# Joseph Ashton (actor)

Joseph Ashton (born November 18, 1986) is an American former child actor, who was best known for his role as Oswald "Otto" Rocket in Nickelodeon's animated series Rocket Power.

## Early life

Joseph Ashton was born on November 18, 1986, in Cherokee, California. His parents reportedly have Cherokee descent. He is the younger brother of actor Mathew Valencia.

## Career

Ashton begin his acting career in 1994, he first appeared before the camera as an infant in a national McDonald's commercial. He had a regular role on the CBS drama L.A. Doctors. His guest-starring roles on television series include ER, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Walker, Texas Ranger, Martial Law, Cracker and Smart Guy. He appeared in Asylum as Young Tordone on HBO, and the NBC mini series Blind Faith.
Ashton's film debut was in the 1994 remake of The Little Rascals. He notably starred in the title role of the 1997 film, The Education of Little Tree, a well-reviewed low-budget film about a 1930s-era boy discovering his Native American heritage. He earned a Young Artist Award for Best Performance In A Feature Film for the movie. Roger Ebert, in his review said "Ashton, as Little Tree, is another of those young actors who is fresh and natural on camera; I believed in his character." The Boston Phoenix lauded him as "adorable and energetic."
Ashton starred as 'Sonny', in Slappy and the Stinkers and won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble Performance in a feature film. He also appeared in the 2003 remake of Where the Red Fern Grows, playing the main character, Billy Coleman.
Ashton was also the voice of Otto Rocket in Nickelodeon's animated series Rocket Power from 1999 to 2004. He reprised his role as the voice of Otto Rocket in the television movie Rocket Power: Race Across New Zealand for Nickelodeon and in the video games. Ashton has lent his voice to other animated projects including Hey Arnold, Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? and the animated films Babes in Toyland and Tarzan.
Ashton has also teamed up with EndlessEntertainment Co., and even produced his own films.

## Personal life

He is a graduate of the University of La Verne, where he majored in TV and radio broadcasting.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | The Little Rascals | Rascal | |
| 1997 | The Education of Little Tree | Little Tree | Young Artist Award |
| 1997 | Babes in Toyland | Jack (voice) | |
| 1998 | Slappy and the Stinkers | Sonny | Young Artist Award |
| 1999 | Tarzan | Ape Boy (voice) | |
| 1999 | Fallout | Ethan McCord | |
| 2003 | Where the Red Fern Grows | Billy Coleman | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman | Looks For The Sun | Episode: "Hearts and Minds" |
| 1997 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Nicholas Matacio | Episode: "A Father's Image" |
| 1997 | Smart Guy | Eldin | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1997 | Asylum | Young Nicholas Tordone | HBO film |
| 1998 | Cracker: Mind Over Murder | Jamie Ramos | Episode: "If" (part 1 and 2) |
| 1998–1999 | L.A. Doctors | Nick Newman | 9 episodes |
| 1998–2002 | Hey Arnold! | Iggy (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Martial Law | Sean Nolan | Episode: "Substitutes" |
| 1999–2004 | Rocket Power | Oswald "Otto" Rocket (voice) | Recurring role |
| 2001 | ER | Jeremy Norris | Episode: "If I Should Fall From Grace" |
| 2002 | Rocket Power: Race Across New Zealand | Otto Rocket (voice) | Television film |
| 2004 | Rocket Power: Island of the Menehune | Otto Rocket (voice) | Television film |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Mugen | Additional voices | Archive recordings |
| 2001 | Rocket Power: Team Rocket Rescue | Oswald "Otto" Rocket | |
| 2001 | Nicktoons Nick Tunes | Oswald "Otto" Rocket | |
| 2002 | Nickelodeon Party Blast | Oswald "Otto" Rocket | |
| 2002 | Rocket Power: Beach Bandits | Oswald "Otto" Rocket | |
| 2004 | Nicktoons Movin' | Oswald "Otto" Rocket | |