Jake T. Austin

Background

Born in New York City, U.S., in a family of mixed descent, Jake T. Austin is proud of his Puerto Rican roots, given his mother’s Spanish ancestry. Despite not being fluent in Spanish, he connects innately with Puerto Rican culture. He attended West Nyack Elementary School and Felix Festa Middle School in New York City, from where he graduated in 2010. He was eight when he appeared in several advertisements. Thanks to his rising popularity, he also appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” in 2003. In “Dora the Explorer,” Nickelodeon hired him as the voice of Diego, Dora’s cousin, because of his impressive vocal skills. The program “Go, Diego, Go!” turned out to be his big break into the industry. He has provided his voice work for several animated movies, including, “The Ant Bully” and “Everyone’s Hero.” He was cast in his first live-action feature, “The Perfect Game,” because of his charming looks. As a result of his outstanding performances, doors to opportunities opened up for him.

He worked with the diva, Selena Gomez, in “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board.” He appeared as a guest star in many Disney flicks, including “Hannah Montana,” “The Suite Life on Deck,” and “Wizards on Deck.” In 2009, DreamWorks offered him a role in “Hotel for Dogs,” which he accepted. It wasn’t until 2011 that he sold his first screenplay, “Kings of Suburbia.” He’s a sports enthusiast who participates in various activities to keep himself in good shape. He prefers snowboarding, surfing, basketball, and soccer. As a child, he and his pals made short films and watched movies and T.V. shows to improve their directing abilities. His manes are an important part of his identity, and he takes great care of them. He is also a talented dancer and enjoys surfing the Santa Monica swells.