Dante Basco

Dante Roman Titus Basco was born on August 29, 1975, in Pittsburg, California, and raised in Cerritos and Paramount, California. His career began with minor television roles, building a foundation for his later success. In the mid-1980s, Basco and his brothers performed as a breakdancing crew, gaining early experience in entertainment. He attended the Orange County High School of the Arts in the Music and Theatre Conservatory, graduating in 1993, which further prepared him for a career in the arts.

Basco’s breakthrough came with his role as Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys, in Steven Spielberg’s 1991 film “Hook,” starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. This role garnered him both critical attention and a Young Artist Award for Best Ensemble Cast. He later took on key roles such as Dolph in the 1999 cult film “But I’m a Cheerleader” and Ben Mercado in the independent film “The Debut.” His career also includes extensive voice acting work, notably as Prince Zuko in “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-2008) and Jake Long in “American Dragon: Jake Long” (2005-2007). He also voices General Iroh II in “The Legend of Korra” and Jai Kell in “Star Wars Rebels.”

In addition to his acting, Basco has expanded into production and writing. He co-founded Da Poetry Lounge in Hollywood in 1998, a venue for spoken word poetry. He produced the Kickstarter-funded short film “Bangarang” in 2017, centered on his character Rufio. In 2021, he directed and wrote “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers.” Basco released his memoir, “From Rufio to Zuko,” through independent publisher Not a Cult. He continues to engage with his audience through platforms like Twitch, streaming gameplay, and co-hosts the official Nickelodeon podcast “Avatar: Braving the Elements” alongside Janet Varney.