Biography
Who is Ma Dong-seok?
Early life and real name
Ma Dong-seok was born in Seoul, South Korea, on March 1, 1971. He is also known by his English name Don Lee and his birth name Lee Dong-seok. He lived in South Korea with South Korean citizenship until 1989. At age 18, he moved and became an American citizen. He completed education at Columbus State Community College and Columbus State University. Later, he returned to South Korea at age 30 to begin his career in the entertainment industry.
Before he started acting, Ma worked as a personal trainer for mixed martial artists. He trained fighters such as Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman under his Westernized name. These early experiences in the United States and his time as a fitness trainer shaped his physical presence for future action roles.
How Ma became famous
Ma gained early recognition through supporting roles in crime and drama films. He appeared in Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time and The Neighbor in 2012. These performances helped establish his presence in South Korean cinema, often playing tough characters with hidden depth.
His major breakthrough arrived with the zombie thriller Train to Busan in 2016. In this film, he played a compassionate survivor who protects others, earning widespread critical acclaim and international popularity. This role propelled him into leading action star status across the region.
Career highlights
Following his breakout success, Ma starred in the action film The Outlaws in 2017. He played the relentless detective Ma Seok-do, a role he reprised in the successful sequel known as The Roundup. The Roundup became a big commercial hit, setting records for ticket sales in South Korea during 2022.
His other major film credits include Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days, The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos, and Ashfall. In 2021, he made his Hollywood debut by joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the film Eternals as the character Gilgamesh. Gallup Korea named him Film Actor of the Year in 2018, 2023, and 2024.
Family and relationships
Ma was reported to be in a relationship with sports reporter and media personality Ye Jung-hwa starting in 2016. In October 2022, his agency announced that the couple had registered their marriage the previous year. Due to busy schedules and the COVID-19 pandemic, they planned to hold their formal wedding ceremony at a later date.
Birthday and age
Ma Dong-seok was born on March 1, 1971, which makes Ma 55 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Ma shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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