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.
Anime Convention Guest Appearances
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2024
- Anime Fiesta 2024 - October 4-6, 2024 in McAllen, TX, USA
- Missouri Anime Fest 2024 - September 28-29, 2024 in Springfield, MO, USA
- Anime Impulse Orange County 2024 - August 31 - September 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA, USA
- GalaxyCon Raleigh 2024 - July 25-28, 2024 in Raleigh, NC, USA
- Florida Supercon 2024 - July 12-14, 2024 in Miami, FL, USA
- Montreal Comiccon 2024 - July 5-7, 2024 in Montreal, QC
- Anime Festival Orlando 2024 - June 28-30, 2024 in Orlando, FL, USA
- Rhode Island Anime Con 2024 - June 15-16, 2024 in Providence, RI, USA
- PopCon Indy 2024 - April 26-28, 2024 in Indianapolis, IN, 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- UwU Con 2023 - October 27-29, 2023 in Mesa, AZ, USA
- Kami-Con HAI 2023 - September 29 - October 1, 2023 in Huntsville, AL, USA
- Fan Expo Chicago 2023 - August 10-13, 2023 in Rosemont, IL, USA
- PopCon Louisville 2023 - June 16-18, 2023 in Louisville, KY, USA
- Fan Expo Philadelphia 2023 - June 2-4, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Anime Boston 2023 - April 7-9, 2023 in Boston, MA, USA
- Fan Expo Cleveland 2023 - March 24-26, 2023 in Cleveland, OH, USA
- Pensacon 2023 - February 24-26, 2023 in Pensacola, FL, USA
- Fan Expo Vancouver 2023 - February 18-20, 2023 in Vancouver, BC
- 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
- Edmonton Expo 2022 - September 16-18, 2022 in Edmonton, AB
- Anime Houston 2022 - August 12-14, 2022 in Houston, TX, 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
- 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 2021
- Colossalcon Texas 2021 - November 19-21, 2021 in Round Rock, TX, USA
- FACTS 2021 - November 6-7, 2021 in Gent, Belgium
- Anime Weekend Atlanta 2021 - October 28-31, 2021 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- FanExpo Canada Limited Edition 2021 - October 22-24, 2021 in Toronto, ON
- Fan Expo Dallas 2021 - September 17-19, 2021 in Dallas, TX, USA
- Calgary Expo: Limited Edition 2021 - September 10-12, 2021 in Calgary, AB
- Fan Expo Boston 2021 - September 3-5, 2021 in Boston, MA, 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
- No Such Convention 2019 - February 22-24, 2019 in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA 2018
- Anime Weekend Atlanta 2018 - September 20-23, 2018 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- Raleigh Supercon 2018 - July 27-29, 2018 in Raleigh, NC, USA
- Comicpalooza 2018 - May 25-27, 2018 in Houston, TX, USA
- Kami-Con 2018 - January 26-28, 2018 in Birmingham, AL, USA
- Ichibancon 2018 - January 11-14, 2018 in Concord, NC, USA 2017
- Colossalcon East 2017 - September 8-10, 2017 in Pocono Manor, PA, USA
- Nan Desu Kan 2017 - September 1-3, 2017 in Denver, CO, USA
- 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
- Unplugged Expo 2016 - October 15-16, 2016 in Toronto, ON
- CaperCon 2016 - September 16-18, 2016 in Sydney, NS
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
- Zenkaikon 2016 - April 1-3, 2016 in Lancaster, PA, USA 2015
- Anime Festival Orlando 2015 - August 14-16, 2015 in Orlando, FL, USA 2014
- Izumicon 2014 - October 31 - November 2, 2014 in Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Otakon 2014 - August 8-10, 2014 in Baltimore, MD, USA
- Metrocon 2014 - July 11-13, 2014 in Tampa, FL, USA
- 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
- 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
- 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, UK 2009
- Armageddon Expo Auckland 2009 - October 24-26, 2009 in Greenlane, New Zealand
- Armageddon Expo Melbourne 2009 - October 17-18, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia
75 confirmed guest appearances
View Dante Basco on FanCons.com for 74 additional guest appearances