, the Psi Corp has been disbanded and there is an effort to integrate telepaths back into "normal" communities. John, who has a telepath "power" rating of P6, follows the New Rules for Telepaths as carefully as he can. There is a Telepath watchdog sent every six months to check on him and make sure he sticks to those rules. The experience is rather unpleasant.

Crusade's creator JMS had the following to say about Daniel’s portrayal of John Matheson: (August 18th, 1998) "Daniel Dae Kim as Lieutenant John Matheson brings an unexpected intensity to the part, a seriousness and earnestness that is simultaneously endearing and sobering: you know that if he said he would plant his feet on the bridge and await your return, that you could go away for two weeks, and he would still be there, just as you left him, and woe to anyone who tried to move him off that spot."

John Matheson quotes:

"How odd to know everyone’s heart but my own."
"If they begin firing on us, should I tell them to come back in the morning when we’re all fresher?"
"You like going nowhere at 120 miles an hour?"
"You asked if I ever had dreams about life outside the Corps? Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be in Earth Force. To be on a starship, exploring the unknown."

Star Trek: Voyager wasn't the first time Kim ventured into Science Fiction. His so far most expansive role was as Lt. John Matheson, the telepathic Executive Officer of the spaceship Excalibur in the Babylon 5 spinoff Crusade (see box). As a telepath, Matheson suffered from other’s prejudices. Does Daniel feel that growing up as an Asian in the US helped him for that role? "I do, but I think it's more than about just being a racial minority. I think most everyone has had an experience where they were the outsider, and that their actions were being scrutinized because they were a minority of some kind. That dynamic, more than anything, was at the heart of John Matheson's character."

Is there a particular favorite among the roles Daniel has played so far in theater, movies, and TV? "I really have to say that I've enjoyed all the characters I've played in one way or another. Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen to do them!" He adds, "That said, I do have a special place in my heart for the Shakespearean roles that I've played."

When I asked Daniel if there is any role in movie history, which he would absolutely die to take on, if a remake was made, his reply was, "That's a good question. I'm not sure, really. Maybe you could help me out by telling me what roles YOU'D like to see me play!"

Personally, one role I’d really love to see Daniel play is Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, since he already did that on stage at NYU. It would be very interesting to compare Daniel Dae Kim’s approach to that of John Malkovich. There are also regular complaints from his female fans about the lack of a romantic role in his filmography so far. Also, Daniel is able to convey emotions so well, especially with his voice and eyes - that's why his short but complex guest role in the Pretender episode "Collateral Damage" is among my favorites. So I would love to see him in a role which would allow him to go through a broad spectrum of emotions. "I have to say I totally agree with you. I'm waiting for the role that will let me show the entire range of emotion as well. I'd really love to play a romantic lead, maybe in a comedy, especially because I've been playing so many "heavies" recently. I've been able to on stage, but it's harder for an actor of color to get those kinds of roles the way show business is today. Let's hope that changes in the future."

Talking about the future, where would Daniel like to be in 5 years? What would he like to have achieved by then? "That's a really appropriate question for this time of year. I would like to have had a little visit from the good fairy you mentioned by then. Really. I would love to be in a place where I could choose my projects in different media, and be in a position where I could provide stability for my life and those around me."

From Daniel’s mouth to the good fairy’s ears...

Charmed

Filmography

Excerpt of the complete filmography at http://www.danieldaekim.org

Movies and TV

Sin (2001, not yet released)
C.S.I. - Crime Scene Investigation episode: "Ellie" (12/06/2001) (TV series) ... Special Agent Beckman
Charmed episode: "Enter the Demon" (10/18/2001) (TV series) ... Yen Lo
Angel (2001) (TV series; recurring character) ... Gavin Park
So far Daniel appeared in the following episodes:
- "Over the Rainbow" (5/8/2001)
- "That Vision Thing" (10/01/2001)
- "Carpe Noctem" (10/15/2001)
- "Billy" (10/29/2001)
- "Quickening" (11/12/2001)
- "Lullaby" (11/19/2001)
- "Dad" (12/12/2001)

Daniel Dae Kim in Brave New World
Brave New World

Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die for (2000) (TV) ... Everett Jay
Star Trek: Voyager episode: "Blink of an Eye" (episode # 6.12) (1/19/2000) (TV series)... Gotana-Retz
Walker, Texas Ranger episode: "Lynn Sisters, The" (10/30/1999) (TV series) ... Kahn
Crusade (1999) (TV series; series regular) .... Lieutenant John Matheson
For Love of the Game (1999) .... ER Doctor
Fantasy Island "Dreams" (11/7/1998) (TV series) .... Businessman
Ally McBeal episode: "Inmates, The", crossover with Practice, The episode: "Axe Murderer"4/27/1998) (TV series) .... Police Officer
Pretender, The episode "Collateral Damage" (1/23/1998) (TV series) .... Le Xuan Duc
Looking for Bobby D (1998) .... Gay Timmy
No Salida (No Exit) (1998) .... Hu-jan
Brave New World (1998) (TV) .... James Ingram
NYPD Blue episode: "It Takes a Village" (11/4/1997) (TV series) .... Simon Lee
Beverly Hills, 90210 episode "Forgive and Forget" (9/17/1997) and "Way We Weren't, The" (9/24/1997) (TV series) .... Dr. Sturla
Jackal, The (1997) .... Akashi
Law & Order episode: "Golden Years" (1/5/1994) (TV series) .... Harry Watanabe
American Shaolin (aka No Retreat, No Surrender 5; King of the Kickboxers 2) (1991) .... Gao

Star Trek: Voyager

Theatre - Off-Broadway

Hamlet by Shakespeare (June 2001) ... Director
Golden Child by David Henry Hwang produced by East West Players (Jan-Feb 2000) ... Ein Tien-Bin/Andrew (lead role) and a second role as Bin's modern-day grandson
Cockroach Nation by Matt Pelrey, reading for Lodestone Theatre Ensemble (December 1999) ... Boone
Home is Where the Han Is by Philip W. Chung, reading for Multicultural Reading Series at Los Angeles Theatre Center (April 1999) ... unknown
The Chang Fragments by Han Ong produced at the Public Theatre (1996) .... Bruce Chang
The School for Wives by Moliere produced by New York's National Asian American Theatre Company (NATCO) (1995) - A French Comedy ... young male ingenue Horace
A Doll's House by Ibsen produced by Pan Asian Repertory Theater (1993) .... Torvald Hwang
Romeo and Juliet produced by Theatre for a New Audience (1991) ... Paris
Gravity Falls from Trees produced by DTW/Lenora Champagne (date unknown) ... Dr. Park

Daniel Dae Kim in Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island

Theatre - Regional

Most at New York University's Tisch School of Arts (1993 - 1996)
Cymbeline by Shakespeare .... Posthumus
A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare .... Puck
Yankee Dawg You Die by Philip Kan Gotanda .... Bradley
The Hot L Baltimore .... Paul Granger
The Winter's Tale by Shakespeare .... Leontes
The Cherry Orchard (1993) by Chekhov
The Three Sisters .... Andrei
Les Liaisons Dangereuses .... Valmont
The Ride Across Lake Constance .... Von Stronheim
Trojan Women .... Poseidon
Ubu Roi .... Capt. Bordure
Ah, Wilderness

Thanks

The author would like to send a most heartfelt and sincere "Thank you!" to Fiona for editing, to Rebekah for encouraging and helping in countless ways, and last but not least to The Man Himself, for so graciously agreeing to answer her questions!

Angel and Charmed images courtesy of Rebekah, http://www.danieldaekim.org

Daniel Dae Kim in American Shaolin
American Shaolin

Author’s Short Bio

Christine Berni, a.k.a. Chris to her internet friends, is neither Asian nor American, but half Swiss and half Italian. At first glance quiet and reserved, her Italian temperament comes through when she gets excited about something. She is earning her living in Switzerland as a secretary, and spends most of her free time on a variety of creative endeavors. As a self-declared night creature, Chris usually spends weekend mornings in bed.

Chris discovered Daniel Dae Kim in Crusade, after she got the series on video tape from a fellow Gary Cole fan in the USA. Kim's Lieutenant Matheson quickly caught up with Cole's Captain Gideon on Chris's popularity meter. Her curiosity about this talented young actor piqued, she immediately started searching the internet, where she got some first leads and met other "DDK" fans. Chris has since caught up on his projects as much as possible from across the big pond, and is happy to say she's indebted for life to the webmistress of http://www.danieldaekim.org.

Despite a life-long love of writing, this is the first time Chris has written and published an article.