Biography
Who is Will Yun Lee?
Early life and martial arts
Born in Arlington, Virginia, Will Yun Lee was named Lee Sang-Wook at birth. He spent his childhood moving across the United States and attended 23 different schools before graduating. His father, Soo Woong Lee, was a taekwondo grandmaster. Will began training in the sport at three years old. He also spent time teaching at his father's school, Lee’s Taekwondo, located in Napa, California. In 2013, he documented his process of re-earning his black belt in a three-part video series.
His parents divorced when he was four years old. He lived with various relatives and family friends until reuniting with his father in Hawaii at age ten. His father encouraged him to pursue a professional career, but Will eventually chose a different path.
Education and career beginnings
Will Yun Lee attended the University of California, Berkeley, on a full athletic scholarship. He studied political science and ethnic studies. While he initially considered a career in law, he decided in his mid-twenties to pursue acting. He realized that running martial arts schools had limitations. Lacking formal drama training, he created his own routine. He spent up to eight hours daily reading plays, watching films, and performing physical training.
During the late 1990s, opportunities for Asian American actors were restricted. He often competed with peers for stereotyped roles like gangsters or computer experts. To improve his craft, he created mock auditions to practice and prepare for roles.
Professional acting career
Will gained early recognition for roles in the supernatural drama Witchblade and the sci-fi series Bionic Woman. In 2002, he appeared in Die Another Day. Later, he played Kenuichio Harada in The Wolverine and appeared in Elektra. He also voiced the character Wei Shen in the video game Sleeping Dogs. He had recurring roles in Hawaii Five-0 and True Blood.
In 2018, he joined the cast of the ABC medical drama The Good Doctor as Dr. Alex Park. He has noted this role as a turning point for Asian American representation. He also played the original body of Takeshi Kovacs in Altered Carbon. He appeared in the 2022 film The Guardians of Justice. In 2025, he was cast in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.
Family and personal life
Will married actress Jennifer Birmingham in October 2010. The wedding took place in Shreveport, Louisiana. The couple has one son named Cash, who was born in June 2013. His son received a diagnosis of Moyamoya disease, a rare disorder of the cerebral blood vessels, at age three.
Since entering his fifties, Will has focused on balancing his professional responsibilities with his family life. He prioritizes caring for his parents and his child. He selects roles that allow him to tell meaningful stories while maintaining a stable personal life. In 2002, People magazine named him one of the 50 Most Beautiful People. He was also named one of the 15 Sexiest Men Alive in 2007.
Birthday and age
Will Yun Lee was born on March 22, 1971, which makes Will 55 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Will shares the date with 61 other famous people.
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