Daniel Henney Biography: Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Movies, Wife, TV Series

Daniel Philip Henney is an American actor who rose to international recognition with his television debut as Dr. Henry Kim in the critically acclaimed Korean drama My Lovely Sam Soon (2005).

Since then, he has built a notable career in both film and television, with prominent roles in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Last Stand (2013), and as the voice of Tadashi Hamada in Big Hero 6 (2014).

In the American television landscape, Henney is widely recognized for portraying Matt Simmons in Criminal Minds and currently stars as Lan Mandragoran in the highly regarded series The Wheel of Time (2021–present).

Profile

• Full Name: Daniel Philip Henney
• Stage Name: Daniel Henney
• Born: November 28, 1979
• Age: 45 years old
• Birthplace: Carson City, Michigan, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American actor
• Height: 1.88 m
• Parents: Christine Henney, Phillip Henney
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Ru Kumagai (m. 2023)
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life And Education

Daniel Philip Henney was born on November 28, 1979, in Carson City, Michigan, USA, to Christine Henney, a nurse, and Philip Henney, a factory worker. He might have had siblings, but details about them are unknown. He attended Carson City-Crystal High School, where he excelled as a basketball player.

Henney briefly attended Albion College, Alma College, and Elgin Community College but did not complete a degree due to his commitments to his modeling career.

While there were claims that he graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with an economics degree, these were proven false. Henney is of German, Irish, English, and Scottish descent, though his religious beliefs are not publicly known.

Career

Daniel Henney began his career in 2001 as a model, working internationally across the United States, France, Italy, Hong Kong, and Taiwan while pursuing his college education.

His striking appearance and natural charisma quickly made him a highly sought-after model, leading to major advertising campaigns in South Korea for prominent brands like Amore Pacific, Olympus, and Daewoo Electronics.

This success in modeling paved the way for Henney’s entry into the entertainment industry, marking the beginning of a highly successful acting career. Henney’s breakthrough role came in 2005 when he was cast as Dr. Henry Kim in the Korean drama My Lovely Sam Soon (also known as My Name is Kim Sam Soon).

Despite not speaking Korean at the time, Henney’s portrayal of an Asian American physician struggling with cultural and language barriers resonated with audiences, and the drama became a massive success in South Korea.

His role garnered critical acclaim and made him a household name. Henney followed this with starring roles in Spring Waltz (2006) and Seducing Mr. Perfect (2006), as well as the film My Father (2007), which won him several major Korean cinema awards, including the Best New Actor award.

Henney’s success expanded to both Hollywood and South Korean productions. He made his Hollywood debut in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) as Agent Zero and appeared in the CBS medical drama Three Rivers as Dr. David Lee.

His versatility continued with roles in The Fugitive: Plan B (2010), Hawaii Five-0, and NCIS: Los Angeles. Henney’s voice acting was also recognized when he voiced Tadashi Hamada in Disney’s Big Hero 6 (2014), a role he reprised in the TV series adaptation.

His American television career flourished with roles in Criminal Minds and its spinoff Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, and he continued to take on international film roles, including Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022) and Missing (2023). Henney’s ability to balance both Asian and Western entertainment industries has solidified his place as a global pop culture icon.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @danielhenney
• Facebook handle: Daniel Henney
• Twitter handle: @danielhenney

Personal Life

Daniel Henney is married to Ru Kumagai, a Japanese-American actress and model. The couple, who were initially friends, began dating after rumors linked them in 2018 and eventually tied the knot in a private ceremony in the United States in October 2023. As of April 2025, no public information indicates they have any children.

Filmography

Films:

• Seducing Mr. Perfect (2006)
• My Father (2007)
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
• Shanghai Calling (2012)
• The Last Stand (2013)
• One Night Surprise (2013)
• Big Hero 6 (2014)
• Mowgli (2017)
• Money (2019)
• Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022)
• Missing (2023)
• Dog Days (2024)

Television:

• My Lovely Sam Soon (2005)
• Spring Waltz (2006)
• Three Rivers (2009)
• The Fugitive: Plan B (2010)
• Hawaii Five-0 (2012–2013) (guest role)
• Revolution (2014) (guest role)
• NCIS: Los Angeles (2014) (guest role)
• Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016–2017)
• Criminal Minds (2015–2020)
• Big Hero 6: The Series (2017–2019)
• The Wheel of Time (2021–present)

Net Worth

Daniel Henney’s net worth is estimated at $5 million, primarily due to his successful acting career in Hollywood and South Korea, extensive modeling work, and lucrative brand endorsements.

His income comes from major TV series and films, modeling campaigns, and voice acting, particularly for Big Hero 6, establishing him as a financially successful figure in the entertainment industry.