Daniel Philip Henney (born November 28, 1979) is an American actor and model. He first came into international prominence with his television debut as Dr. Henry Kim on the Korean drama My Lovely Sam Soon (2005).
He has gone on to star in films such as Seducing Mr. Perfect (2006), My Father (2007), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), Shanghai Calling (2012), The Last Stand (2013), One Night Surprise (2013), and Big Hero 6 (2014). On television, he has starred in the Korean Spring Waltz as well as American television series Hawaii Five-0 and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. He joined the regular cast of Criminal Minds for its 13th, 14th and 15th seasons. He starred as Lan Mandragoran in the 2021 television adaptation of The Wheel of Time.
Early life Henney was born on November 28, 1979 in Carson City, Michigan. His mother Christine Henney, an American adoptee from Busan, South Korea, was a nurse. His father Philip Henney, an American of British descent, worked in a factory. He was a star basketball player at Carson City-Crystal High School and led the Eagles to the MHSAA Central region (CSAA) 2nd-place finish during his senior year in 1998.
Henney attended various colleges—including Albion College, Alma College, and Elgin Community College—but never completed his college studies due to his burgeoning modeling career. He was credited on many online portals for a time to have had graduated with an economics degree from the University of Illinois Chicago. However, that was proven to be false when an academic scandal in 2007 revealed that several South Korean social figures and celebrities, including Henney, Choi Soo-jong and Chang Mi-hee, had falsified academic records.
Career Henney moved to South Korea after having lived on and off in Hong Kong and Taiwan for four years. While in New York in 2004, he did some Off-Broadway work while auditioning for television shows.
Henney started modeling in the U.S. in 2001 and worked in France, Hong Kong, and many more while attending college. After his debut in South Korea with an advertisement for the Amore Pacific's cosmetic "Odyssey Sunrise", he became a spokesperson for commercials with Jun Ji-hyun for Olympus cameras and Kim Tae-hee for Daewoo Electronics's Klasse air conditioners.다니엘 헤니 . 10asia.co.kr. Retrieved on April 27, 2014. Henney is signed with DNA Models in New York under the celebrity division.DNA Models . DNA Models. Retrieved on April 27, 2014. While modelling in South Korea for Olympus in 2005, he was scouted by a talent manager who got Henney a role in the Korean drama My Lovely Sam Soon. Henney, who did not speak any Korean, was cast as an Asian American physician Henry Kim who struggled with the language. He played a supporting role in a love triangle between female lead Hee-jin (Jung Ryeo-won) and restaurateur Hyun Jin-heon (Hyun Bin). The show was widely popular, with over half of South Korean households estimated to have watched the finale. Henney then starred in another romantic drama Spring Waltz as Philip, a foreign music manager, in 2006. He resumed his modeling career when he was featured in a Bean Pole campaign with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Henney made his feature film debut in another romantic comedy Seducing Mr. Perfect (2006), which coincided with pop star and actor Rain's debut in I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006). His second film, My Father, won multiple awards in South Korea and Henney became the first foreigner to sweep all the major cinema awards in the Best New Actor category. He later learned the language and appeared on a few variety shows, such as Family Outing. 다니엘 헤니 "모델은 순간예술, 배우는 인생을 연기" . News.naver.com (July 4, 2005). Retrieved on April 27, 2014.
His first American role was as Agent Zero in the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). In the fall season of 2009, he played Dr. David Lee in the CBS television drama Three Rivers.
In 2010, Henney returned to South Korea television for KBS2's The Fugitive: Plan B, alongside Rain and actress Lee Na-young.Daniel Henney hops aboard "Domangja" cast .Asiae June 21, 2010 Retrieved June 24, 2010. Since 2012, Henney has appeared in several American TV series. In 2014, Henney voiced Tadashi Hamada in Disney's Big Hero 6.
Henney starred as Special Agent Matt Simmons in the American television series Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, a spin-off of Criminal Minds, for two seasons from 2016 to 2017. After the Beyond Borders's cancellation, it was announced in June 2017 that Henney's Matt Simmons would continue on Criminal Minds as a series regular for season 13. He remained a part of the cast until the original series concluded in season 15.
In September 2019, Henney was cast in the supporting role of Lan Mandragoran in Amazon Prime Video's adaptation of Robert Jordan's fantasy epic The Wheel of Time.
Personal life On October 20, 2023, Henney married Ru Kumagai, a Japanese-American actress. The wedding ceremony was held in the United States where only family members attended.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes/ 2006 Seducing Mr. Perfect Robin Heiden 2007 My Father James Parker 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Agent Zero 2012 Papa Music producer Cameo Shanghai Calling Sam Chao 2013 The Last Stand Agent Phil Hayes One Night Surprise Bill The Spy: Undercover Operation Ryan 2014 Big Hero 6 Tadashi Hamada Voice 2017 Mowgli Gool 2019 Money Roy Lee Cameo 2022 Confidential Assignment 2: International Jack 2023 Missing Elijah Park 2024 Dog Days Daniel
Television Year Title Role Notes 2005 My Lovely Sam Soon Dr. Henry Kim Main role Hello Franceska Elizabeth's first love Guest star; 2 episodes 2006 Spring Waltz Philip Main role 2009 Three Rivers Dr. David Lee Main role; 13 episodes 2010 The Fugitive: Plan B Kai Main role 2012–2013 Hawaii Five-0 Michael Noshimuri Guest star; 3 episodes 2014 Revolution Peter Garner Guest star; 3 episodes NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS Agent Paul Angelo Episode: "Three Hearts" 2015–2020 Criminal Minds Matthew "Matt" Simmons Special guest (seasons 10 and 12)Main role (seasons 13–15); 49 episodes 2016–2017 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Main role; 26 episodes 2016 The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show Akashi Shiganosuke Voice; episode: "Sherman from A to Zzzz/Akashi Shiganosuke" Dear My Friends Mark Smith Cameo 2017–2019 Big Hero 6: The Series Tadashi Hamada Voice; 6 episodes 2021–2025 The Wheel of Time Lan Mandragoran Main role 2025 Genie, Make a Wish Kim Gae Recurring role
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryWorks/Recipient MBC Entertainment Awards2005Best Dressed Daniel HenneyMBC Drama AwardsBest New ActorMy Lovely Sam Soon헤니 다니엘 헤니는 역시 최고 인기남! 여성들의 시샘과 질투 쏟아졌다 .Newsen December 30, 2005 Retrieved June 24, 2010.Dong Ah TV's Fashion Award2006Best Dressed Daniel HenneyBiography . Hermosa USA (January 31, 2014). Retrieved on April 27, 2014.27th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards2007Best New ActorMy Father28th Blue Dragon Film Awards6th Korean Film Awards3rd Premiere Rising Star Awards45th Grand Bell Awards2008헤니 (포토엔)신인남우상 다니엘 헤니, 오 마이 갓! .Newsen June 27, 2010 Retrieved June 24, 2010.31st Golden Cinematography Awards16th Chunsa Film Art AwardsPeople's Choice Award2010Nomination for Favorite On-Screen TeamX-Men Origins: Wolverine헤니 (포토엔)휴잭맨-다니엘 헤니, 배우로 처음 청계광장에 핸드프린팅 남겨요 .Newsen April 10, 2010 Retrieved June 24, 2010.Newport Beach Film Festival2012Outstanding Achievement in ActingShanghai CallingShanghai International Film FestivalBest New Actor Blue Dragon Film Awards 2022 Popular Star Award Confidential Assignment 2: International
See also
Hines Ward — NFL player of African and Korean descent who brought interest in the sport to South Korea Sean Richard Dulake — American actor of Korean and British descent who acted in Korean dramas
References
External links
Daniel Henney on DNA Model Management's website