Daniel Dae Kim Leads Spy Drama and Fights for Industry Change
From American Masters: Creative Spark by American Masters | PBS
August 15, 2025 · 22 min · Season 8 · Episode 6
About this episode
Daniel Dae Kim discusses his career, the development of his new show Butterfly, and the importance of representation in the arts.
Actor Daniel Dae Kim is no stranger to breaking barriers. From his groundbreaking role on Lost, to his Tony-nominated turn in Yellow Face, Kim continues to affirm his title as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people. With his new show, Butterfly, he steps into the spotlight as the leading man of a high-stakes international spy thriller. In this episode, Daniel Dae Kim reflects on his upbringing and how an early fascination with American pop culture became the foundation for a career in the arts. He explores television’s power to foster empathy across cultural divides, shares the story behind developing Butterfly, and opens up a new dialogue on the issue of ethnic-specific casting.
People in this episode
Guest: Daniel Dae Kim
Topics covered
- Daniel Dae Kim
- spy drama
- Butterfly
- ethnic-specific casting
- television
- American pop culture
Keywords
- influential
- cultural barriers
- empathy
- television industry
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Butterfly
Books & works: Lost, Tony, Yellow Face, Butterfly
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