Daniel Henney
Daniel Henney was born in Carson City, Michigan, to a Korean mother who was adopted and an American father of Irish heritage. His modeling career began in 2001 in the United States, which took him to international locations such as France, Italy, Hong Kong, and Taiwan while he pursued his college education.
Henney's breakthrough in South Korea came with a commercial for Amore Pacific's "Odyssey Sunrise," leading to high-profile endorsements alongside stars like Jun Ji-hyun for Olympus cameras and Kim Tae-hee for Daewoo Electronics. Despite initially not speaking Korean, he captivated audiences as Dr. Henry Kim in the acclaimed drama "My Lovely Sam Soon" (2005), which became a cultural phenomenon. His popularity was further solidified with his role in "Spring Waltz" (2006) and appearances on variety shows such as "Family Outing."
A notable episode in Henney's career involved a controversy regarding his educational background; although reports claimed he held a degree in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, he had not completed his college education. Henney made his film debut in South Korea with "Seducing Mr. Perfect" and achieved significant acclaim for his performance in "My Father," making history as the first foreign actor to win all major Best New Actor awards in the country.
In 2009, he portrayed Agent Zero in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and later starred as Dr. David Lee in CBS's "Three Rivers." He returned to South Korean television in 2010 with "The Fugitive: Plan B," sharing the screen with Rain and Lee Na-young. Currently, Henney is represented by DNA Models in New York's celebrity division.
Filmography
The Last Stand
Money (2019)
Confidential Assignment 2: International
Shanghai Calling
Dog Days (2024)
Seducing Mr. Perfect
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Big Hero 6
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
Criminal Minds