Korean American actor James Kyson Lee was born on December 13, 1975 in Seoul, South Korea. His family moved to New York City when he was 10 years old. He later studied at the Boston University, taking up communications; he took further training at the New England Institute of Art. He moved to Los Angeles in 2001, having discovered improvisation and his passion for performing. There, he underwent further training in jazz singing, acting and musical theater. He made his start as an improv performer, performing with the Asian-American improv group Room to Improv. He also studied comedy with different comedy groups around Los Angeles, including The Groundlings and IO West.
After an uncredited television stint in The Lone Ranger, he made his credited television debut in 2003, when he auditioned and won a part in JAG. He has since made the rounds of television guest roles, appearing in shows such as All About the Andersons, Alias, Mad TV and The West Wing. In 2004, he made his film debut, playing a minor role in the experimental short Haircut. He also has many films under his name: these include Chinese Beauty, I See, Bunny & Clydo, Know Your Enemy and Big Dreams Little Tokyo. He also played small roles in Stranger Adventures, Untold Stories of the ER and the reality show Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty.
In 2006, Lee got his biggest break as an actor, when he was cast in the television series Heroes. He plays the role of Ando Masahashi, a friend and co-worker of Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka). Initially skeptical of his friend’s powers, he later accompanies Hiro to New York, albeit reluctantly, to “fulfill their destiny.” He later develops a strong loyalty to his friend, and takes the mission at heart. His character was initially a recurring one in the show’s first season, but was turned into a regular role from the second season.
-James had to do the audition for Heroes five times before he got the role.
-As a kid James loved reading comic books, his favorites were Spiderman, Batman, Superman and he especially liked Japanese Manga.
-James can speak 4 other languages other than English. He can speak Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese.
-Even though Ando, the character he plays in Heroes is Japanese, James has never been in Japan.
Destiny (2009) — Gates
Hardbreakers (2009) — Evan Stone
Then There's the Afterlife (2009) — Sung
How to make Love to a Woman (2009) — Aaron
Termination Shock (2009) — Lei Chen
Akira's Hip Hop Shop (2009) — Akira Kubota
Do Over (2009) — Mike Lee
The Roel (2009) — Ansel
Doesn't Texas Ever End (2009) — Rick
White on Rice (2009) — Tim Kim
Necrosis (2008) — Jerry
Shutter (2008) — Ritsuo
Moola (2008) — Jimmy Woo
Asian Stories (Book 3) (2006) — Jim Lee
Ghost Hunters: Point of Contact (2006) — Dr. Ken Shin
Big Dreams Little Tokyo (2006) — Murakami
Las Vegas — Joon Ho Park (2007)
Heroes — Ando Masahashi (2006 - )
On the Rocks (2006) — Donald Park
Heist (2006) — Universal Studio Guide
Doberman (2005) — Johnny
Snapdragon (2005) — Hyun
Bunny & Clydo (2005) — Clydo
The West Wing (2004) — Chinese Translator Zheng
Threat Matrix (2004) — Vargas Killer
All About the Andersons (2003) — Josh
JAG (2003) — Lieutenant Pak (1 episode, 2003)
-Things that sizzle fast can also fizzle fast. Consistency, is the trademark of greatness.
(About Heroes)
-When I read the pilot script I definitely felt there was something special about it. It was a page turner for sure. I couldn't put it down. I was really curious and excited to see how it was going to come together. I wasn't sure how it was going to be shot with people flying and regenerating and stopping time. I thought, "How are they going to shoot this?" But it's been amazing so far. They do such a great job and in the show we've gone everywhere from New York to India to Tokyo and Las Vegas and Texas, and sometimes it's all created here in L.A. So that's magic.