Daniel K. Isaac is an American actor and writer. He is known for his recurring role as Ben Kim in Showtime's Billions. Isaac is also known for creating the hashtag #AccordingToMyMother, which he uses to share comedic conversations between him and his mother.
Early life and education Isaac's parents are immigrants from Korea. His mother raised him in California as a single parent, and he grew up bilingual. Isaac is an only child. He received his bachelor's degree in theater from the University of California, San Diego.
Career In 2015, Isaac created the hashtag #AccordingToMyMother to share comedic conversations with his mother. He then started a Kickstarter campaign to finance a short film loosely based on their relationship. Isaac produced and starred in what became a television pilot, According to My Mother, with Cathy Yan and Devin Landin. It premiered at the New York Television Festival in October 2016 and won the award for Best Drama. Isaac was named Best Actor in a Drama for his performance.
Isaac has appeared in the role of Ben Kim in Billions since its premiere in 2016. The role was initially written to be to a three-episode part, but the writers ended up making the character a series regular the first two seasons. Isaac also stars as a bike courier with a foot fetish in the BDSM-focused web series Mercy Mistress, produced by Margaret Cho.
He portrayed William Inge in an off-Broadway production of Philip Dawkins' The Gentleman Caller in May 2018.
Isaac appeared in a recurring role as Jeremy Delongpre in the first season of the 2019 Comedy Central series The Other Two. He also played the role of "Sandwich Artist" in the May 22, 2022 Episode (#251) of the HBO series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
In 2022, Isaac made his play-writing debut with Once Upon a (Korean) Time, which was produced by the Ma-Yi Theatre Company and performed at the historic La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York City. The production was directed by Ralph Peña. Also in 2022, it was announced that Isaac would star in the comedy film Plan B, alongside Jon Heder, Tom Berenger, and Shannon Elizabeth.
Personal life Isaac is gay. He voluntarily participated in gay conversion therapy from the age of 13 to 16. His mother, a devout Christian, disowned him for his sexuality when he was a freshman in college. Isaac later embraced his sexuality.
Credits
Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 Too Big To Fail Translator TV movie 2016 Money Monster Male Raver Urban Teach Now Vincent TV movie Eugenia and John Dan Eisenberg Drew Noah TV movie 2017 Maggie Black Delivery Guy 2020 The Dark End of the Street Keith 2021 The Drummer Mike 2025 Outerlands Emile TBA Rest and Relaxation Daniel Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2011Kelsey Tyrone 2014BelieveLab TechEpisode: Pilot2014Person of InterestVirgil2 episodes2014–15Mr. RightJustin2015The FollowingParamedicEpisode: Dead or Alive2015Dog ParkJacob Hart2016The Jim Gaffigan ShowFoshayEpisode: No Good Deed: Part 32016Search PartyBaristaEpisode: The Return of the Forgotten Phantom2016–23BillionsBen Kim55 episodes2017Quiet Tiny AsianBoyfriend2017CrashingKorean ManEpisode: Barking2017Don't Shoot the MessengerMichaelEpisode: Episode #1.62018Ollie & Molly Can't Get ArrestedRyan2 episodes2018PuffyGordonMini series2018–19Mercy MistressKen9 episodes2019The Other TwoJeremy Delongpre2 episodes2019Indoor BoysWalkerWeb series, 3 episodes2019The DeuceDr. LeeEpisode: Episode #3.52024ElsbethLieutenant Steve Connor7 episodes
Theater Year Title Role VenueLevel of Production2009Miss ElectricityFreddyLa Jolla PlayhouseRegional2013Shalom ShanghaiSuzukiShanghai International Arts FestivalInternational2015UnderlandTaka59E59 TheatersOff-Broadway2016Sagittarius PonderosaOwen3LD Art and Technology Center2017The Ballad of Little JoTin Man WongTwo River TheaterRegional 2018The Chinese Lady AtungBarrington Stage CompanyRegional2018The Gentleman CallerWilliam IngeAbingdon Theatre2018The Chinese LadyAtungBeckett TheaterOff-Broadway2022Once Upon a (Korean) TimePlaywrightLa MaMa Experimental Theatre ClubOff-Broadway2022You Will Get Sick#1Laura Pels TheatreOff-Broadway2023Every Brilliant ThingNarratorGeffen Playhouse
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