This A-Profiler we bring you James Kyson Lee, currently portraying Ando Masahashi on NBC's big hit "Heroes." How did this aspiring musician who came to Los Angeles and never studied acting end up with a acting career? And what famous name is he compared to on the set of "Heroes?" What's on the horizon for this familiar face? Find out more in this A-Profiler.

Your site URL:
http://www.jameskysonlee.com

What's your ethnic background?
I am Korean American.

Have you always wanted to be an actor?
I enjoyed performing in front of people at a young age, but I did not study acting until I came out to LA 5 and a half years ago. I studied communications in college, which I really enjoyed.

I actually started performing in music first. I played a little piano and guitar when I was young, and played in a band in Jr. High school. During college, I was part of a hip hop group and performed as an MC.

When I came out to LA, I first studied jazz singing and musical theatre before my acting career began.

You'll be in the upcoming films "Big Deal" and "Akira's Hip-Hop Shop." Seems you are very busy with quite a number of projects which are fairly diverse in nature. What can you tell us about "Akira's?" Any other projects in the works you can talk about?
"Akira's Hip Hop Shop" is about a young Japanese guy who comes to America and opens a hip hop record store. He begins a relationship with an African American girl, yet also has a complicated situation with a girl in Japan.

"Big Deal" is an ensemble comedy with Treat Williams, Daniel Baldwin, and Charlottes Ross, and it'll be coming out next year.

I'm also in a sci-fi feature film called "Point of Contact", which is now on video.

I have couple of offers for feature films this summer, and I'm reading the script right now. I like them so far, so it'll probably be a go.

I may also be hosting a new comedy show for the E! Network. We filmed the pilot in NY, and the network seems very excited about it.

Then I'll be back for Season 2 of "Heroes", starting in July.

Do we get to hear you do any emcee work in "Akira's Hip-Hop Shop?"
I didn't MC in "Akira", but the girl who plays my girlfriend does - and she's good. We're talking about doing some kind of a music video for the feature.

You've done quite a bit of improv and sketch comedy with IO West and Room to Improv. Do you feel more in your element in comedic roles or in dramatic roles?
I enjoy both, but comedy in my mind is more difficult. I do still study and perform improv, and it helps me in all aspects of my acting.

On "Heroes" you play Ando Masahashi, how did you come across this role and what was the audition like?
It was a long and arduous process - 5 interviews total. Initial audition, the callback with the producers, then a "work session", where you work with the director and the writers before going before the studio executives. Then a studio test with Universal Studios, then the final network test with NBC.

Did you think "Heroes" would be as successful as it has become?
When I first read the pilot script, I knew there was something special at hand. I was excited and curious to see how it would all come together. We have such a great staff, from the writers and the producers to the cast and the crew - that we've become like a family. I believe our show is successful, because not only does it combine the sci-fi and the comic book genre, but at the core of it, it's a human drama about relationships, and people from different backgrounds joining forces for a common cause. Also, the idea that maybe you're meant for something more... I think that's a feeling many people can relate to.

On "Heroes" your character speaks Japanese. What Asian languages are you fluent?
I'm only fluent in Korean. I've had to speak Chinese and Vietnamese for various projects, but both are extremely difficult languages, and I am no way near fluent in those.

Studying japanese for the show has been a great joy for me - it's a language that I've always wanted to master - in fact, my father studied in Japan, and worked there as an electrical engineer, and was fluent himself in Japanese.

It's a lot of work, but I'm having fun learning it, and plan to continue my study during hiatus and even after the show.

Your character on "Heroes" is sometimes mentioned as being like C3PO in Star Wars with Hiro being R2D2. Have you heard that before? Are Ando and Hiro always going to be seen together or will there be the possibility that Ando has untapped powers too that cause him to stray? They seem to be inseparable as far as fans are concerned.
The writers have created a great duo with Ando and Hiro - a modern day odd couple, if you will. (They call us the new Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on set)

Which one is Jerry Lewis? :) My guess is that Masi is the Jerry Lewis with you being the more suave Dean Martin?
You're right.

And you'll see Ando and Hiro part ways in some upcoming episodes, and have their journey bring them back together.

I'm not sure if and when Ando will be given superpowers as well. I think the creators like the contrast between Ando and Hiro that Ando is the mortal - a perspective of the audience, if you will, and the voice of reason in this chaotic adventure.

But it will be fun for Ando to get some unique but random power at some point - i.e. maybe he can talk to animals, or he makes cheese out of thin air (spidey fingers) "...mozzarella!" (concentrates) "...spaghetti sauce!"

Or like a Karaoke Hulk - when Ando gets mad, he turns blue then sings Journey or other 80's rock songs - causing explosions and what not with his forceful...vibrato.

You are actually a licensed bartender. Have you ever created a drink of your own? If so, what is it called and how is it made?
We used to experiment at the bar all the time - my specialty was frozen margaritas. I had one called the Shanghai Surprise - it consisted of like 8 different liquors and flavors.

Perhaps you could create a "Heroes" inspired drink?
Good idea - I'll call it the "Ando Commando"

What's your advice to other aspiring actors/actresses out there?
My advise is that before you find "Hollywood", it's very important that you find yourself first - which is a process that takes time. One thing that helped me is that I didn't come out to LA necessarily for acting, but to really explore life, and my own self. By studying the arts here, I was able to really discover myself, and in the process, found my calling.

It's also important to realize that this is an incredibly difficult craft - one that takes constant studying - and you need to treat it as such. To become a doctor, it normally takes a person 7 years of education + 2 years of residency + 3 years of on-the job experience to feel like you know what you're doing. You have to be willing put in that same amount of time and discipline for acting, yet realize it offers none of the guarantees as finishing a med school.

It's an unbelievably tough business - about 90% of the actors in the union make less than $5000 a year. So you have to be prepared, and be willing to accept the realities of it. But if you're gifted, hardworking, and have the goods, success will find you - just find yourself first.

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong. Special thanks to James Kyson Lee.

Images courtesy of James Kyson Lee. Used with permission.
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