Why Daniel Dae Kim Left Hawaii Five-O After Seven Seasons, Explained
- Daniel Dae Kim left 'Hawaii Five-0' due to a pay dispute with CBS.
- He expressed sadness on social media, cherishing his role on the show.
- Kim pursued various roles in TV and voice acting after leaving the show.
Daniel Dae Kim is a well-known actor who has been part of some major TV shows. You might remember him as Jin-Soo Kwon from Lost, but he also became famous for his role as Chin Ho Kelly on Hawaii Five-0.
The show premiered in 2010 and quickly became popular for its exciting storylines and stunning Hawaiian scenery. It ran for ten seasons until 2020. Kim was a key part of the show for seven of those seasons, but then he made the surprising decision to leave.
In the first episode of Season 8, it was explained that Chin Ho Kelly moved to a new task force in San Francisco. While his character moved to San Francisco for a new gig, that wasn’t the only reason for his exit.
The real tea is that it all came down to money. As the series went on, Kim found himself facing some not-so-cool contract negotiations. It was a sticky situation!
Why Did Daniel Dae Kim Leave Hawaii Five-0?
According to The New York Times, the main reason Daniel Dae Kim left Hawaii Five-0 was due to a dispute over pay. He felt he should be paid the same as his white co-stars, but CBS didn’t agree to that. He wrote on his socials (via HuffPost):
As an Asian American actor, I know first-hand how difficult it is to find opportunities at all, let alone play a well developed, three dimensional character like Chin Ho. I will miss him sincerely. What made him even more special is that he was a representative of a place my family and I so dearly love.
This kind of situation is sadly not new in Hollywood, where actors of different backgrounds often face unequal pay. Kim wanted to ensure that his work was valued fairly, and he wasn’t willing to accept less.
As the show went on and contract negotiations came up, the actor realized that the network wasn’t willing to meet his demands. It became clear that staying on the show wasn’t going to work out for him. So, he made the tough decision to leave.
What Did Daniel Dae Kim Say About His Departure?
When Daniel Dae Kim announced his departure, he took to social media to share his feelings. On Facebook, he expressed his sadness about not returning for the new season. The star said:
Though I made myself available to come back, CBS and I weren’t able to agree on terms for a new contract.
This statement showed how much he wanted to stay but couldn’t because of the circumstances. In his message, Kim reflected on the importance of his role as Chin Ho Kelly. He mentioned how honored he felt to represent Hawaii on the show and how much he loved the character he played. The 56-year-old added:
It has been nothing short of an honor to showcase the beauty and people of Hawaii every week.
Even with the drama, Kim didn’t throw shade at CBS. He focused on the good memories and the impact the show had on Hawaii’s economy. It’s nice to see he could take the high road, even when things got messy.
What Did Daniel Dae Kim Do After Leaving Hawaii Five-0?
After leaving Hawaii Five-0, Daniel Dae Kim wasted no time jumping into new projects. He continued to build his acting career with several roles on different TV shows. Kim made guest appearances in popular series like The Good Doctor and Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.
Kim also took on a more significant role in New Amsterdam, where he played Dr. Cassian Shin, a trauma surgeon. In addition to live-action roles, Kim also ventured into voice acting.
He lent his voice to characters in animated films and series. For instance, he played Benja, the father figure in Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon. Kim also had a recurring role as Micah in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power on Netflix.
And let’s not forget his role as Fire Lord Ozai in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix. Kim’s future is looking even brighter with exciting projects lined up. He’s set to star in a new action-thriller series called Butterfly, playing a former intelligence agent.
Leaving Hawaii Five-0 might have been a tough decision, but it opened the door for so many amazing opportunities. Kim is definitely on the rise, proving that sometimes, change is good!
Watch Hawaii Five-0 on Paramount+!
