Brian Tee Bio: Age, Movies, TV Shows, Wife, Career & Net Worth
Brian Tee is a Japanese-born American actor known for his versatile television and film performances. He gained worldwide attention as D.K., the Drift King, in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Later, he became widely recognized as Dr. Ethan Choi on NBC’s Chicago Med. He played the character from 2015 until 2022.
Tee has also appeared in major productions such as Jurassic World, The Wolverine, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. More recently, he played Francis Xavier Quinn in Reacher Season 3.
His career spans action films, medical dramas, comedies, thrillers, and international productions. Therefore, his filmography shows impressive range and consistency.
Brian Tee Quick Facts
- Full name: Jae-Beom Takata
- Professional name: Brian Tee
- Date of birth: March 15, 1977
- Age: 49 years old in 2026
- Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Japanese and Korean heritage
- Education: University of California, Berkeley
- Profession: Actor
- Spouse: Mirelly Taylor
- Children: One daughter
- Years active: 2000–present
Sources identify Tee as being born in Okinawa on March 15, 1977.
Brian Tee Early Life and Family Background
Brian Tee was born Jae-Beom Takata in Okinawa, Japan. His family moved to California when he was only two years old.
He grew up in Hacienda Heights, California, and developed interests in sports and entertainment. During high school, he became involved in school activities and football.
According to biographical sources, Tee attended Glen A. Wilson High School. He later studied at the University of California, Berkeley.
He earned a degree connected to dramatic arts and acting. His education helped him develop the performance skills that shaped his professional career.
Tee also has Japanese and Korean heritage. His multicultural background has influenced some of his international acting opportunities.
Brian Tee Education and Acting Ambitions
Tee attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied dramatic arts. His academic experience gave him a strong foundation for professional acting.
However, Tee did not immediately become a major Hollywood star. Instead, he built his career through smaller television and film roles.
His early work required patience and persistence. Consequently, he gradually developed a reputation as a dependable character actor.
Tee also developed skills that helped him handle physically demanding roles. His background in sports and martial arts contributed to his action-oriented performances.
Brian Tee Acting Career
Brian Tee began his professional screen career around 2000. He appeared in smaller television roles before gaining larger opportunities.
His early credits included shows such as The Pretender, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, JAG, and Family Law.
He also appeared in Austin Powers in Goldmember. Later, he secured guest roles across several popular television programs.
These early appearances helped Tee learn how Hollywood productions operated. More importantly, they allowed him to demonstrate his versatility.
He eventually earned roles in Entourage, Grey’s Anatomy, Jericho, The Unit, and Without a Trace. His television experience continued expanding throughout the 2000s.
Brian Tee in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
One of Brian Tee’s biggest breakthroughs came in 2006 with The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
He played D.K., also known as the Drift King. The character served as the film’s major antagonist.
Tee brought confidence and intensity to the role. His performance helped make D.K. one of the memorable characters from the franchise.
The movie also introduced Tee to a much wider international audience. As a result, Hollywood filmmakers began recognizing his potential for major action roles.
His role in Tokyo Drift remains one of the most frequently searched parts of his career.
Brian Tee Movies
Brian Tee has built an impressive movie career alongside his television work.
He appeared in The Wolverine in 2013, starring alongside Hugh Jackman. He later appeared in Jurassic World in 2015.
In Jurassic World, Tee played Katashi Hamada, the head of park security. The blockbuster became another major addition to his Hollywood filmography.
Tee then portrayed Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. The 2016 movie gave him another prominent action role.
His other film credits include We Were Soldiers, Fun with Dick and Jane, Finishing the Game, and No Tears for the Dead.
He has therefore worked across Hollywood productions and international projects.
Brian Tee on Chicago Med
For many television viewers, Dr. Ethan Choi remains Brian Tee’s signature role.
Tee joined Chicago Med in 2015. He played Ethan Choi, an emergency medicine physician with strong leadership qualities.
The character quickly became an important member of the hospital team. Tee portrayed Choi as disciplined, compassionate, and determined.
His performance also allowed him to explore emotional storylines. These included relationships, family issues, professional conflicts, and personal challenges.
Tee appeared across the show’s early seasons before leaving the main cast in 2022. His departure marked the end of a major chapter in his television career.
He also appeared within the broader Chicago television universe. Therefore, fans could see his character across connected episodes and storylines.
Brian Tee Awards and Recognition
Tee received recognition for his work on Chicago Med. In 2020, he won a NAMIC Vision Award for Best Performance – Drama.
That recognition highlighted his ability to handle demanding dramatic material. His performance as Ethan Choi required both emotional depth and professional authority.
Earlier in his career, Tee also received festival recognition for his work in independent productions.
These achievements demonstrate that his career extends beyond blockbuster entertainment. He has consistently balanced mainstream projects with character-driven performances.
Brian Tee in Reacher Season 3
In 2025, Brian Tee joined the cast of Reacher Season 3. He portrayed Francis Xavier Quinn, a dangerous antagonist connected to Jack Reacher’s past.
The season adapted Lee Child’s novel Persuader. The story followed Reacher as he worked undercover with the DEA.
Tee’s Quinn represented a significant change from his previous television roles. Instead of playing a heroic doctor, he portrayed a ruthless and threatening villain.
The role allowed him to return to the action genre. It also connected him with a major streaming franchise starring Alan Ritchson.
Entertainment Weekly identified Tee among the key additions to the third season’s cast.
Brian Tee in A House of Dynamite
Tee also appeared in A House of Dynamite, a 2025 political thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
The film features a large ensemble cast and explores a high-stakes geopolitical crisis.
Tee played SAIC Ken Cho in the film. The project added another major production to his recent screen credits.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists A House of Dynamite among Tee’s recent film credits.
Brian Tee Other Recent and Upcoming Projects
Brian Tee continues to work across television and film. His recent credits demonstrate his ability to move between different genres.
IMDb currently lists Tee in Doc, where he appeared as Bobby Ho in 2026. It also lists his upcoming work in The Probability of Miracles.
Additionally, Tee has a voice role connected to Get Jiro!. IMDb currently lists that project as being in post-production.
These projects suggest that Tee continues expanding his career beyond the roles that first made him famous.
Is Brian Tee in Reacher?
Yes, Brian Tee appears in Reacher Season 3. He plays Francis Xavier Quinn, one of the season’s major antagonists.
His character creates a personal connection to Reacher. Therefore, the role carries both action and emotional significance.
The series premiered its third season in February 2025. Tee joined a cast that included Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Anthony Michael Hall, Sonya Cassidy, and Olivier Richters.
Is Brian Tee Still in Chicago Med?
Brian Tee left his regular role as Dr. Ethan Choi in 2022.
His departure followed several seasons on the long-running medical drama. However, his performance remains an important part of the show’s history.
Tee’s work helped establish Ethan Choi as one of the recognizable characters in the Chicago Med universe.
The actor later focused on different projects, including action and thriller productions.
Who Is Brian Tee’s Wife?
Brian Tee is married to actress Mirelly Taylor. The couple married in 2013 and have one daughter.
Tee generally keeps his family life relatively private. However, biographical sources identify Taylor as his wife and confirm that they have one child.
His daughter, Madelyn Skyler, was born in 2015. Tee has described his family as an important source of inspiration.
Brian Tee Net Worth
Many websites publish estimates of Brian Tee’s net worth, but reliable financial records do not confirm an exact figure.
Therefore, readers should treat online net worth estimates with caution. Actors earn income from salaries, residuals, endorsements, producing, and other professional activities.
Tee’s long career and major productions suggest substantial professional success. However, an exact personal fortune remains difficult to verify.
Brian Tee Height and Personal Details
Brian Tee stands around 5 feet 9 inches tall, according to entertainment databases.
He maintains an active lifestyle and has shown an interest in fitness and martial arts.
His physical abilities have supported several action-oriented performances. Those skills became particularly useful in projects such as Tokyo Drift, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Reacher.
Brian Tee Languages and Heritage
Tee has Korean and Japanese heritage. His background has helped him connect with both American and international productions.
Biographical sources also note that he speaks English, Korean, and Japanese. This multilingual ability adds another dimension to his professional versatility.
Consequently, Tee has worked in productions involving different cultural settings.
Brian Tee Career Legacy
Brian Tee has built a career around versatility, persistence, and character-driven performances.
He moved from small television appearances to major Hollywood franchises. Later, he established himself as a television drama lead.
His portrayal of D.K. introduced him to international action audiences. Meanwhile, Dr. Ethan Choi made him a familiar face on network television.
His later work in Reacher showed another side of his acting range. He successfully shifted from a compassionate doctor to a dangerous antagonist.
That versatility remains one of the strongest features of his career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brian Tee
How old is Brian Tee?
Brian Tee is 49 years old in 2026. He was born on March 15, 1977, in Okinawa, Japan.
What is Brian Tee famous for?
Brian Tee is best known for playing D.K. in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. He also gained major recognition as Dr. Ethan Choi in Chicago Med.
Is Brian Tee Japanese?
Brian Tee was born in Japan and has Japanese and Korean heritage. He later moved to California as a young child.
Who did Brian Tee play in Reacher?
Tee played Francis Xavier Quinn in Reacher Season 3. His character serves as a major antagonist in the season.
Who is Brian Tee married to?
Brian Tee is married to actress Mirelly Taylor. The couple has one daughter.
What happened to Ethan Choi on Chicago Med?
Brian Tee left Chicago Med in 2022 after playing Dr. Ethan Choi for several seasons.
What movies has Brian Tee appeared in?
His notable movies include Tokyo Drift, The Wolverine, Jurassic World, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, and A House of Dynamite.
Final Thoughts on Brian Tee
Brian Tee’s biography reflects a steady rise through television, film, and streaming entertainment.
He started with small roles and gradually earned major opportunities. His breakthrough as D.K. changed the direction of his career.
Then, Chicago Med established him as a respected television performer. More recently, Reacher demonstrated his ability to command a darker role.
As of 2026, Tee continues developing his film and television career. His recent credits show that he remains active across several genres.
Ultimately, Brian Tee stands out for his range, international background, and long-lasting Hollywood career.
