Daniel Dae Kim isn’t returning to The Island anytime soon.
15 years after Lost concluded its sixth and final season, the actor shared insight into a potential movie to accompany the award-winning series.
“I think that’s above my pay grade,” Daniel quipped to E! News’ Keltie Knight in an exclusive interview at the 2025 Tony Awards red carpet June 8. “I’m excited that so many people keep talking about the show—even after all these years, people remember it, want to see it and then I get recognized for it.” (See all the stars here.)
As he put it, “Not many projects hang out in the culture for that long. I feel lucky.”
After all, the series, which followed a passenger plane that crashed into a remote, mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean, has earned a devoted fan base as it aired from 2004 to 2010.
Something Daniel—who is nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Play for his role in Yellow Face at the 78th annual event—doesn’t miss? Passengers raising their eyebrows as he boarded their flights.
“Those days are over,” he teased. “There was a time when they gave me a second look.”
Now, the 56-year-old, is focusing on his latest achievement, like becoming the Asian to earn the nomination in his category. (See every Tonys winner here.)
“It means a lot, not just for me, but more importantly, for the community,” he reflected. “The Tonys have been around for 78 years, and for this to be a first is a little bit surprising, but joyful.”
For Daniel, the production was a labor of love.
“I’m really proud of the show,” he said while reacting to his nomination last month, per Playbill. “I feel like the entire company and our creative team worked so hard to bring this show to life, and it’s really a validation of all the work we’re doing.”
“When I think about the fact that I’m the first Asian-American to be nominated in this category, that feels especially significant, because it’s not something I thought about before,” he continued. “I realized, and remember, how many Asian American actors there were before me who never received any kind of recognition despite the incredible work and hard work that they were doing for generations earlier.”
For more stars at the 2025 Tonys, keep reading.
Julianne Hough
In Christian Siriano SS24 RTW
Sarah Snook
In Richard Quinn
Katie Holmes
In custom Prada and Dana Rebecca Designs
Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves
Daveed Diggs
In Amiri
Megan Hilty
In Pamella Roland
Anna Wintour
In Givenchy
Rosie Perez
In Pamella Roland
Justina Machado
In Christian Siriano
Rachel Sussman
Audra McDonald
In Christian Siriano
Darren Criss
In custom Christian Siriano
Jonathan Groff
In Thom Browne and Tiffany & Co. jewelry
Jean Smart
In Christian Siriano
Nicole Scherzinger
In custom Rodarte and Kwiat jewelry
Sarah Paulson
In Schiaparelli SS25 Couture and Buccellati jewelry
Danielle Brooks
Stephane Rolland SS25 Couture
Laufey
In Valentino PF25 and Hearts on Fire jewelry
Phillipa Soo
In Genny
Cynthia Erivo
In Schiaparelli SS25 Couture and FOPE jewelry
Cole Escola
In Wiederhoft
Bryan Cranston
Kristin Chenoweth
In Christian Siriano FW25 RTW
George Clooney and Amal Clooney
In Tamara Ralph SS25 Couture
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson
Sadie Sink
In custom Prada and Fred Leighton
Gayle King
In vintage Vicky Tiel Couture
Michelle Williams
In Bibhu Mohapatra
Zoey Deutch
In Tiffany & Co. jewelry
Lea Michele
In custom Michael Kors Collection and EFFY Jewelry
