Kim Sung Won was a Korean actor, voice actor, and theater actor. He was born in 1936 in Pyongyang, South Pyongan Province (which became part of North Korea) but spent his childhood in Wonju City in Gangwon Province, remaining in South Korea after the nation divided.
After graduating from Seorabeol University of Arts (now part of Cheong Ang University) with a degree in theatre and film, Kim made his debut as a CBS voice actor in 1956 before starring in films and television as a contracted actor with TBC from 1966-1980 then almost exclusively for KBS until 1995. He continued performing on stage in over 60 plays ranging from Shakespeare to American modern classics to Korean folklore driven works. His first major award for acting was in 1974 when he won the TBC Acting Award. He has also been in commercials and served as the MC for music programs and political documentaries and doing narration work for local travel programs.
Kim, who lived over 50 years with diabetes, was an active advocate for diabetes awareness and education. In order to manage his diabetes, he got rid of his car in 1998 and instead walked for 2 hours or 12,000 steps a day, he brought his own meals to work to manage his salt and sugar intake, and he served as a public relations ambassador for the Korean Diabetes Association from 2005 onward. He was also chairman of the Korea Musical Association and served as an advisor to the Seoul Musical Promotion Association. In early 2022, he was diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer, passing away on August 8, 2022.
(Source: Wikipedia, Namu Wiki, MyDramaList)
