Daniel Henney

Sorry for the lack of posts but I'm back to updating this blog!

Time for some new blood, you may know him you may not but here's Daniel.

Daniel Henney is a Michigan native as the son of an American (Irish) father and a Korean Adoptee mother.

Daniel's career started in 2001 as a model eventually working in Europe and Asia. He debuted in Korea by starring in a advertisement and he eventually became the co-face of several company advertisements. His career breakthrough and acting debut would be in the South Korean Drama My Lovely Sam Soon in 2005 even though he could not speak an ounce of Korean. The next year he would star in another drama called Spring Waltz. He also learned some Korean from guest starring on a few Korean variety shows.
His movie career didn't start until he starred in the Korean film Seducing Mr. Perfect. Even though he couldn't really speak Korean then, his character only spoke English while his co-star Uhm Jung-hwa only spoke Korean. The film worked and he made Korean cinema history with his second film My Father which won many awards. It was the first time that a foreigner was nominated for every best new actor award in all the major film awards. His American film debut wouldn't be until he starred in X-Men Origins: Wolverine as Agent Zero in 2009.
It appears now he is focusing his attention to his home country by doing small roles in TV shows like Hawaii Five-o, Revolution, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Criminal Minds.

Daniel will be a series regular in the new spin off Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

Filmography

Films:

Big Hero 6
The Spy: Undercover Operation
One Night Surprise
The Last Stand
Shanghai Calling
Papa
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
My Father
Seducing Mr. Perfect


TV SHOWS

Criminal Minds
NCIS: Los Angeles
Revolution
Hawaii Five-o
The Fugitive Plan B
Three Rivers
Spring Waltz
Hello Franceska
My Lovely Sam Soon

Mako Iwamatsu

Born: Kobe, Japan

Died: Somis, California

 

Mako Iwamastsu known simply as Mako was the son of famous children book Illustrators. His parents left Japan before WWII and Mako would join them when he was 18 years old. He joined the US Army and through this he discovered a love of acting. So he gave up the idea to be an architect instead to be an actor. His first role was in 1959 in a movie called Never So Few. Mako was a lover of the theater, tired of the roles that Asians were given he started his own theater group called East West Players with a few other people.

In 1962 he made his first television show appearance on the Lloyd Bridges Show, he would go on to make appearances in TV shows like McHale's Navy, M*A*S*H, The Incredible Hulk, The A-Team, Magnum P.I., etc. He also chose to do voice acting his credits include Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, What's New Scooby Doo, Duck Dodgers, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, etc.  

Mako earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in 1966's The Sand Pebbles. He played a Chinese man who spoke broken English. The critics hail his performance as expanding the roles that Asians could do in American film. 

Sadly he passed away after a long battle with cancer. Hollywood gave him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 

Mako was born in Japan, but he became an American citizen. He fought to open doors for more Americans of Asian descent to have more roles on American film. He lived and died as an American actor we should honor his memory and continue to fight for the equal rights of our Invisible American brothers. 

 

Selected Film Appearances

The Sand Pebbles

Conan the Barbarian

Robocop 3

Highlander 3

Crying Freeman

Pearl Habor

Bulletproof Monk

Memoirs of a Geisha

 

Selected Television Appearances

McHale's Navy

I Dream of Jeannie

The Green Hornet

Kung Fu

M*A*S*H

Columbo

The Incredible Hulk

Frasier

Samurai Jack

Avatar: The Last Airbender