Daniel Dae Kim is first Asian American to be nominated for Tony lead actor award

Daniel Dae Kim has made history as the first Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) actor to be nominated for best leading actor in a play at the Tony Awards, earning recognition for his role in the Broadway revival of “Yellow Face.” The 2025 nominations, announced May 1, mark a groundbreaking year for Asian representation on Broadway.

Kim plays a satirical version of playwright David Henry Hwang in “Yellow Face,” a semi-autobiographical play exploring race and identity. The production also earned nominations for best revival of a play and best featured actor in a play for Francis Jue.

This year’s ceremony shattered previous records with seven Asian performers nominated across acting categories — more than any other year in Tony history. In addition to Kim and Jue, nominees include Conrad Ricamora (“Oh, Mary!”), Darren Criss (“Maybe Happy Ending”), Nicole Scherzinger (“Sunset Boulevard”) and Iranian actresses Tala Ashe and Marjan Neshat (English), the first Asian performers ever nominated for featured actress in a play.

Kim’s milestone follows in the legacy of BD Wong, who became the first Asian actor to win a Tony in 1988 for “M. Butterfly,” also written by Hwang. Only four Asian performers — Wong, Lea Salonga, Michael Aronov and Ruthie Ann Miles — have won Tonys to date.

The 78th Annual Tony Awards will air live on June 8 from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.