1. Early Life and Background
Andrew Koji's early life was shaped by his mixed heritage and upbringing in England.
1.1. Birth and Family
Andrew Julian Hiroaki Koji was born on November 10, 1987, in Epsom, Surrey, England. His mother is English, and his father is Japanese. His parents separated when he was young.
1.2. Background and Upbringing
Koji was primarily raised by his mother in Epsom, Surrey. His mixed-race background influenced his early experiences and later his perspective on opportunities within the entertainment industry.
2. Education and Training
Koji dedicated his formative years to developing his skills in both martial arts and acting, pursuing specialized training in each field.
2.1. Martial Arts Training
At the age of 19, Koji decided to leave university to focus on his passions for acting and martial arts. In his twenties, he extensively studied and competed in Taekwondo. He also underwent rigorous training in Shaolin Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple UK, further honing his martial arts expertise. Koji stands 71 in (181 cm) tall.
2.2. Acting Training
After spending several years working in the film industries of Thailand and Japan, Koji returned to England to formally train as an actor. He attended the Actors' Temple Studio in London, where he developed his craft and prepared for a professional acting career.
3. Career
Andrew Koji's career spans various facets of the entertainment industry, from his initial steps as an extra to his breakthrough as a leading actor in international productions.
3.1. Early Career
Koji began his journey in the entertainment industry as a teenager, taking on extra work and producing short films. At 18, he moved to Thailand, where he continued his martial arts training while securing minor roles in the local film industry. He then spent several years working in Japan's film industry before returning to the United Kingdom. Upon his return, he began to secure more significant roles in British theatre and television. Koji has openly discussed the challenges faced by East Asian actors in the UK, noting that opportunities were, and largely remain, limited, though he acknowledges a gradual shift.
3.2. Breakthrough Role: Warrior
By 2017, Koji was on the verge of abandoning his acting career due to a persistent lack of television roles. However, his agent and mother encouraged him to submit an audition tape for the lead role of Ah Sahm in the Cinemax series Warrior. He successfully secured the part, which became his breakthrough role.
The series Warrior is based on an original concept by the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, which he had developed for the 1972 television series Kung Fu, starring David Carradine. Produced by filmmaker Justin Lin, Warrior is set in the late 1870s and follows Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who emigrates from China to the United States in search of his sister. He soon finds himself entangled in the violent Tong Wars of San Francisco. Koji found the character of Ah Sahm, who is of partial European ancestry, particularly relatable due to his own mixed heritage. The first season of Warrior premiered in April 2019, followed by the second season in October 2020. The third season was released on HBO Max. The series concluded after three seasons, totaling 30 episodes, running from 2019 to 2023.
3.3. Major Film and Television Roles
Following his success in Warrior, Koji expanded his presence in major film and television productions. In 2021, he portrayed Storm Shadow in the film Snake Eyes, a spin-off from the G.I. Joe franchise. The following year, he appeared as the assassin Yuichi Kimura in David Leitch's action film Bullet Train, alongside Brad Pitt. In 2023, he featured as Basho in the action-fantasy film Boy Kills World, directed by Moritz Mohr. Koji also joined the cast of the Netflix series Black Doves in 2024, playing Jason Davies across six episodes. His upcoming television appearances include an episode in the third season of Gangs of London in 2025 and a role as Darren Yoshida in Haven, which is currently in post-production.
3.4. Filmography
Andrew Koji's acting credits span film, television, video games, and theatre.
3.4.1. Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Project One | Soldier | Short film |
| 2007 | FB: Fighting Beat | Kali | |
| 2009 | 20th Century Boys 2: The Last Hope | Thai Gangster | |
| 2011 | The Missing Day | Huan | |
| 2011 | Mercutio's Dreaming: The Killing of a Chinese Actor | Lawrence Yang | Short film |
| 2011 | Gorjilla (Gojira) Suit | Yoshi | Short film |
| 2013 | Fast & Furious 6 | Undercover Police | Extra role (uncredited); stunt double for Sung Kang |
| Scrutiny | Stefan Aire | ||
| Above the Waist | Ken | Short film; also writer and producer | |
| A Situation | Yuji | ||
| #aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei | 1st Policeman / 1st Soldier | ||
| 2014 | Way of the Warrior | Goro | Short film |
| 2014 | Hollow | Swordman | Short film |
| 2014 | Chameleon | Guard Kuro | Short film |
| 2015 | Backwater | Justin Lau | Short film |
| Luck | Rai | ||
| Deep Pan Fury | Katashi Kimoto | ||
| 2016 | Hall of Mirrors | Basil | Short film; also writer and producer |
| 2017 | Trendy | Estate Agent 1 | |
| 2019 | Sandwich | Michael | Short film |
| 2021 | Snake Eyes | Tomisaburo Arashikage / Storm Shadow | |
| Cake Bomb | August | Short film | |
| 2022 | The Como Connection | August | Short film |
| Bullet Train | Yuichi Kimura | ||
| Sandwich 2: Machete to Wasabi | Michael | Short film | |
| 2023 | Seneca - On the Creation of Earthquakes | Felix | |
| Boy Kills World | Basho | ||
| Hubris | Alfie | Short film | |
| TBA | Worth the Wait | TBA | Post-production |
| TBA | Rob & Lucy | TBA | In production |
| TBA | Sixteen | TBA | Pre-production |
3.4.2. Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010, 2015 | Casualty | Keong Murong / Haro Reid | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Narrow Escapes | WW2 Soldier | |
| Seconds from Disaster | ATC Officer-JAL 123 | Episode: "Terrified Over Tokyo" | |
| 2013 | The Wrong Mans | Jason | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Film Lab Presents | Sam | Episode: "Deciding to Live" |
| 2015 | Acquitted | Chen Liang | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Call the Midwife | Benny Su | Episode #5.3 |
| 2017 | Jade Dragon | Mikey | 2 episodes |
| Finding Akira | James | TV film | |
| 2018 | The Innocents | Andrew | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | American Gods | CEO | Episode: "The Greatest Story Ever Told" |
| Peaky Blinders | Brilliant Chang | 2 episodes | |
| 2019-2023 | Warrior | Ah Sahm | Main role; 30 episodes |
| 2024 | Black Doves | Jason Davies | 6 episodes |
| 2025 | Gangs of London | TBA | Episode #3.1 |
| TBA | Haven | Darren Yoshida | Post-production |
3.4.3. Video Games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Final Fantasy XIV | Hien Rijin |
| 2024 | Black Myth: Wukong | Erlang Shen |
3.4.4. Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Production company |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | Star Wars Stage Show | Jedi | Weird and Wonderful |
| TBA | Richard III | Richard | The Actors Temple |
| TBA | A Streetcar Named Desire | Stanley Kowalski | The Actors Temple |
| 2013 | The Fu Manchu Complex | Dr. Petrie | Moongate Productions/ Mark Cartwright Productions |
| The Arrest of Ai Weiwei | Policeman / Soldier | Hampstead Theatre | |
| TBA | The Forgotten of the Forgotten | Guo | Radar Festival |
| TBA | Hidden | Jason/ Various other roles | Royal Court Theatre |
| 2016 | In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel | The Barman | Charing Cross Theatre |
| Shangri-La | Karma | Yellow Earth | |
| 2017 | Snow in Midsummer | Fang | RSC |
| A Tale of Two Cities | Jacques | Regents Park Open Air Theatre |
3.5. Other Activities
Beyond his acting roles, Andrew Koji has engaged in various other aspects of the entertainment industry. He has worked as a stunt double, notably for Sung Kang in Fast & Furious 6. Koji has also taken on roles as a writer and producer for some of his own films, including Above the Waist and Hall of Mirrors. His theatre work includes performances with prestigious companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, and at notable venues like the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Charing Cross Theatre, and Ovalhouse.
4. Personal Life
Andrew Koji's full name is Andrew Julian Hiroaki Koji. He was born on November 10, 1987. His personal life has significantly influenced his career path, particularly the support from his mother and agent, who played crucial roles in convincing him to persist in acting and pursue the opportunity that led to his breakthrough role in Warrior.
5. Evaluation and Impact
Andrew Koji's career trajectory highlights his versatility as both an actor and a martial artist, contributing significantly to the action and drama genres. His breakout role in Warrior not only showcased his martial arts prowess but also brought to light his nuanced acting abilities in a complex character. Koji has been vocal about the challenges faced by East Asian actors in the British entertainment industry, noting the historical limitations in opportunities despite his dual heritage. His own success in securing prominent international roles, such as in Snake Eyes and Bullet Train, serves as a testament to his talent and contributes to the ongoing shift towards greater representation and diverse casting in global productions.