For all you Korean drama peeps, get ready because Daniel Henney made his big premiere on U.S. television in CBS’ new medical drama, “Three Rivers,” on Sunday night as Dr. David Lee. So far it’s been a great year for Daniel Henney as he’s made 2009 the year he introduces himself to Hollywood. He made his big Hollywood movie debut earlier this year when he played Agent Zero in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Now he plays an organ transplant surgeon and very interestingly, the George Clooney type who womanizes and breaks ladies’ hearts. Actually, it’s more than interesting because an Asian man is playing the romantic type.
Maybe Hollywood is really diversifying? If you watched John Cho in FlashForward, he’s in an interracial relationship with an African-American women and now we’ve got Daniel Henney acting as the womanizer. Let’s hope these two new shows are successful! It’s been a great fall season for Korean-American actors with Daniel Henney now joining a growing list of actors who have regular televisions shows: John Cho, Ken Jeong, C.S. Lee, Tim Kang, and Sanrda Oh.
So who is Daniel Henney? Model-turned-actor Daniel Henney is now a household name in South Korea after starring as Dr. Henry Kim in the popular miniseries “My Lovely Samsoon.” Henney was also recently seen in this summer’s blockbuster hit “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” in which he plays the character Agent Zero.
Henney starred in the television series “Spring Waltz,” by acclaimed director SukHo Yoon and then went on to star in his first feature film “Seducing Mr. Robin.” His second film, “My Father,” won multiple awards in South Korea and was actually the first time in that country’s history that a foreigner swept all the major cinema awards in the Best New Actor category.
Henney has also appeared in the Off-Broadway production of “Death of a Salesman.”
He was born in Carson City, Mich., to a Korean-American mother and a British-American father. He studied Business Communications at Albion College and Alma College and as an avid sports enthusiast, played college basketball throughout his college years. He is also musically active and has been the lead vocal and guitarist for an underground rock band, Avarice, for two years. Currently, he lives in Seoul, South Korea and Los Angeles and his birth date is Nov. 28.
What’s Three Rivers all about? THREE RIVERS is a medical drama starring Alex O’Loughlin (“Moonlight,” upcoming CBS Films “The Back-Up Plan”) that goes inside the emotionally complex lives of organ donors, the recipients and the surgeons at the preeminent transplant hospital in the country, where every moment counts. However, dealing with donor families in their darkest hour and managing the fears and concerns of apprehensive recipients takes much more than just a sharp scalpel. Leading the elite team is Dr. Andy Yablonski, the highly-skilled workaholic lead organ transplant surgeon, whose good-natured personality and sarcastic wit makes him popular with his patients and colleagues. His co-workers include Dr. Miranda Foster, a surgical fellow with a rebellious streak and fiery temper who strives to live up to her deceased father’s excellent surgical reputation; Dr. David Lee, a womanizing surgical resident who’s broken as many hearts as he’s replaced; Ryan Abbott, the inexperienced new transplant coordinator who arranges the intricately choreographed process of quickly and carefully transporting organs from donor to patient; Dr. Sophia Jordon, the dedicated head of surgery who has no patience for anyone who hasn’t sacrificed as much as she has for the job; and Pam Acosta, Andy’s no-nonsense operating assistant and best friend. In this high stakes arena, in which every case is a race against the clock, these tenacious surgeons and medical professionals are the last hope for their patients.
Amerie was out and about during Fashion Week in NYC and now she’ll be really be out and about with the release of her 4th album this fall, “In Love & War.” The two-time Grammy Award winner is of Korean descent and made a big splash on the music scene with “1 thing.” More to come but check out her new music video “Heard’em All.”
Hines Ward, the wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers met up with the South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak during his visit to Pittsburgh during the G20 summit. According to Hines’ tweets, he presented the South Korean president with a “signed football of Mr. Rooney, Coach Tomlin, and myself.” Ward also noted that the South Korean President is “a big Steelers fan now.”
Hines Ward described his experience by saying he “Had an awesome visit with Korean President Lee. Again I was another President’s right hand man. I got a chance to welcome him to our great city of Pittsburgh and wished him the best trying to improve the country of Korea. I also added that I will continue to bring a positive light on bi-racial kids of Korea. Also, the first lady was very beautiful.”
Hines Ward started his public bridge to his Korean roots after he had won his first Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hines Ward is of Korean descent and his life story became an inspiration for many bi-racial kids who live in South Korea. He has donated $1M to the Hines Ward Helping Hand Foundation to help children who suffer from discrimination.
More from the The Korea Times
President Lee Myung-bak and first lady Kim Yoon-ok met with Korean-American football star Hines Ward and leaders of the Korean community in Pittsburg upon arrival there Friday to participate in the G20 economic summit.
It was the first meeting between Lee and Ward, since the Pittsburg Steelers wide receiver was invited in February 2008 to Lee’s inauguration ceremony in Seoul.
Lee told Ward that he and U.S. President Barack Obama are both fans of the Steelers. Ward said he felt grateful for being invited and gave Lee an autographed football, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Ward has often expressed his love for the Korean people. Recently, he donated $1 million to create the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation, and donated another $1 million to help multicultural and Korean people in the United States.
During his visit to a Korean War memorial altar set up in 1991, Lee met with U.S. veterans who fought in the 1950-53 conflict.
Lee said South Korea will never forget those who sacrificed themselves to defend the country and promised to promote exchange programs with veterans and their families.
Lee’s meeting with the veterans is significant as Seoul and Washington are preparing joint events to mark the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the war next year.
On Monday, first lady Kim cooked traditional Korean food and served it to some 50 U.S. veterans and their families in New York.
Early this year, the Korean government launched a 48-member committee to prepare for the 60th anniversary. The panel will work with government agencies and groups of war veterans on commemorative projects.
“Korea will work with American veterans to help post-war generations understand the war and be grateful for the countries that defended our country as members of the United Nations,” a presidential spokesman said. “We will also focus on sharing our experience of rapid economic growth with the world and promoting cultural and economic exchanges.”
For more on Hines Ward on Korean Beacon, click here.
Thursday night was the kick-off of the NFL season. Yesssss! Bone crunching plays and violent collisions await us this fall and we all love it. For many women out there, it’s the most miserable time of the year as boyfriends and husbands are lost to the TV set on Sunday afternoons. The first game to start the season is the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Tennessee Titans. The most famous player of Korean descent is Hines Ward of the Steelers. We thought of taking this moment to share his story again.
Hines Ward, Superbowl XL MVP, is changing the way mixed-race Koreans are viewed and treated in Korean society. Koreans celebrated his accomplishments and his mother’s strong Korean character though she was shunned by her own people in the past. Hines reciprocated the process of amends by starting the Helping Hands Foundation for the support of mixed race Koreans in Korea.
From K-Popped: Victoria Secret model Jarah Mariano slips into the teeniest of bikinis and primps and poses for Star Photo.
The American fashion model of Hawaiian, Korean and Chinese descent jetted off to Vietnam for the photoshoot from March 29 to April 3.
Jarah Evelyn Makalapua Mariano’s sizzling hawt collection of pictures is available for download (in South Korea) through SK Telecom. Her images are titled 3S (Sexy, Saxen, Secret).
When you think of professional Korean-American athletes, you think of Anthony Kim, Michelle Wie and golf. Maybe you’ll think of Hines Ward of the N.F.L. But did you know there’s someone playing the other football – soccer – up in Seattle who is of Korean descent? The MLS soccer team that’s based in Seattle – Sounders FC – has a defense man by the name of James Riley who was born in South Korea. His father was a U.S. military man and his mother was a native South Korean. They immigrated to the U.S. after his birth but the couple divorced shortly after arriving in Seattle. MLSnet.com wrote a Mother’s Day story about Mr. Riley’s relationship with his mother and how she was a single parent who worked to support the family and was unable to attend many of her son’s games as a youth. Not only was it tough being a single parent but she also survived breast cancer. And today, she’s proudly watching her son’s soccer games on T.V. Go to MLSnet.com for the full story>
Daniel Henney is the very popular Korean actor who is of both Korean and British descent. He’s not entirely fluent in Korean but South Korea doesn’t seem to care because they sure love him in Korean dramas. Well this weekend he makes his American movie debut as Agent Zero (David North) in “X-Men: Wolverine.” Interestingly, the actual Marvel comic character was the creation of Korean-American comic book artist Jim Lee. Little did Jim know that the character would eventually be played by someone of Korean descent. It’s only the beginning of the Korean invasion into Hollywood.
Live from Vegas on April 19th, Kimberly Ann Gittings (who is half-Korean) will be representing the state of Georgia at the Miss USA 2009 show. Miss Gittings hails from Lilburn, GA and is the daughter of Kim Yeong-shin. Could this southern belle win it all in Vegas? If she does win the Miss USA crown, she would be the first person of Korean descent to win a national pagaent. A few quick facts about Miss Gittings:
Belongs to the University of Georgia Air Force ROTC and dreams of being a physician in the United States Air Force someday.
Working towards a degree in biology and speech communication at the University of Georgia.
Overcame an eating disorder as a teen and now works with the National Eating Disorder Association to help others overcome their own personal battles.
Hugh Jackman and Daniel Henney are in Seoul this weekend promoting their upcoming summer blockbuster movie, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” South Korea is the only Asian country he’s visiting to promote the movie during the junket. What’s with Hugh’s liking of South Korea? Is it thekimchi?
“My father, spending at least two months in Korea every year for some 20 years, was always bringing presents from Korea. I feel like I know Korea well. I was very insistent that we come here (to promote the film),” he said, adding his father, a former businessman, would often describe Korea as being at the “forefront of technology.”
For all you Korean drama peeps, get ready because Daniel Henney made his big premiere on U.S. television in CBS’ new medical drama, “Three Rivers,” on Sunday night as Dr. David Lee. So far it’s been a great year for Daniel Henney as he’s made 2009 the year he introduces himself to Hollywood. He made his big Hollywood movie debut earlier this year when he played Agent Zero in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Now he plays an organ transplant surgeon and very interestingly, the George Clooney type who womanizes and breaks ladies’ hearts. Actually, it’s more than interesting because an Asian man is playing the romantic type.
