Michael K. Lee

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Michael K. Lee

Role / Field:

American actor and singer based in Seoul, known for Broadway and musical theater roles.

Born:

1973-06-05

Century / Era:

1973s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Michael K. Lee (born June 5, 1973) is an American actor and singer who is based in Seoul, South Korea. Lee was born in Brooklyn, New York to Susie and Won Yub Lee. He was raised in Salamanca, a small Native American reservation town near Buffalo, where his father, a surgeon, set up his practice. They were the only Asian-American family in the town. He played both violin and piano, and performed in the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra.

Career & Major Achievements

He is a graduate of Stanford University, where he studied psychology on a pre-med track and sang with the Stanford Fleet Street Singers. Lee's career began in 1995, when he was cast in the second national tour of Miss Saigon. He auditioned for the show on three occasions before he was cast. Lee went on to join the Broadway production of Miss Saigon (Thuy). His other Broadway credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon Zealotes), Pacific Overtures (Kayama), and Rent.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

From 2015 to 2016, Lee starred in the musical Allegiance on Broadway, a show about George Takei's life experiences (who starred in the musical alongside Lee). In the show, Lee reprised the role of Frankie Suzuki, a character based on real-life political activist Frank S. Emi. The role had won him the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in 2012, during the Allegiance's run at the Old Globe there. Allegiance began Broadway previews on October 6, 2015, and opened on November 8, 2015, running through early 2016. Lee has starred in numerous productions in Seoul, including Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Miss Saigon (Chris), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Tick), Notre Dame de Paris (Gringoire), Amour (Dusoleil), and Gone with the Wind (Ashley).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1973 (1973-06-05): Birth of Michael K. Lee — American actor and singer based in Seoul, known for Broadway and musical theater roles.
2. 1995: 1995 Milestone — Lee's career began in 1995, when he was cast in the second national tour of Miss Saigon.
3. 2012: 2012 Milestone — The role had won him the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in 2012, during the Allegiance's run at the Old Globe there.
4. 2015: 2015 Milestone — From 2015 to 2016, Lee starred in the musical Allegiance on Broadway, a show about George Takei's life experiences (who starred in the musical alongside Lee).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Michael K. Lee

True or False: “Michael K. Lee's early training included playing both violin and piano while attending a school in Brooklyn, New York.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he was born in Brooklyn, the text specifies that he was raised in Salamanca, a Native American reservation town near Buffalo.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. S. Neill — Contemporary (Died in 1973) (1973): Scottish progressive educator, founder of Summerhill, championing self-governance.
• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Died in 1973) (1973): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• AC/DC — Contemporary (Born in 1973) (1973): Iconic Australian hard rock band known for raw, high-energy 'rock and roll'.
• Alan Bond — Shared historical date (06-05 · Died) (2015): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Antonio Luna — Shared historical date (06-05 · Died) (1899): Fierce Filipino general, strategist, and pharmacist who fought in the Philippine-American War.
• Adrien Brody — Historical peer (Born in 1973) (1973): Acclaimed American actor known for intense, emotionally charged character portrayals.
• Aishwarya Rai — Historical peer (Born in 1973) (1973): Iconic Indian actress celebrated for beauty and versatile performances in Hindi and Tamil cinema.
• Adolf Butenandt — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Pioneering German biochemist known for sex hormones and pheromone discovery.
• Adolfo Pedernera — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Argentine football legend, nicknamed 'El Maestro,' pivotal in the 1940s.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• 1973 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1973
• June 5 (06-05) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 5

Frequently Asked Questions about Michael K. Lee