Dante Basco

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Dante Basco
Born August 29, 1975 (1975-08-29) (age 32)
Pittsburg, California, USA
Occupation Film, television, voice actor
Years active 1988 - present

Dante Basco (Danté Basco) (born August 29, 1975) is a Filipino American actor. He is the brother of Darion Basco, Derek Basco, Dion Basco and Ariana Basco.

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[edit] History

In his early years, he was part of the Streat Freaks 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.

He had guest roles on television shows The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and had a recurring role on Moesha. He portrayed characters of different Asian ethnicities, but never Filipino. He did however, star in the independent film The Debut, in which he portrayed a Filipino-American alongside his three brothers and sister. He and all of his brothers starred in Naked Brown Men, a sitcom stylized show. More recently, he has provided the voices for Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Jake Long in American Dragon: Jake Long. He starred as Ramos in the 2006 film Take the Lead alongside Antonio Banderas, where he break-danced as well as performed ballroom dance. This wasn't the only film in which he was required to dance. In many films he hip-hop dances, just as he did in a Verizon Wireless commercial as well as rapping and breaking in a Sprite commercial. He also produced and co-starred in a music video parody of the song "Rehab" that is called "Wihab". He is occasionally "whacked" in the video. He played a gay teenager in the 1999 film But I'm A Cheerleader.

Dante Basco enjoys playing pickup basketball games in and around West Los Angeles, particularly Horace Mann Elementary School in Beverly Hills, where he plays with middle school kids. Basco enjoys the Los Angeles nightlife by frequenting clubs, bars, and lounges in Hollywood and West Hollywood. Other patrons frequently chant "Rufio...Rufio...Rufio", encouraging the actor to dance in the middle of the dance floor.

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role
2006 Take the Lead Ramos
2003 Love Don't Cost a Thing Spoken Word Artist
Biker Boyz Philly
Naked Brown Men Dante
2001 Extreme Days Corey Ng
2000 The Debut Ben Mercado
1999 But I'm a Cheerleader Dolph
1997 Fakin' Da Funk Julian Lee
1995 Fist of the North Star Bat
A Goofy Movie additional voices
1991 Hook Rufio, King of the Lost Boys
The Perfect Weapon Jimmy Ho
1988 Moonwalker

[edit] Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Suite Life of Zack and Cody Madrid (who portrays a male version of London) Episode "The Suite Life Goes Hollywood"
2007 El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera Shing-Hai Chan/Wild Mono (voice) (villain character)
2006 Entourage Fukijama Episode "What About Bob?"
2005-present Avatar: The Last Airbender Prince Zuko (voice) (major character)
2005- 2007 American Dragon: Jake Long Jake Long (voice) (main character)
2005 Lilo & Stitch: The Series Jake Long (voice) (one episode)
2003 Kim Possible Fukushima (voice)
2002 The Proud Family Quoc Wong (voice)
Providence Justin Kim
2001 The Chronicle Noodles
2000 The Steve Harvey Show Lee
1999 Undressed Jake
Viper Rishi Lama
1998 Promised Land Tito
Moesha Marco
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Ghost of Rudi Hernandez
1996 Touched by an Angel Robbie
Nash Bridges Jimmy Chang
1995 500 Nations himself (voice)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Kevin
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Sammy

[edit] See also

[edit] External links