Dante Basco
Actor
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Biography:
With a career spanning over two and a half decades, DANTE BASCO is a Hollywood actor who has become a cult classic and pioneering figure in Asian American cinema. He was first introduced in Steven Spielberg's fairytale movie Hook, as "Rufio", the leader of the Lost Boys. He quickly jumped to leading roles like Newline's Take the Lead, opposite Antonio Banderas, and The Debut, which became the voice of a Filipino American generation. 20th Century Fox executives were so mesmerized by the uniqueness of Dante's look and ability that they gave him a development deal for his own series and he starred in a pilot for Touchstone/ABC, The Chang Family Saves the World, written and produced by John Ridley and directed by Paris Barclay. Ever versatile, he's "Jake Long" in Disney's animated series American Dragon: Jake Long as well as "Prince Zuko" in Nickelodeon's phenomenal hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Born and raised in the City by the Bay, Dante started out breakdancing with his three brothers at the age of 8, calling themselves "The Street Freaks". Quickly they became one of the top groups in San Francisco, opening for acts like Ice-T and Vanity and performing during half-time shows for the 49ers and the Oakland A's.
Dante and his family moved to Los Angeles in the mid-80s where he started to work immediately. By the age of 16, Dante was fencing against Dustin Hoffman and flying with Robin Williams in Hook. He's found success on the small screen as well on from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and recurring on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and Moesha in the 90's to prominent spots on Nash Bridges, Touched by an Angel, and Providence in the early 2000's and hit shows today like CSI: Miami, Entourage and Hawaii Five-0.
A young man of many talents, Dante is the founder of on e of the largest weekly poetry venue in the country, "Da Poetry Lounge" in Los Angeles and he has also shared his spoken word poetry on Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry Jam. He has also begun writing and producing his own features with his production company Kinetic Films, including Hang Loose, a (hilarious buddy) comedy with YouTube sensation KevJumba, winning the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Special Jury Prizes for "Best Actor" and "Best Newcomer" respectively.
From breakdancing in the streets of San Francisco to starring in movies on the silver screen, Dante Basco has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood and truly an Asian American icon.
Convention Guest Appearances
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2025
- Alaska ComiCon 2025 - February 22-23, 2025 in Fairbanks, AK, USA
- Animeverse Fest 2025 - February 14-16, 2025 in Houston, TX, USA
- Anime Town Greenville 2025 - January 31 - February 2, 2025 in Greenville, SC, USA
- Central Florida Comic Con 2025 - January 17-19, 2025 in Lakeland, FL, USA 2024
Wisconsin Comic Convention 2024 - November 1-3, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI, USAConvention CancelledWinnipeg Comiccon 2024 - October 25-27, 2024 in Winnipeg, MB, CanadaCancelled Appearance- Anime Fiesta 2024 - October 4-6, 2024 in McAllen, TX, USA
- Missouri Anime Fest 2024 - September 28-29, 2024 in Springfield, MO, USA
- South Alabama Comic Con 2024 - September 21-22, 2024 in Mobile, AL, USA
- London Comic Con 2024 - September 14-15, 2024 in London, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Comiccon 2024 - September 6-8, 2024 in Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Anime Impulse Orange County 2024 - August 31 - September 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA, USA
- Colorado Springs Comic Con 2024 - August 23-25, 2024 in Colorado Springs, CO, USA
- TerrifiCon 2024 - August 16-18, 2024 in Uncasville, CT, USA
- Smoky Mountain Fan Fest 2024 - August 10-11, 2024 in Kingsport, TN, USA
- GalaxyCon Raleigh 2024 - July 25-28, 2024 in Raleigh, NC, USA
Contropolis New Jersey 2024 - July 13-14, 2024 in Secaucus, NJ, USACancelled Appearance- Florida Supercon 2024 - July 12-14, 2024 in Miami, FL, USA
- Montreal Comiccon 2024 - July 5-7, 2024 in Montreal, QC, Canada
- Anime Festival Orlando 2024 - June 28-30, 2024 in Orlando, FL, USA
- Rangerstop & Pop Con 2024 - June 21-23, 2024 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- Rhode Island Anime Con 2024 - June 15-16, 2024 in Providence, RI, USA
Iron City Comic Con 2024 - June 1-2, 2024 in Birmingham, AL, USACancelled Appearance- Phoenix Fan Fusion 2024 - May 24-26, 2024 in Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Motor City Comic Con 2024 - May 17-19, 2024 in Novi, MI, USA
- PopCon Indy 2024 - April 26-28, 2024 in Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Permian Basin Comic Con X 2024 - March 15-17, 2024 in Midland, TX, USA
- Planet Comicon Kansas City 2024 - March 8-10, 2024 in Kansas City, MO, USA
- Emerald City Comic Con 2024 - February 29 - March 3, 2024 in Seattle, WA, USA
- Savannah Animazing & Video Game Expo 2024 - January 20-21, 2024 in Savannah, GA, USA
- Fan Expo New Orleans 2024 - January 5-7, 2024 in New Orleans, LA, USA 2023
- Holiday Matsuri 2023 - December 20-22, 2023 in Orlando, FL, USA
GalaxyCon Columbus 2023 - December 1-3, 2023 in Columbus, OH, USACancelled Appearance- Twin Cities Con 2023 - November 3-5, 2023 in Minneapolis, MN, USA
- UwU Con 2023 - October 27-29, 2023 in Mesa, AZ, USA
- Kami-Con HAI 2023 - September 29 - October 1, 2023 in Huntsville, AL, USA
London Comic Con 2023 - September 16-17, 2023 in London, ON, CanadaCancelled Appearance- Colorado Springs Comic Con 2023 - August 25-27, 2023 in Colorado Springs, CO, USA
- Fan Expo Chicago 2023 - August 10-13, 2023 in Rosemont, IL, USA
- Comic Con Manchester 2023 - July 29-30, 2023 in Manchester
- Contropolis New Jersey 2023 - July 8-9, 2023 in Seacaucus, NJ, USA
- Washington State Summer Con 2023 - June 23-25, 2023 in Puyallup, WA, USA
- PopCon Louisville 2023 - June 16-18, 2023 in Louisville, KY, USA
- Sci-Fi Valley Con 2023 - June 9-11, 2023 in Altoona, PA, USA
- Fan Expo Philadelphia 2023 - June 2-4, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Comic Con Revolution 2023 - May 20-21, 2023 in Ontario, CA, USA
South Texas Comic Con 2023 - April 28-30, 2023 in McAllen, TX, USACancelled Appearance- Big Lick Comic Con NoVa 2023 - April 15-16, 2023 in Chantilly, VA, USA
- Anime Boston 2023 - April 7-9, 2023 in Boston, MA, USA
- Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2023 - March 31 - April 2, 2023 in Chicago, IL, USA
- Fan Expo Cleveland 2023 - March 24-26, 2023 in Cleveland, OH, USA
- Comic Con Scotland Aberdeen 2023 - March 18-19, 2023 in Aberdeen
- JoCo Cruise 2023 - March 5-12, 2023 in Departing from Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Pensacon 2023 - February 24-26, 2023 in Pensacola, FL, USA
- Fan Expo Vancouver 2023 - February 18-20, 2023 in Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Fan Expo Portland 2023 - February 17-19, 2023 in Portland, OR, USA
- Little Rock Anime Festival 2023 - February 4-5, 2023 in Little Rock, AR, USA
- SacAnime Winter 2023 - January 6-8, 2023 in Sacramento, CA, USA 2022
Holiday Matsuri 2022 - December 16-18, 2022 in Orlando, FL, USACancelled Appearance- Fan Expo San Francisco 2022 - November 25-27, 2022 in San Francisco, CA, USA
- Rhode Island Comic Con 2022 - November 4-6, 2022 in Providence, RI, USA
- Big Texas Comicon 2022 - October 28-30, 2022 in San Antonio, TX, USA
- FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2022 - September 22-24, 2022 in Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Edmonton Expo 2022 - September 16-18, 2022 in Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Anime Houston 2022 - August 12-14, 2022 in Houston, TX, USA
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2022 - August 5-7, 2022 in Chicago, IL, USACancelled Appearance- Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2022 - July 29-31, 2022 in Tampa, FL, USA
- Florida Supercon 2022 - July 8-10, 2022 in Miami Beach, FL, USA
Fan Expo Chicago 2022 - July 7-10, 2022 in Rosemont, IL, USACancelled Appearance- Fan Expo Denver 2022 - July 1-3, 2022 in Denver, CO, USA
- Super Anime Fest 2022 - June 25-26, 2022 in Wichita Falls, TX, USA
- MCM Comic Con London 2022 - May 27-29, 2022 in London
- MegaCon Orlando 2022 - May 19-22, 2022 in Orlando, FL, USA
- Fan Expo St. Louis 2022 - May 13-15, 2022 in St. Louis, MO, USA
- Big Lick Comic Con 2022 - February 12-13, 2022 in Roanoke, VA, USA 2021
- Emerald City Comic Con 2021 - December 2-5, 2021 in Seattle, WA, USA
- Colossalcon Texas 2021 - November 19-21, 2021 in Round Rock, TX, USA
- FACTS 2021 - November 6-7, 2021 in Gent, Belgium
Fanboy Expo Columbus Convention 2021 - November 5-7, 2021 in Columbus, OH, USAConvention Cancelled- Anime Weekend Atlanta 2021 - October 28-31, 2021 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- FanExpo Canada Limited Edition 2021 - October 22-24, 2021 in Toronto, ON, Canada
- Indiana Comic Convention 2021 - October 15-17, 2021 in Indianapolis, IN, USA
Sci-Fi Valley Con 2021 - October 8-10, 2021 in Altoona, PA, USACancelled Appearance- New York Comic Con 2021 - October 7-10, 2021 in New York, NY, USA
- Fan Expo Dallas 2021 - September 17-19, 2021 in Dallas, TX, USA
Ocala Comic Con 2021 - September 11-12, 2021 in Ocala, FL, USACancelled Appearance- Calgary Expo: Limited Edition 2021 - September 10-12, 2021 in Calgary, AB, Canada
- Fan Expo Boston 2021 - September 3-5, 2021 in Boston, MA, USA
- Fanboy Expo Orlando Convention 2021 - August 20-22, 2021 in Orlando, FL, USA
Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2021 - July 30 - August 1, 2021 in Tampa, FL, USACancelled AppearanceCelebrity Fan Fest 2021 - July 30 - August 8, 2021 in San Antonio, TX, USAConvention Cancelled 2020Star Con 2020 - September 25-27, 2020 in Orlando, FL, USAConvention CancelledSci-Fi Valley Con 2020 - June 12-14, 2020 in Altoona, PA, USAConvention PostponedSavannah Comic Con 2020 - May 9-10, 2020 in Savannah, GA, USAConvention CancelledCalgary Expo 2020 - April 23-26, 2020 in Calgary, AB, CanadaConvention Postponed- Albuquerque Comic Con 2020 - January 17-19, 2020 in Albuquerque, NM, USA 2019
- EXP Con 2019 - October 11-13, 2019 in St. Augustine, FL, USA
- Nan Desu Kan 2019 - August 23-25, 2019 in Denver, CO, USA
- Fanboy Expo Knoxville Comic Con 2019 - July 12-14, 2019 in Knoxville, TN, USA
- Corpus Christi Comic Con 2019 - June 29-30, 2019 in Corpus Christi, TX, USA
- Tidewater Comicon 2019 - May 18-19, 2019 in Virginia Beach, VA, USA
- Yellow City Comic Con 2019 - May 10-12, 2019 in Amarillo, TX, USA
- Wales Comic Con 2019 - April 27-28, 2019 in Wrexham
- No Such Convention 2019 - February 22-24, 2019 in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA 2018
- Central City Comic Con 2018 - October 13-14, 2018 in Ellensburg, WA, USA
- Anime Weekend Atlanta 2018 - September 20-23, 2018 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2018 - September 6-8, 2018 in Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Raleigh Supercon 2018 - July 27-29, 2018 in Raleigh, NC, USA
- Comicpalooza 2018 - May 25-27, 2018 in Houston, TX, USA
- El Paso Comic Con 2018 - April 13-15, 2018 in El Paso, TX, USA
- Kami-Con 2018 - January 26-28, 2018 in Birmingham, AL, USA
- Ichibancon 2018 - January 11-14, 2018 in Concord, NC, USA 2017
- Monterey Comic Con 2017 - November 10-11, 2017 in Seaside, CA, USA
- Granite State Comicon 2017 - September 16-17, 2017 in Manchester, NH, USA
- Colossalcon East 2017 - September 8-10, 2017 in Pocono Manor, PA, USA
- Nan Desu Kan 2017 - September 1-3, 2017 in Denver, CO, USA
Monterey Comic Con 2017 - June 16-18, 2017 in Monterey, CA, USAConvention Postponed- Colossalcon 2017 - June 1-4, 2017 in Sandusky, OH, USA
- BoroughCon 2017 - May 26-29, 2017 in Jamaica, NY, USA
- Kawaii Kon 2017 - April 7-9, 2017 in Honolulu, HI, USA 2016
- Paradise City Comic Con 2016 - December 9-11, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Unplugged Expo 2016 - October 15-16, 2016 in Toronto, ON, Canada
- CaperCon 2016 - September 16-18, 2016 in Sydney, NS, Canada
- Rose City Comic Con 2016 - September 10-11, 2016 in Portland, OR, USA
Umicon Daytona 2016 - September 9-11, 2016 in Daytona Beach, FL, USAConvention Cancelled- SacAnime 2016 - September 2-4, 2016 in Sacramento, CA, USA
- Fan World 2016 - August 26-28, 2016 in Niagara Falls, NY, USA
- SoDak Con 2016 - June 24-26, 2016 in Rapid City, SD, USA
- Space Coast Nerd Fest 2016 - April 16-17, 2016 in Melbourne, FL, USA
- Emerald City Comicon 2016 - April 7-10, 2016 in Seattle, WA, USA
- Zenkaikon 2016 - April 1-3, 2016 in Lancaster, PA, USA 2015
- Oz Comic-Con: Sydney 2015 - September 26-27, 2015 in Rozelle, New South Wales, Australia
- Oz Comic-Con: Brisbane 2015 - September 19-20, 2015 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Anime Festival Orlando 2015 - August 14-16, 2015 in Orlando, FL, USA
- MASSive Comic Con 2015 - June 27-28, 2015 in Worcester, MA, USA
- Oz Comic-Con: Adelaide 2015 - April 18-19, 2015 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Oz Comic-Con: Perth 2015 - April 11-12, 2015 in Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaCancelled AppearanceEmerald City Comicon 2015 - March 27-29, 2015 in Seattle, WA, USACancelled Appearance 2014- DrawnCon 2014 - November 15-16, 2014 in Westford, MA, USA
- Izumicon 2014 - October 31 - November 2, 2014 in Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Comic & Media Expo 2014 - October 17-19, 2014 in Mesa, AZ, USA
- Otakon 2014 - August 8-10, 2014 in Baltimore, MD, USA
- Metrocon 2014 - July 11-13, 2014 in Tampa, FL, USA
- Oz Comic-Con: Melbourne 2014 - July 5-6, 2014 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Knightrokon 2014 - June 7-8, 2014 in Orlando, FL, USA
- MomoCon 2014 - May 23-25, 2014 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- Con-G 2014 - February 21-23, 2014 in Guelph, ON, Canada
- SacAnime 2014 - January 3-5, 2014 in Sacramento, CA, USA 2013
- Anime NebrasKon 2013 - November 1-3, 2013 in Omaha, NE, USA
- ShadoCon 2013 - October 4-6, 2013 in Tampa, FL, USA
- Metrocon 2013 - July 26-28, 2013 in Tampa, FL, USA
- Anime Evolution 2013 - June 28-30, 2013 in Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Armageddon Expo Christchurch 2013 - March 9-10, 2013 in Christchurch, New Zealand 2012
- Pacific Media Expo 2012 - November 9-11, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA, USA 2011
- London Film & Comic Con 2011 - July 8-10, 2011 in London 2009
- Armageddon Expo Auckland 2009 - October 24-26, 2009 in Greenlane, New Zealand
- Armageddon Expo Melbourne 2009 - October 17-18, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia
134 confirmed guest appearances