Ryan Potter

Ryan Potter
Ryan Potter in 2011
Born
Ryan Kenichi Hagimoto

(1995-09-12) September 12, 1995 (age 29)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, voice actor, founder
Years active2010–present
Known forBig Hero 6
Titans
Supah Ninjas
RelativesJames Lew (step-father)

Ryan Potter (born Ryan Kenichi Hagimoto; September 12, 1995) is an American actor. He made his acting debut as the lead of the Nickelodeon action comedy series Supah Ninjas (2011–2013). As a voice actor, he voiced Hiro Hamada in the animated superhero film Big Hero 6 (2014), its television series sequel (2017–2021) and the Disney+ series Baymax! (2022). Potter also portrayed Gar Logan / Beast Boy on the DC Universe / HBO Max superhero series Titans (2018–2023).

Early life

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Potter was born Ryan Kenichi Hagimoto in Portland, Oregon on September 12, 1995.

His father, Keiji Hagimoto, is Japanese, while his mother, Jordanna Alex Potter-Lew, is an American of English, German, Swedish, Russian-Jewish and Ukrainian-Jewish descent. Both he and his mother are Jewish.[1]

Shortly after his birth, Potter’s family returned to Tokyo, Japan, where he was raised, until returning to the United States with his mother just before his 7th birthday.[2][3] He was then raised by his single mother and changed his name to her maiden name.[4][5][6][7][8]

In 2014, his mother remarried to martial artist and Hollywood stuntman James Lew, making Potter his stepson.[9] Potter's first language was Japanese; however, he is no longer fluent.[10]

At the age of eight, he began studying White Tiger kung fu, a discipline which he would continue to pursue throughout his teenage years.[11][12][13] Other childhood interests reportedly included baseball, skateboarding, and playing the drums.[2][3][14]

Career

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In 2010, Potter began his acting career at the age of 13 when he received a leaflet in his kung fu class announcing Nickelodeon was looking for teenagers to star in a new martial-arts themed program entitled Supah Ninjas.[15][16][17] After a few days of considering an acting career, Potter decided to audition, eventually landing the series' lead role of Mike Fukanaga, a typical American teen who discovers that he is descended from a long line of ninjas.[3][14][18] In March 2012, Nickelodeon announced it had renewed Supah Ninjas for a second season.[19][20][21]

Following the premiere of Supah Ninjas in January 2011,[22] he became one of Nickelodeon's popular young stars, featured in numerous teen magazines and making personal appearances in the network's special Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play and its reboot of Figure It Out, as well as an appearance on its sister network's broadcast of the 2011 TeenNick HALO Awards.[23][24][25] In March 2012, Potter began a recurring role on Fred: The Show, portraying Fred's best friend.[26]

Potter later voiced Big Hero 6 protagonist Hiro Hamada and reprised his role in the animated series based on the film and Kingdom Hearts III.[27] The film would later go on to win "Best Animated Feature" at the 2015 87th Academy Awards.

Potter was also lobbying for the role of Tim Drake and created a concept fight scene using the character's signature bō staff as an audition. He ended the video with a challenge to Ben Affleck to cast him as Robin.[28] He was then cast as Beast Boy in the DC Universe / HBO Max series Titans.[29]

From 2020 to 2022, he voiced the character Kenji Kon in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous on Netflix.

In 2024, Potter was announced to be starring in a fan film based on the Warner Bros. animated series Batman Beyond titled "Batman Beyond: Year One"; with Potter set to play the lead role of Terry McGinnis / Batman.[30]

Advocacy

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In 2011, Potter founded the organization Toy Box of Hope, a charity which holds an annual holiday collection drive for children in homeless shelters and transitional living facilities in the Los Angeles area.[12][31] During the second annual event in 2012, Potter spoke of the focus of the organization, stating "[W]hat we want to do is provide bedsheets, jackets and toys to [homeless shelters], so these kids are like, 'Wow, someone cares, there's hope.'"[32] In 2012, Potter was reportedly planning to expand Toy Box of Hope to include a "Birthday Party Box" program.[31]

In June 2012, Potter became one of the youngest celebrities to lend his voice to California's No H8 Campaign in support of same-sex marriage. When explaining his involvement, 16-year-old Potter stated, "I know what it feels like to be bullied. And I will not tolerate the thought of anyone, for any reason, being bullied. It starts with young people, and it can end with young people. As we learn to embrace our diversity, we become stronger, more tolerant. The differences are beautiful. The differences matter. It's what makes life an adventure."[33]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 Senior Project Peter Hammer Main role
Big Hero 6 Hiro Hamada Voice role
2015 Underdog Kids Eric Barret
2016 Throne of Elves Fish Voice role; English dub
2018 Running for Grace Jo Main role
2024 Batman Beyond: Year One Terry McGinnis / Batman Lead role; Fan film[34]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2011–2013 Supah Ninjas Mike Fukanaga Main role
2012 Figure It Out Himself Panelist, 9 episodes
Fred: The Show Bryan, Fred's Best Friend 2 episodes
2016 Lab Rats: Elite Force Riker Recurring role
2017–2021 Big Hero 6: The Series Hiro Hamada Main voice role
2018–2023 Titans Garfield Logan / Beast Boy Main role; story writer: "Dude, Where’s My Gar?"
2019 Where's Waldo? Koichi Guest voice role; episode: "Big in Japan"
2020–2022 Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Kenji Kon Main voice role
2022 Baymax! Hiro Hamada Main voice role; miniseries

Web series and music videos

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Audio

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 We Are Not Free Shigeo "Shig" Ito Audiobook; Chapter 2

Video games

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Year Title Voice Notes
2014 Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Hiro Hamada
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 [35]
2019 Kingdom Hearts III

References

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  1. ^ Ryan Potter [@ryankpotter] (December 8, 2012). "Happy Chanukah! First time celebrating! #imjewish" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b "News – Happy Birthday Ryan Potter!". Nick.com. September 12, 2012. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Super Ninjas Press Site – Bios – Ryan Potter". NickPress.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  4. ^ "Ryan Potter Celebrates Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge - Big Brothers Big Sisters". bbbs.org. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  5. ^ Amanda Roark. "Ryan Potter at Great Wolf Lodge - Great Wolf Resorts". greatwolf.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  6. ^ Fred Topel. "Ryan Potter Talks About Cat Rocket Boots, Film School and BIG HERO 6 with Nuke the Fridge!". Nuke The Fridge. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  7. ^ "Meet the saviors of San Fransokyo in 'Big Hero 6'". USA Today. July 13, 2014.
  8. ^ Martial Arts Entertainment (February 22, 2015). "Big Hero 6 Wins Best Animated Film". Martial Arts Entertainment.
  9. ^ "Ryan Potter". Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  10. ^ [1], Disney's Big Hero 6 Animates a Bridging of Cultures, Kelts, The Japan Times, 2014
  11. ^ Kate Conrad (April 16, 2011). "Twelve Things About Ryan Potter". AOL Kids. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Exclusive Interview: 'Supah Ninjas' Star Ryan Potter". Fanlala. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  13. ^ "Ryan Potter stars on Nick's "Supah Ninjas"". Asiance Magazine. January 22, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Nickelodeon – About Ryan Potter – Ryan Potter's Bio". Nick.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  15. ^ "Supah Ninja's Ryan Potter – My Day My Life". Alloy TV. September 16, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  16. ^ "Supah Ninjas: Carlos Knight and Ryan Potter". StuffWeLike.com. May 7, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  17. ^ "Watch Ryan Potter Film an Episode of Supah Ninjas!". Popstar!. December 30, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  18. ^ "Ryan Potter 'Supah Ninjas!' Interview". ClevverTV. April 21, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  19. ^ Carl Marcucci (March 15, 2012). "Nickelodeon Presents 2012 Upfront". RBR.com. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  20. ^ "Entertainment briefs: 'Supah Ninjas,' 'From the Top'". Tribune-Review. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  21. ^ "Nickelodeon's Ryan Potter Talks Supah Ninjas Season 2". Fanlala. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  22. ^ Robyn Ross (January 10, 2011). "George Takei Joins New Nickelodeon Series". TV Guide. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  23. ^ Bill Gorman (September 24, 2011). "Largest Ever WorldWide Day of Play". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  24. ^ Marc Snetiker (June 8, 2012). "Nickelodeon's Figure It Out' Reboot". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  25. ^ "Supah Ninjas Cast at the HALO Awards". Popstar!. October 27, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  26. ^ Nickelodeon (April 23, 2012). "Fred: The Show: Season 1, Episode 14". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  27. ^ "Kingdom Hearts on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  28. ^ "Tim Drake Concept Fight". YouTube. September 10, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  29. ^ Arrant, Chris (October 18, 2017). "Actor Lands Live-Action TITANS Role, Just Not The One He Campaigned For". newsarama.com. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  30. ^ Dick, Jeremy (October 21, 2024). "Titans Star Ryan Potter Is Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond Fan Film Trailer". CBR. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Ryan Potter Teams Up with Kyle Weiss". ClevverTV. July 19, 2012. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  32. ^ "Ryan Potter Hosts The Toy Box of Hope Charity Drive". Nick.com. December 3, 2012. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  33. ^ Ryan Potter (June 13, 2012). "Why I Posed, by Ryan Potter". No H8 Campaign. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  34. ^ Dick, Jeremy (October 21, 2024). "Titans Star Ryan Potter Is Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond Fan Film Trailer". CBR. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  35. ^ Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
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