Daniel Dae Kim is a legend. Honestly, if you grew up watching Lost or Hawaii Five-0, you already know the man has a presence that can anchor an entire show. But when it was announced he’d be playing Fire Lord Ozai in the Netflix live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the internet basically lost its mind.
People were hyped. And for good reason.
But here is the thing: most fans didn't realize this wasn't his first time in the Four Nations. Far from it. While we all see him now as the chiseled, terrifying face of the Fire Nation, Daniel Dae Kim has been a stealthy MVP of the Avatar franchise for nearly two decades. He's actually the only actor to have major roles in the original ATLA animated series, The Legend of Korra, and the live-action remake.
That's the "Avatar Trifecta."
Daniel Dae Kim Avatar Roles: More Than Just a Pretty Jawline
Let’s talk about the history. Back in 2006, long before he was the "Big Bad," Kim voiced General Fong in the Avatar: The Last Airbender episode "The Avatar State."
Remember Fong? He was the unhinged Earth Kingdom general who tried to forcibly trigger Aang’s Avatar State by "killing" Katara. It was a dark, desperate performance. He played a man so consumed by the war that he became a villain in his own right, which, looking back, was a pretty great warm-up for Ozai.
Then came The Legend of Korra. Kim stepped into the shoes of Hiroshi Sato. This wasn't just a monster-of-the-week role. Sato was a complex, tragic figure—a brilliant inventor who helped the Equalists because of his deep-seated hatred for benders. It’s a role that required a mix of fatherly warmth and cold, calculating industrialism.
If you haven't rewatched those scenes lately, go back and listen. The transition from the "loving father" to the "man in the mecha-suit" is chilling.
Why the Netflix Ozai is Actually Different
When Kim was cast as Fire Lord Ozai for the Netflix series, he had some massive boots to fill. Mark Hamill—yes, Luke Skywalker himself—voiced the original animated Ozai. Hamill played him like a force of nature. He was a shadow for two seasons, a mythic evil that didn't even show his face until the final act.
Daniel Dae Kim’s Ozai is a different beast entirely.
Basically, the live-action version pulls the curtain back way earlier. We see him in the very first episode. We see his "parenting." And I use that term very loosely.
Kim has talked openly about wanting to find the "humanity" in Ozai. Not to make him likable—let’s be real, the guy is a genocidal tyrant—but to make his motivations feel grounded. In the Netflix version, his relationship with Zuko (Dallas Liu) and Azula (Elizabeth Yu) is more of a dark, twisted chess match. He isn't just waiting for the Comet; he’s actively molding his "legacy."
The Physical Transformation
You’ve probably seen the photos. Or the shirtless Agni Kai scene.
Daniel Dae Kim didn't just show up and read lines. He went through an intense physical regimen to look like a man who spent his entire life training to be the most powerful firebender on the planet. At 55, he was arguably in better shape than most 20-year-olds.
He didn't just want to act like a threat. He wanted to look like one.
📖 Related: Carrie Underwood First Album: Why Some Hearts Still Hits Different 20 Years Later
Honestly, it worked. When he stands over Zuko in the live-action Agni Kai, there is a physical gravity to his performance that you just can't get from a voice booth. It’s scary because it feels real.
The Nuance of the Fire Lord
One of the biggest misconceptions is that Ozai is just "evil for the sake of evil."
In the original show, that was mostly true. He was a symbol of the war. But in the Netflix series, Daniel Dae Kim brings a certain "burden of leadership" to the role. He views the Fire Nation’s conquest as a family responsibility. He thinks he’s doing what is necessary to finish what Sozin started.
- Transactional Love: He treats his children like assets. If Zuko is a "failure," he’s discarded. If Azula shows promise, she’s groomed.
- The Weight of History: Kim plays Ozai as a man who feels the eyes of his ancestors on him. There’s a constant tension there.
- Real-World Stakes: Because we see more of his daily life, the cruelty feels more personal. It’s not just a "cartoon villain" plan; it’s a father choosing to burn his son to teach a "lesson."
How to Appreciate the Performance
If you’re a purist who only loves the 2005 original, you might find the live-action Ozai a bit jarring. That’s fair. But if you look at it as a character study, Kim is doing some of the most interesting work in the show.
He’s taking a character that was essentially a "final boss" and turning him into a person with a philosophy. A terrifying, wrong-headed philosophy, but a philosophy nonetheless.
Next time you watch, pay attention to the silence. Kim uses his facial expressions to convey a lot of Ozai’s disdain and internal calculation. He doesn't always need to shout to be the most intimidating person in the room.
If you want to really get the full "Daniel Dae Kim Avatar" experience, here is a quick roadmap:
- Watch "The Avatar State" (ATLA Season 2, Ep 1): Listen for the frantic, desperate energy he brings to General Fong.
- Binge The Legend of Korra Season 1: Pay attention to Hiroshi Sato’s betrayal. It’s a masterclass in voice acting.
- The Netflix Agni Kai: Watch the scene where he scars Zuko. Look at his eyes—Kim says he tried to play it with a mix of "disappointment and duty."
Daniel Dae Kim didn't just join a franchise. He became its backbone. Whether he’s an Earth Kingdom General, a non-bending revolutionary, or the Fire Lord himself, he’s consistently the most compelling person on screen.
Start by re-watching the original General Fong episode to see how far his "villainy" has evolved over twenty years. You’ll see that the seeds of the Fire Lord were planted much earlier than anyone realized.