Ticoon Kim is a Korean-Vietnamese Actor who was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and at only sixteen years of age, is already receiving calls to move to Hollywood. Ticoon has been cast in several commercials and Amazon’s “2nd Generation,” a coming-of-age tale that deals with the subject of an identity crisis.

Aside from acting, Ticoon is a talented athlete who is skilled at soccer, lacrosse, hockey, and basketball. He speaks English, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and frequently volunteers at his local church. Ticoon is determined to make it in Hollywood and he is actively seeking new roles and meeting with movie industry professionals in the Los Angeles area.

In an exclusive Interview, Ticoon recently discussed his current creative projects and his aspirations for the future of his career as an entertainer.

Acting and roles

Meagan Meehan (MM): What initially inspired you to seek a career as a professional actor and how did you find parts?

Ticoon Kim (TK): I started acting professionally in 2011 when I was ten years old, but I’ve enjoyed entertaining people long before my career began. The thought of being on screen and playing different roles has always appealed to me. When I found out that I was able to get into the business and be rewarded for something that I loved to do, I researched and found an agent that I knew would help me tremendously. The large majority of the roles that I have auditioned for are thanks to my agent.

MM: I couldn't help but notice that you are a lead in both of the series you've landed already; that's amazing, don't you think?

TK: It was definitely an amazing experience to be surrounded by so many talented actors. As an acting lead in the series, it was an awesome opportunity because it really developed my skill as an actor and improved my confidence significantly.

All of my roles have been so important and have an impact but because of the increased screen time I had the lead, it tested and grew my ability as an actor.

MM: Your roles thus far seem to be very gritty, do you agree with that?

TK: I would have to agree that I have played very gritty characters before, but for these jobs, I have to remind myself that they are just roles.

It was sometimes a challenge for me since it is so far from reality and who I am as a person, but it is something that I have become very accustomed to since it comes with the territory.

MM: What kind of characters do you enjoy playing most and why?

TK: Surprisingly, I really love when I get to study and play roles that differ from my everyday life. I enjoy these types of parts because they allow me to explore characters that I would normally have no idea about.

Current projects

MM: You recently landed a role in the Amazon series, “2nd Generation,” so how did that opportunity arise?

TK: I was very fortunate in the sense that my past work was content that the production team was familiar with and admired.

Due to their liking my acting, the production team felt that I would fit the role well.

MM: Can you please tell us a little bit about the storyline or messaging of the series and your character?

TK: “2nd Generation” was a very realistic look at how high school is for teens in the modern day. It truly is a current coming-of-age story that represents our multicultural society. The story revolves around my character and how he navigates through life as a teenager, and funny enough, the production team liked my name so much that they decided to adopt it into the story.

MM: As a Korean-and-Vietnamese actor, do you find that your opportunities are less or greater than Caucasian actors?

TK: I find that sometimes being an actor of Korean and Vietnamese descent filters the number of auditions that I receive.

However, the opportunities that do come my way are very special to me. I feel very proud and lucky to have my heritage and I believe that many of the roles I get are harder to fill because they at times can be specific to a certain ethnicity. In my opinion, the reason why there aren’t as many opportunities for Asian actors is that there aren't enough Asian creators telling their stories.

Entertainment goals

MM: I understand that there are a number of new opportunities in the works for you and that one may involve comedy. Can you tell us a little about how you can go from a 'gritty' background to such important comedic work?

TK: As I briefly mentioned, I always try to remain grounded and remember that the characters that I play are just roles.

That being said, I am naturally more of a comedian so I’m more drawn to work that involves a comedic theme. For me, it is more of a seamless transition to go from serious and ‘gritty’ work to funny and laughable parts.

MM: What cool stories and experiences have you garnered as a result of your involvement in the entertainment industry?

TK: I think that the entertainment industry is an incredible space and you never really know who you could potentially be working with. I have had the pleasure of being on set with actors that have more and less experience than me, but I must say it is really cool when you get to act with people that you personally watch. Let me start off by telling you that I am a loyal fan of “Degrassi” so when I got to work with Cristine Prosperi, who was a regular on the show, it was mind-blowing to me.

I have to admit, it is a crazy feeling when you’re working with someone that you grew up watching on television!

MM: Where would you like to be in your career in ten years from now and is there anything else that you want to mention?

TK: To be completely candid, in ten years I would love to have a successful career in the film and television industry whether it is in front of or behind the camera. One last thing that I’d like to say is that I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunities that I have experienced so far. As it is known, the entertainment industry can be unpredictable but I will always continue to strive and work hard in order to strengthen my talent and skill and achieve my goals. I want to thank anyone who has supported me on my journey and I hope to continue to grow as an entertainer.