“S.W.A.T.” Star David Lim Reflects Series Finale, AAPI Representation, and His Unconventional Career Path

Lim, speaking shortly before the spinoff announcement, joined the Actors With Issues podcast to reflect on his unconventional path to Hollywood, the legacy of S.W.A.T., and his passion for reshaping AAPI representation in primetime television.

From Engineering to Entertainment

Lim shared that though he loved movies, he certainly didn’t grow up dreaming of being part of Hollywood himself. “I can’t sing, and I was a shy kid,” he said with a laugh. Born and raised in California, he studied engineering and worked in finance for three years after college. “I was making good money, had a solid job, and thought I’d live in San Diego the rest of my life.”

“But I wasn’t feeling challenged anymore. I felt like I was meant to do something different, something greater.” With no formal training, Lim turned to Google to figure out how to break into the industry. “I got headshots, found an acting class, submitted for student films, and just started teaching myself.”

Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles in 2009 and committed fully to the path. “It wasn’t always my dream,” he admitted. “But it became my dream.”

Breaking Barriers On and Off Screen

Though he had small roles on shows like Criminal Minds and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it was his curring role on Quantico that gave Lim his first major break. (Fun fact: Quantico was also the first series I ever worked on as an extra back in 2017, though I didn’t work directly with David.)

Then came S.W.A.T., where his character Tan was initially created for just six episodes. “That role turned into 163,” Lim said. “Everything I ever wanted to do in this industry happened in that role.” And what Lim wanted to do was far bigger than just landing a steady job.

“One of my goals when I got into this industry was to change the narrative around Asian male representation,” Lim shared. “So much of what we’ve seen has leaned into stereotypes. I wanted to help flip that.”

Tan was everything Asian men in media are often not allowed to be: confident, romantic, tough, and respected. “He’s in the action. He gets the girl. He’s a leader. And the writers understood how important that was,” Lim said. “We had a diverse writers room that wanted to tell Asian American stories and didn’t want to lean into tropes. They wanted to break them.”

Behind the scenes, it was Justin Lin who directed the pilot and helped create the role for Lim, nudging producers to make space for a character that didn’t exist in the original vision. “That’s what it takes -- not just actors, but directors, producers, and writers committed to change.”

A Bittersweet Ending

When news initially broke that S.W.A.T. would not return for a ninth season, Lim and the cast remained hopeful. “It felt like maybe there’s still a little magic left. It doesn’t feel like this is quite finished,” he said. Fans launched petitions, and Shemar Moore publicly advocated for the show’s continuation.

However, the recent announcement of S.W.A.T.: Exiles left many with mixed feelings. While Moore will reprise his role as Hondo, none of the other original cast members were invited to return. Lim voiced his disappointment in an emotional Instagram post, writing:

“I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale -- with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one. After eight incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition -- for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.”

Lim had spoken warmly of his time on the show. “These people became my family,” he said in the interview. “You spend that much time together, they’re your brothers and sisters.”

He also highlighted the show’s wide reach. “One of our producers told us we’ve employed over 1,800 actors over eight seasons,” Lim shared. “That’s one of the beautiful things about network TV. It gives people their start.”

Representation, Mentorship, and What Comes Next

Looking back, Lim is proud of the growth of his character and the storylines that elevated representation for Asian American men. “Tan started out as a young officer trying to prove himself,” he said. “Now, he’s one of the senior team members, a mentor to others. He’s running a SWAT academy. It’s been amazing to grow with him.”

He also credits the mentorship he received on set from co-stars like Patrick St. Esprit and Shemar Moore. “Patrick’s been a huge mentor. You learn things from him you can’t learn in an acting class or book,” he said. “And with Shemar, I watched how he led -- not just on camera, but behind the scenes too.”

Lim remains committed to breaking barriers in future roles. “I hope to continue taking on characters who are positive role models,” he said. “I’m grateful just to be mentioned in the conversation about Asian representation. That means everything.”

As the S.W.A.T. chapter closes -- at least for most of the original cast -- Lim leaves behind a legacy that’s far greater than just one role. “This role was never supposed to be,” he reflected. “But it became everything I ever wanted to do in this industry.”

Watch the full interview here, or tune in to Actors With Issues on your favorite podcast platform.

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