James Kyson Biography

James Kyson is a Korean-born American actor best known for portraying the Japanese character Ando Masahashi on the NBC television series Heroes.

Early life

Kyson was born on December 13, 1975, in Seoul, South Korea. Kyson moved with his family to New York City at the age of 10, where he later attended the Bronx High School of Science. He studied communications at Boston University and the New England Institute of Art.

After a stint in a hip-hop rap group in college, and trying out improv comedy, James moved to LA on a one-way ticket & a single suitcase, where he began his training in music, dance, and acting.

Acting career

Voted by TV Guide as "Hollywood's 25 Hottest", James recently finished Hawaii Five-O on CBS, and a 4-year run on NBC's Heroes as ?Ando'.

He will next be appearing in the new series Daybreak, from the producers of 24 & Touch (FOX), as well as the feature films PLUSH, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the Romantic Comedy DON'T KNOW YET, the Action thriller CRITICSIZED, & the Race Car driving film BORN to RACE 2.

James currently recurs on the Political Series Chasing the Hill & will star in the new pilot Armed Response.

After a stint in a hip-hop rap group in college, and trying out improv comedy, James moved to LA on a one-way ticket & a single suitcase, where he began his training in music, dance, and acting.

His first ever Television audition landed him on CBS's "J.A.G.". Other TV credits include "CSI", NBC's "Las Vegas", "The West Wing", "Heist", ABC's "Threat Matrix", and FOX's "All About the Andersons".

James has also starred in numerous feature films such as "Star Runners", "Shutter", "How to Make love to a Woman", "White on Rice", and the Rich Mullins bio-pic "Ragamuffin".

James plays basketball for The Hollywood Knights, a charity celebrity team, and participated in Robbie Williams' Soccer Aid for UNICEF, at Manchester United's Old Trafford in England.

An avid outdoorsman, James enjoys scuba diving, ultimate frisbee, and playing basketball for the Hollywood Knights, a charity celebrity team for USO. He is also an active member of the Global Green eco campaign & the Creative Coalition.

Filmography

• Plush (2013)
• Hawaii Five-0 (2011) - Sean Leung
• Why Am I Doing This? (2009) " Eric
• Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009)
• WWII in HD (2009) -- voice of Jimmie Kanaya
• Star Runners (2009) " Lei Chen
• How to make love to a Woman (2009) " Aaron
• Necrosis (2009) " Jerry
• Hard Breakers (2009) " Evan
• White on Rice (2009) " Tim Kim
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2009) " Korean Translator (1 episode " "Say Uncle")
• Akira's Hip Hop Shop (2008) - Akira
• Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (2008) " voice of Shang Tsung
• Shutter (2008) " Ritsuo
• Asian Stories (Book 3) (2006) " Jim Lee
• Big Dreams Little Tokyo (2006) " Murakami
• Las Vegas " Joon Ho Park (2007)
• Heroes " Ando Masahashi (2006"2010)
• On the Rocks (2006) " Donald Park
• Heist (2006) " Universal Studio Guide
• Doberman (2005) " Johnny
• 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)

Other activities

James dubbed his voice over the actor for Shang Tsung in the video game: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.

Kyson represented the Rest of the World team in 2010 Soccer Aid, a British charity soccer match in aid of UNICEF. The Rest of the World team defeated their opponents England after a penalty shoot-out.