Dante Basco

Danté Roman Titus Basco is an American actor, voice actor, and dancer. He is best known for playing Rufio in the 1991 live-action Peter Pan film Hook, in addition to his voice acting roles which include Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jake Long from the Disney series American Dragon: Jake Long, and General Iroh of the United Forces in The Legend of Korra.
Basco hosts the official podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements, with Janet Varney.
== Avatar: The Last Airbender credits ==
=== Prince Zuko ===
49 episodes and 2 shorts
* "Bending Battle" (short)
* "School Time Shipping" (short)
Basco was credited for voicing Zuko in "The Library" even though he did not appear in the episode.
=== Soldier #1 ===
=== Additional voices ===
== The Legend of Korra credits ==
=== General Iroh ===
== Avatar: Braving the Elements credits ==
=== Host ===
104 free episodes and 7 premium episodes
* 1. "The Boy in the Iceberg"
* 2. "Origin Stories with Mike DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko Pt. 1"
* 3. "Origin Stories with Mike DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko Pt. 2"
* 4. "The Avatar Returns"
* 5. "Origin Stories with Eric Coleman"
* 6. "The Southern Air Temple"
* 7. "Meet the Cast: Jack De Sena ("Sokka")"
* 8. ""The Warriors of Kyoshi" with Jennie Kwan"
* 9. "Suki Speaks: More with Jennie Kwan!"
* 10. ""The King of Omashu" with André Sogliuzzo"
* 11. "Meet the Writer with John O'Bryan"
* 12. ""Imprisoned" with Kevin Michael Richardson"
* 13. "Martial Arts Deep Dive with Sifu Kisu and Bryan Konietzko"
* 14. "The Winter Solstice Part One: The Spirit World"
* 15. "Meet the Cast with Zach Tyler Eisen"
* 16. "The Winter Solstice Part Two: Avatar Roku with James Garrett ("Avatar Roku")"
* 17. "Meet the Voice Director with Andrea Romano"
* 18. ""The Waterbending Scroll" with Ify Nwadiwe"
* 19. "Spotlight on Music with Jeremy Zuckerman and Hrishikesh Hirway"
* 20. ""Jet" with Crawford Wilson"
* 21. "Animal Roll Call with Dee Bradley Baker"
* 22. "Midseason Superfan Quiz Show!"
* 23. ""The Great Divide""
* 24. "The Great Divide Debate!"
* 25. ""The Storm" with Jack De Sena"
* 26. "Life Lessons with Karama Horne and Ijeoma Njaka"
* 27. ""The Blue Spirit""
* 28. "Sound Off! With Benjamin Wynn"
* 29. ""The Fortuneteller" with Evanna Lynch"
* 30. "Fan Favorite Holiday Special"
* 31. "“Bato of the Water Tribe” with Migizi Pensoneau"
* 32. "Meet The Cast: Jennifer Hale (“Avatar Kyoshi,” “June”)"
* 33. "“The Deserter” with Tim Hedrick"
* 34. "Family Ties with Cheyenne Ewulu"
* 35. ""The Northern Air Temple" with Jason Mantzoukas"
* 36. "The Science! with Adam Savage"
* 37. ""The Waterbending Master" with Johanna Braddy"
* 38. "Meet the Director: Giancarlo Volpe"
* 39. ""The Siege of the North Part 1" with Christopher Sabat"
* 40. "Recapaganza! with Hector Navarro"
* 41. ""The Siege of the North, Part 2" with Gene Luen Yang"
* 42. "Season One Finale with Jack De Sena, Jennie Kwan, Antoine Bandele & Kendall Byrd"
* 43. "Live From New York Comic Con '21!"
* 44. "Fan Favorite Special"
* 45. "Live From New York Emerald Con '21!"
* 46. "Zach Tyler Eisen on Aang & More!"
* 47. "Book Two: Earth!"
* 48. ""The Avatar State""
* 50. ""The Cave of Two Lovers" with Jack DeSena"
* 56. "Live from San Diego Comic Con!"
* 57. ""Avatar Day" with James Sie"
* 59. ""The Blind Bandit" with Ethan Spaulding"
* 60. "Creating an Icon: TOPH! with Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko"
* 61. "Meet the Cast: Michaela Jill Murphy "Toph""
* 62. ""Zuko Alone" with Adal Rifai"
* 63. "Avatar on the Page with Tim Hedrick"
* 64. ""The Chase" with Erika Ishii"
* 65. "San Diego ComicCon '22"
* 66. "Fandom Crossover"
* 67. ""Bitter Work""
* 68. "Season 2 Midseason Superfan Quiz Show!"
* 69. ""The Library" with Phil Yu"
* 70. "Inspired by the Avatarverse with Daniel Mertzlufft & Katherine Lynn-Rose"
* 71. ""The Desert" with Jason Mantzoukas"
* 72. "Roleplaying and Playing Roles with Sam Riegel"
* 73. ""The Serpent's Pass" with Afiya Augustine & Vincent Bernard"
* 74. "Braving the Elements LIVE from London!"
* 75. ""The Drill" with Karama Horne"
* 76. "Live From New York Comic Con 2022!"
* 77. "Our Avatar Studios Friends with Isabella Boettcher & Pramodh Manian"
* 78. ""City of Walls and Secrets" with Bryan Konietzko"
* 79. "Meet a Legend with Lauren Tom"
* 80. ""The Tales of Ba Sing Se" with Danielle Radford"
* 81. "Holiday Special: "Book Two: Earth" with Mike DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko"
* 82. "A New Year Celebration with Grey DeLisle"
* 83. "More "Tales of Ba Sing Se" with Andrew Huebner and Katie Mattila"
* 84. ""Appa's Lost Days" with Evanna Lynch"
* 85. "Comic Relief with Ron Funches"
* 87. ""Lake Laogai" with Joel Kim Booster"
* 88. "Disability in the Avatarverse with Jimmy Clare and Ru Jones"
* 89. ""The Earth King" with Grey DeLisle"
* 90. "Remembering Mako with Michael DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, & Andrea Romano"
* 91. ""The Guru" with Migizi Pensoneau"
* 92. "Meet the Cast with Greg Baldwin"
* 93. "Turning Points with Ijeoma Njaka"
* 94. ""The Crossroads of Destiny" with Michael DiMartino and Zach Tyler Eisen"
* 95. "The Origins of Toph Beifong with Mike DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko"
* 96. "Michaela Jill Murphy on Playing Toph Beifong"
* 97. "Lauren Tom on Voice Acting, Joo Dee, and more!"
* 98. "Retelling the "Tales of Ba Sing Se" with Danielle Radford"
* 99. "The Hilarity of Avatar with Ron Funches"
* 100. "Bringing the Avatarverse to Life with Eric Coleman"
* 101. "Book Three: Fire"
* 101.5. "Secrets from the Vault: Zuko's Scar & Darker Themes from the Avatarverse"
* 102. "'The Awakening' with Giancarlo Volpe"
* 102.5. "Secrets from the Vault: Would Zuko really kill Aang?"
* 103. "'The Headband' with John O'Bryan"
* 104. "New Bending! with Superfans"
* 104.5. "Secrets from the Vault: Young Love and Familiar Faces"
* 105. "'The Painted Lady' with Faith Erin Hicks"
* 106. "Bookbending! with F.C. Yee & Nancy Wu"
* 106.5. "Secrets from the Vault: What about Book 4?"
* 107. "'Sokka's Master' with Jack De Sena"
* 108. "The Music of Avatar with Jeremy Zuckerman & Jeff Adams"
* 108.5. "Secrets from the Vault: We love the 80s!"
* 109. "'The Beach' with Olivia Hack & Cricket Leigh"
* 110. "Drawing the Avatarverse with Lauren Montgomery"
* 110.5. "Secrets from the Vault: Avatar Dreams"
* 111. "'The Avatar and the Firelord' with Ify Nwadiwe"
* 112. "'The Runaway' with Michaela Jill Murphy"
* 113. "Choose Your Fate with Superfans"
* 113.5. "Secrets from the Vault: Sword Fights & Bryke Bites"
* 114. "'The Puppetmaster' with Joaquim Dos Santos"
== Selected other credits ==
=== Television work ===
* American Dragon: Jake Long
* Carmen Sandiego
* Generator Rex
* Moesha
* The Boondocks
* The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
* The Wonder Years
* Trese
* Zevo-3
=== Filmography ===
* JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time (2014)
* Subject: I Love You (2011)
* Blood River (2010)
* The Journey (2010; video short)
* The Outside (2009)
* Blood and Bone (2009)
* This Life (2008)
* Take The Lead (2006)
* Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003)
* Biker Boyz (2003)
* The Debut (2000)
* The Lion's Den (1998; short)
* Hook (1991)
=== Other credits ===
* Avatar: The Last Airbender (video game)
* Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno (video game)
* Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth (video game)
* Aion (video game)
* Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (video game)
* Final Fantasy XIII (video game)
* Terminator Salvation (video game)
== Biographical information ==
=== Personal life ===
In his early years, Dante Basco was part of the Streat Freaks [sic] breakdancing crew. When he got into acting, he started taking on minor roles in television. He later appeared in a substantial role in Steven Spielberg's 1991 film Hook with Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman as Rufio, the charismatic red-stripe-haired leader of the Lost Boys. The punk band Rufio is named after this character.
In 2023, Dante got married to actress Alice Rehemutula.
=== Career ===
Basco has had guest roles on television shows The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and a recurring role on Moesha. He played a gay teenager in the 1999 film But I'm A Cheerleader and starred in the independent film The Debut, in which he portrayed a Filipino-American alongside his three brothers and sister; he appeared with his brothers again in 2003 in the sitcom Naked Brown Men. He appeared as Ramos in the 2006 film Take the Lead alongside Antonio Banderas, where he break-danced as well as performed ballroom dancing. Basco has performed in commercials as well, hip-hop dancing in a Verizon Wireless commercial and rapping and break-dancing in a Sprite commercial. He also produced and co-starred in a music video parody of the song "Rehab", called "Wiihab". Basco has portrayed characters of many different Asian ethnicities.
In 2019, he published his autobiographical novel From Rufio to Zuko.
== Awards ==
* 2012: Won a Special Jury Prize for Hang Loose (Best Actor)
* 2012: Won a Special Jury Prize for Paradise Broken (Best Actor)
* 1993: Won a Young Artist Award for Hook (Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture)
== Trivia ==
* Zuko and Jake Long from American Dragon: Jake Long both have the ability to breathe fire. The characters also had adversarial-turned-friendly relations with a character on their respective shows voiced by Mae Whitman, those characters being Katara and Rose/Huntsgirl, respectively. Basco voiced the villain turned friend on Avatar, while Whitman voiced the villain turned friend on American Dragon.
* Dante Basco had already worked with Mako Iwamatsu, Iroh's original voice actor, prior to Avatar: The Last Airbender in the 1996 film Riot, in which the two played father and son.
* Dante admitted to being a "Zutara" shipper.
* Dante Basco, dressed as Zuko, made a cameo in Doug Walker's countdown of the best Avatar episodes. In character, Basco wanted to get revenge on the Nostalgia Critic for shaming the Avatar franchise and yelled about "honor". He attempted to hurl fireballs several times at Doug, chasing him around. At one point, Doug picked up the Library Edition of The Search graphic novel, capitalizing on Dante's unwillingness to harm the book by using it as a shield. Dante then apparently read through it, commenting that it was "an interesting read" before continuing his pursuit of Doug. He later made peace with the Critic and helped him to finish the countdown. Later in the video, Basco changed his costume to Jake Long.
* Basco took part in an "all-star" actual play one shot of Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, produced by Magpie Games, alongside TTRPG figure Becca Scott, Ify Nwadiwe, and Jennie Kwan. He played the pre-generated character Ezra.
== References ==
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