Dante Basco
Dante R. Basco (born August 29, 1975)[1] is an American film, television and voice actor. He is best known for his role as Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg's Hook, for voicing the titular character of American Dragon: Jake Long, and for voicing Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some other roles he voiced are Julian Lee in Fakin' da Funk, Zuko's grandson: Iroh II, in The Legend of Korra, Shingo in EA's Skate, Fukushima in Kim Possible, Kwok Wong in The Proud Family, Jingmei in The Boondocks, Kenny Rodgers in Firebreather, Tuck in Generator Rex, Scorpion in Ultimate Spider-Man, Jai Kell in Star Wars Rebels, Cheddar in We Bare Bears, Javier in Victor and Valentino, Dolph in But I'm a Cheerleader and Spin Kick from Carmen Sandiego.
Dante Basco | |
|---|---|
Basco at Nan Desu Kan 2017 | |
| Born | Dante R. Basco August 29, 1975 Pittsburg, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, voice actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Relatives |
|
Early life
Basco was born in Pittsburg, California, and raised in Cerritos and Paramount, California.[2] He has four siblings, including actor Dion Basco.[3] In Dante's early years, he was part of the Street Freaks breakdancing crew with his brothers.[4] He attended Orange County High School of the Arts[5] in the Music and Theatre Conservatory and graduated in 1993.
Career
He got into acting taking on minor roles in television. Basco's breakout performance was when he appeared as the leader Rufio of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg's 1991 film Hook with Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman.[6]
In June 2017, he agreed with Jonah Feingold to work on a new film together, Bangarang, about the character Rufio. The development of the project started with a Kickstarter campaign.[7]
Basco streams gameplay on Twitch.[8]
Basco released his memoir From Rufio to Zuko through the independent publisher Not a Cult.[8]
Avatar: Braving the Elements, an official Nickelodeon companion podcast to Avatar: The Last Airbender, premiered on June 22, 2021, hosted by Basco and Janet Varney. The podcast is an episode-by-episode deep dive into the Avatarverse with special guest appearances.[9]
Voice acting
Basco has done voice acting for many animated productions, including Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jai Kell in Star Wars Rebels and Jake Long in American Dragon: Jake Long. He also voice acted Kwok Wong in The Proud Family.[10] He voiced Matt Martin/Kewl Breeze in the short-lived animated series Zevo-3. He also voiced General Iroh, Zuko's grandson, in The Legend of Korra.[11]
He contributed additional voices for Aion, Mortal Kombat X and Saints Row. He also voiced Shingo in the Skate series and Seeing Farther in the Call of Juarez series.[11]
Personal life
Basco's fiancée is Alice Rehemutula, a Chinese actress, producer and TV host with whom he collaborates on social media and other projects.[12]
Filmography
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2022) |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Cold Dog Soup | Chinese Boy | |
| 1991 | The Perfect Weapon | Jimmy Ho | |
| 1991 | Hook | Rufio | |
| 1995 | A Goofy Movie | Additional Voices | |
| 1995 | Fist of the North Star | Bat | Direct-to-video |
| 1997 | Fakin' da Funk | Julian Lee | |
| 1999 | But I'm a Cheerleader | Dolph | |
| 2000 | The Debut | Ben Mercado | |
| 2001 | Extreme Days | Corey Ng | |
| 2003 | Love Don't Cost a Thing | Spoken Word Artist | |
| 2003 | Biker Boyz | Philly | |
| 2006 | Take the Lead | Ramos | |
| 2008 | Nite Tales: The Movie | Gerard | |
| 2009 | Blood and Bone | Pinball | Direct-to-video |
| 2010 | Subject: I Love You | Nicky | |
| 2014 | JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time | Karate Kid | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2014 | Cesar Chavez | Filipino Striker | |
| 2014 | Bad Asses | Gangly Asian | |
| 2014 | Murder101 | D. Phillips | |
| 2019 | The Creatress | Franklin | |
| 2021 | Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild[13] | Aiden | Voice |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Wonder Years | Eddie, Kid #3 | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Santa Barbara | Amado | 4 episodes |
| 1989 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Luis | Episode: "15 and Getting Straight" |
| 1989 | Highway To Heaven | Champ Hopkins | Episode: "Choices" |
| 1989 | Booker | Ping Pong | Episode: "Razing Arrizola" |
| 1990 | The New Adam 12 | Manko | Episode: "Kid Kop" |
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Kid (uncredited) | |
| 1993 | Raven | Lucas | Episode: "The Journey" |
| 1993–94 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Sammy | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | 500 Nations | Additional Voices | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Kevin | Episode: "Cold Feet, Hot Body" |
| 1995 | Alien Nation: Body and Soul | Trash #2 | Television film |
| 1996 | Nash Bridges | Jimmy Chang | Episode: "Home Invasion" |
| 1997 | Riot[14] | Jeff Lee | Television film Segment: "Gold Mountain" |
| 1996 | Touched by an Angel | Robbie Hawkins | Episode: "Random Acts" |
| 1998 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Rudy Hernandez | Episode: "Bright Lights/Magic Mightyman/The Student/Scribbles/County Mystery" |
| 1998 | Moesha | Marco | 4 episodes |
| 1998 | Promised Land | Tito | Episode: "Out of Bounds" |
| 1999 | Viper | Rishi Lama | Episode: "Holy Terror" |
| 1999 | Undressed | Jake | 5 episodes |
| 2000 | The Steve Harvey Show | Lee | Episode: "Guess Who's Not Coming to Counseling" |
| 2001 | A Kitty Bobo Show | Kitty Bobo | Voice, pilot |
| 2001 | The Chronicle | Noodles | Episode: "Here There Be Dragons" |
| 2002 | Providence | Justin Kim | Episode: "All the King's Men" |
| 2002 | The Proud Family | Quoc Wong | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Kim Possible | Fukushima | Voice, episode: "Exchange" |
| 2004 | Johnny Bravo | Filipino, Man #3 | Voice, episode: "Win an El Toro Guapo/Witch-ay Woman" |
| 2004 | That's So Raven | Phil | 4 episodes |
| 2005–07 | American Dragon: Jake Long | Jake Long | Voice, main role |
| 2005 | Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Voice, episode: "Morpholomew" | |
| 2005–08 | Avatar: The Last Airbender | Prince Zuko | Voice, main role, 50 episodes |
| 2006 | Entourage | Fukijama | Episode: "What About Bob?" |
| 2007 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Milan | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Community | Mike's Friend | Uncredited Episode: "Comparative Religion" |
| 2010 | The Boondocks | Jingmei | Voice, episode: "The Red Ball" |
| 2010 | Dark Blue | June Bug | Episode: "Jane Wayne" |
| 2010 | Zevo-3 | Matt Martin / Kewl Breeze | Voice, 6 episodes |
| 2010 | Firebreather | Kenny Rogers | Voice, television film |
| 2010 | CSI: Miami | Ruben Franco | Episode: "Happy Birthday" |
| 2010–12 | Generator Rex | Tuck | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2011 | Prime Suspect | Bounce | Episode: "Carnivorous Sheep" |
| 2012 | Hawaii Five-0 | Nicky Chang | Episode: "Pu'olo (The Package)" |
| 2012–14 | The Legend of Korra | General Iroh | Voice, 6 episodes |
| 2013 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Scorpion | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Star Wars Rebels | Jai Kell | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2018 | A Million Little Things | Cory | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | We Bare Bears | Cheddar | Voice, episode: "Baby Orphan Ninja Bears" |
| 2019 | Drunk History | The Rabbit | Episode: "The Rabbit" |
| 2019–20 | Victor & Valentino | Javier, additional voices | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Carmen Sandiego | Spinkick | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Trese | Bagyon Kulimlim | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Robot Chicken | Squall Leonhart, Looky Loo, Zuko | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Little Demon | Ignatius | Voice, 2 episodes |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–19 | Nostalgia Critic | Himself | 6 episodes |
| 2016–19 | Camp Camp | Billy "Snake" Niksslip | Voice, 6 episodes |
| 2020 | Death Battle | Zuko | Voice, episode: "Zuko VS Shoto Todoroki (Avatar vs My Hero Academia)"[15] |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Saints Row | Stilwater's Residents |
| 2006 | Call of Juarez | Sees Farther |
| 2006 | Scarface: The World Is Yours | Additional Voices |
| 2007 | Skate | Shingo |
| 2007 | Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth | Zuko |
| 2007 | Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno | |
| 2008 | Aion | Additional Voices |
| 2009 | Terminator Salvation | Resistance Soldier |
| 2009 | Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood | Seeing Farther |
| 2009 | Skate 2 | Shingo |
| 2010 | Final Fantasy XIII | Cocoon Inhabitants |
| 2010 | Skate 3 | Shingo |
| 2011 | Nicktoons MLB | Prince Zuko |
| 2015 | Mortal Kombat X | Additional Voices[16] |
Awards
- Young Artist Award – Hook
- Won – Best Ensemble Cast
- Nominated – Best Young Actor
See also
References
- ^ . California Birth Index. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ Farris, Christopher (February 11, 2019). "These Filipinos Are the Voices of Modern Cartoon and Anime Characters". Esquire. Hearst Communications. from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ Jermel-Lynn Quillopo (22 March 2013). . Honolulu Pulse. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ Alter, Ethan (September 24, 2021). "Dante Basco reflects on diversity in Hollywood as a child star: 'No one even knew what a Filipino was'". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ Catherine Gewertz (December 26, 1992). "The Fine Art of Fame". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Gabi Duncan (12 August 2014). "Hook Actor Dante Basco Remembers Robin Williams With Touching Video and Letter". E!. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ Ada Tsend (28 June 2017). "Remember Rufio in 'Hook'? The actor is trying to keep his cult character's legacy alive". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^ a b Oller, Jacob (2020-07-10). "Avatar: The Last Airbender's Dante Basco on 'tango' of doing live, audience-driven Twitch show". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
- ^ Dar, Taimur (June 23, 2021). "INTERVIEW: Janet Varney and Dante Basco talk BRAVING THE ELEMENTS for the Last Airbender Podcast". Comics Beat. from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ Talia Baugnon (30 September 2014). "Dante Basco talks Hollywood at LMU". Los Angeles Loyolan. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ a b Christopher John Farley (19 Jun 2012). "'The Legend of Korra' Creators Preview the Season Finale and as Karate Kid In Justice League Trapped In Time". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ Gray, Lauren (2021-10-23). "Dante Basco Played Rufio In "Hook." See Him Now At 46". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ Schuhart, Jonah (July 16, 2021). "Netflix's Trailer For Monster Hunter: Legends Of The Guild Teases Monstrous Action". Looper. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ Terry Kelleher (29 April 1997). . People. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ "DEATH BATTLE! Zuko VS Shoto Todoroki (Avatar VS My Hero Academia)". Rooster Teeth. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ Brian Chard [@bcharred] (April 14, 2015). "Huge thanks to the stellar MKX voice actors: Troy @TroyBakerVA (Shinnok/EBlack/Fujin), Ronald M. Banks (Quan Chi); Ashly Burch (Cassie)..." (Tweet). Retrieved April 21, 2015 – via Twitter.
Brian Chard [@bcharred] (April 14, 2015). "Danielle Nicolet (Jacqui/Sareena); Fred Tatasciore (Tremor); and Grey DeLisle and Dante Basco with some extra VO help. You're all amazing!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 21, 2015 – via Twitter.