A native of Aomori, Japan, born March 5, 1985, clean-cut actor Kenichi Matsuyama began appearing on-creen in his late teens, where he specialized in portrayals of upbeat, genial young men, often in a heroic or romantic capacity. Particularly high-profile projects included the features Death Note (2006) and its sequel, Death Note: The Last Name (2007) (as the ingenious, hotshot detective 'L' Ryuzaki), and the romantic seriocomedy Don't Laugh at My Romance (2008) (as a handsome young art student who catches the eye of a female professor many years his senior), and the comedy Detroit Metal City (2008) as an aspiring musician turned unlikely goth rock star. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide