Ricky Kim

Career

Ricky Lee Neely was born on June 19, 1981, to a Korean mother and an American father. He spent his growing up years in Kansas and Hawaii, then studied mass communications at Kansas State University, with ambitions of becoming a lobbyist. In 2005 he arrived in South Korea to volunteer and teach English on the side, then left the country to continue traveling around the world. But having made the decision to pursue a career in entertainment, he returned four months later and began handing out his profile to modeling and talent agencies. Under the stage name Ricky Kim, he made his acting debut in the 4-episode 2006 TV series Miracle. He first attracted notice for his supporting role in the 2008 hit show On Air, followed by his first leading role in the romantic comedy film My Darling FBI. He then joined the cast as Michelle Morris in the 2009 Korean staging of the musical Dreamgirls. In the 2010 period medical drama Jejungwon, he played Dr. John William Heron, Presbyterian missionary and hospital director of the first Western medical institution in Korea.

Since 2009 he has been a regular on sports-reality show Let's Go Dream Team! Season 2. He also appeared in several seasons of Law of the Jungle, a travel-reality show in which a cast of celebrities go to exotic locations such as Namibia, Papua, Vanuatu, Siberia, Madagascar, and New Zealand, and are left to explore and survive in nature.

Personal life

Kim met musical theatre actress Ryu Seung-joo while working with Compassion, an international NGO both are active in. After dating for two years, the couple married on May 4, 2009 at Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel. Their first child, daughter Taylor (Kim Tae-rin) was born on February 10, 2011. Their second child, son Asher William (Kim Tae-oh) was born on March 11, 2013. Their third child, daughter Ellysen Victoria (Kim Tae-ra) was born on September 19, 2015.

Television series

Film

Variety show