Ryan Potter

Ryan Potter
Born (1995-09-12) September 12, 1995
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Occupation Actor, martial artist
Years active 2010–present

Ryan Potter (born September 12, 1995) is an American actor and martial artist. Beginning his career as a professional actor at the age of fifteen, Potter is perhaps best known for his starring role as Mike Fukanaga on the Nickelodeon martial-arts themed comedy-action series Supah Ninjas, and for voicing the lead character, Hiro Hamada, in the Marvel-based Disney animated film Big Hero 6.

Early life

Potter was born on September 12, 1995 in Portland, Oregon. His father is Japanese and his mother is Caucasian; he uses his mother's last name, "Potter".[1][2][3] He is Jewish on his mother's side.[4] He was raised in Tokyo, Japan, until returning to the United States when he was seven.[5][6] He was raised by his single mother.[7][8] Potter grew up fluent in both Japanese and English, his first language being Japanese and his second English. At the age of eight, he began studying White Tiger kung fu, a discipline which he would continue to pursue throughout his teenage years.[9][10][11] Other childhood interests reportedly included baseball, skateboarding, and playing the drums.[5][6][12]

Career

In 2010, Potter began his acting career at the age of fifteen when he received a leaflet in his kung fu class announcing Nickelodeon was looking for teenagers to star in a new martial-arts themed program entitled Supah Ninjas.[13][14][15] After a few days of considering an acting career, Potter decided to audition, eventually landing the series' lead role of Mike Fukanaga, a typical American teen who discovers he's a descendent from a long line of ninjas.[6][12][16] In March 2012, Nickelodeon announced it had renewed Supah Ninjas for a second season.[17][18][19]

Following the premiere of Supah Ninjas in January 2011,[20] Potter became one of Nickelodeon's popular young stars, featured in numerous teen magazines and making personal appearances in the network's special, Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play and its reboot of the 90s game show Figure It Out as well as an appearance on its sister network's broadcast of the 2011 TeenNick HALO Awards.[21][22][23] In March 2012, Potter began a recurring role on Fred: The Show, portraying Fred's best friend.[24]

Potter later voiced Big Hero 6 protagonist Hiro Hamada and is set to reprise his role in the upcoming animated series based on the film.

Potter is also currently lobbying for the role of Tim Drake and created a concept fight scene using the character's signature bo staff as an audition. He ended the video with a plea to Ben Affleck to cast him as Robin. [25]

Philanthropy

In 2011, Potter founded the organization "Toy Box of Hope", a charity which holds an annual holiday collection drive for children in homeless shelters and transitional living facilities in the Los Angeles area.[10][26] During the second annual event in 2012, Potter spoke of the focus of the organization, stating "[W]hat we want to do is provide bedsheets, jackets and toys to [homeless shelters], so these kids are like, 'Wow, someone cares, there's hope.'"[27] In 2012, Potter was reportedly planning to expand Toy Box of Hope to include a "Birthday Party Box" program.[26]

Advocacy

In June 2012, Potter became one of the youngest celebrities to lend his voice to California's No H8 Campaign in support of same-sex marriage. When explaining his involvement, sixteen-year-old Potter stated "I know what it feels like to be bullied. And I will not tolerate the thought of anyone, for any reason, being bullied. It starts with young people, and it can end with young people. As we learn to embrace our diversity, we become stronger, more tolerant. The differences are beautiful. The differences matter. It's what makes life an adventure."[28]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Save the Date Vince Short film
2014 Senior Project Peter Hammer Indie Film
2014 Big Hero 6 Hiro Hamada Voice
2014 Write It in the Sky (Ken Loi Remix) Nomad Music video
2015 Underdog Kids Eric Barret Indie film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2011–2013 Supah Ninjas Mike Fukanaga 39 episodes
2012 Fred: The Show Fred's Best Friend 2 episodes
2016 Lab Rats: Elite Force Riker
2017 Big Hero 6: The Series Hiro Hamada Voice role, upcoming Disney XD series

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2015–present R Styles Himself Web series

Video games

Year Title Voice
2014 Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Hiro Hamada
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 Hiro Hamada[29]

References

  1. Fred Topel. "Ryan Potter Talks About Cat Rocket Boots, Film School and BIG HERO 6 with Nuke the Fridge!". Nuke The Fridge.
  2. "Meet the saviors of San Fransokyo in 'Big Hero 6'". USA Today. July 13, 2014.
  3. Martial Arts Entertainment. "Big Hero 6 Wins Best Animated Film". Martial Arts Entertainment.
  4. "disrespectful ryan on Twitter". Twitter.
  5. 1 2 "News – Happy Birthday Ryan Potter!". Nick.com. September 12, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Super Ninjas Press Site – Bios – Ryan Potter". NickPress.com. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  7. "Ryan Potter Celebrates Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge - Big Brothers Big Sisters". bbbs.org.
  8. Amanda Roark. "Ryan Potter at Great Wolf Lodge - Great Wolf Resorts". greatwolf.com.
  9. Kate Conrad (April 16, 2011). "Twelve Things About Ryan Potter". AOL Kids. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Exclusive Interview: 'Supah Ninjas' Star Ryan Potter". Fanlala. July 23, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  11. "Ryan Potter stars on Nick's "Supah Ninjas"". Asiance Magazine. January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Nickelodeon – About Ryan Potter – Ryan Potter's Bio". Nick.com. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  13. "Supah Ninja's Ryan Potter – My Day My Life". Alloy TV. September 16, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  14. "Supah Ninjas: Carlos Knight and Ryan Potter". StuffWeLike.com. May 7, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  15. "Watch Ryan Potter Film an Episode of Supah Ninjas!". Popstar!. December 30, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  16. "Ryan Potter 'Supah Ninjas!' Interview". ClevverTV. April 21, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  17. Carl Marcucci (March 15, 2012). "Nickelodeon Presents 2012 Upfront". RBR.com. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  18. "Entertainment briefs: 'Supah Ninjas,' 'From the Top'". Tribune-Review. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  19. "Nickelodeon's Ryan Potter Talks Supah Ninjas Season 2". Fanlala. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  20. Robyn Ross (January 10, 2011). "George Takei Joins New Nickelodeon Series". TV Guide. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  21. Bill Gorman (September 24, 2011). "Largest Ever WorldWide Day of Play". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  22. Marc Snetiker (June 8, 2012). "Nickelodeon's Figure It Out' Reboot". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  23. "Supah Ninjas Cast at the HALO Awards". Popstar!. October 27, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  24. Nickelodeon (April 23, 2012). "Fred: The Show: Season 1, Episode 14". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  25. "Tim Drake Concept Fight". September 10, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  26. 1 2 "Ryan Potter Teams Up with Kyle Weiss". ClevverTV. July 19, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  27. "Ryan Potter Hosts The Toy Box of Hope Charity Drive". Nick.com. December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  28. Ryan Potter (June 13, 2012). "Why I Posed, by Ryan Potter". No H8 Campaign. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  29. Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
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