Forrest Wheeler
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Forrest Wheeler
| image = "Red carpet, Fox LA Screenings Gala, May 2017.jpg".jpg
| image_caption = Wheeler at the 2017 "Fox LA Screenings Gala" Red Carpet
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|03|21}}
| birth_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S.
| education = New York University
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2013–present
}}
{{Chinese|t={{linktext|韋|智|林}}|s=韦智林|p=Wéi Zhìlín}}
Forrest Wheeler (born March 21, 2004) is an American actor. In 2014, he was cast as Emery Huang, a series regular on the ABC comedy series Fresh Off the Boat.{{cite web | last=Kelley | first=Sonaiya | title=ABC sitcom 'Fresh Off the Boat' gets its own day in L.A. | website=Los Angeles Times | date=May 2, 2017 | url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-fresh-off-the-boat-day-20170502-story.html | access-date=August 6, 2017}}{{cite web | last1=Otterson | first1=Joe | title='Speechless,' 'Fresh Off the Boat' Renewed at ABC | website=Variety | date=May 12, 2017 | url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/speechless-renewed-1202421120/ | access-date=August 6, 2017}}{{cite web | last=Keene | first=Allison | title=TV Performers of the Week: Ian Chen and Forrest Wheeler, 'Fresh Off the Boat' | website=Collider | date=November 20, 2015 | url=http://collider.com/ian-chen-forrest-wheeler-fresh-off-the-boat-tv-performer-of-the-week/ | access-date=August 6, 2017}}{{cite web | first=Jeff|last=Yang | title=Is "Fresh off the Boat" a network sitcom or the rawest, realest TV show about Asian Americans ever? Yes | website=Quartz | date=January 20, 2015 | url=https://qz.com/329384/is-fresh-off-the-boat-a-network-sitcom-or-the-rawest-realest-tv-show-about-asian-americans-ever-yes/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121035416/https://qz.com/329384/is-fresh-off-the-boat-a-network-sitcom-or-the-rawest-realest-tv-show-about-asian-americans-ever-yes/ | archive-date=January 21, 2015 | access-date=August 6, 2017}}{{cite web | title=Forrest Wheeler Talks "Fresh Off The Boat" – Interview | website=BSCkids | date=November 4, 2015 | url=http://www.bsckids.com/2015/11/forrest-wheeler-talks-fresh-off-the-boat-interview/ | access-date=August 6, 2017}}
Career
Wheeler began his acting career at the age of seven when he booked the role of a Cambodian boy in the film The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, opposite Steve Buscemi, who presented him with a rabbit as a pet that Wheeler's character took home to his family for dinner.
He performed on commercials and several television shows and movies before landing a role as a series regular on the ABC comedy series Fresh Off the Boat. He plays the middle son of the Huang family alongside his television parents Randall Park and Constance Wu.{{cite web | title=Emery Huang played by Forrest Wheeler | url=http://abc.go.com/shows/fresh-off-the-boat/cast/emery-huang | access-date=February 19, 2018}}
Wheeler appeared on the Hallmark Channel's Home and Family on March 3, 2015, where he talked about Fresh off the Boat.{{cite web | title=Forrest Wheeler and Ian Chen Interview - Home & Family | date=March 3, 2015 | url=http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/videos/forrest-wheeler-and-ian-chen-interview | access-date=February 19, 2018}} The series premiered on February 4, 2015.{{cite web | last=Mitovich | first=Matt Webb | title=Fresh Off the Boat Comedy Gets Premiere Date at ABC | website=tvline.com | date=December 10, 2014 | url=http://tvline.com/2014/12/10/fresh-off-the-boat-premiere-date-abc/ | access-date=February 19, 2018}}
On October 28, 2015, Entertainment Weekly included Wheeler in the "12 Under 12: The Best Child Actors of 2015".{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/gallery/best-child-actors-2015/forrest-wheeler-11|title=EW's 12 Under 12: The Best Child Actors of 2015|magazine=Entertainment Weekly }}
In 2016, Wheeler collaborated with Fresh off the Boat costars Hudson Yang, Ian Chen, and ISAtv (founded by Wong Fu Productions) to produce a web series focusing on the interests of the Asian American Youth community in the hope of inspiring the youth from all over the world to go out and be active and curious.{{cite web|url=http://isatv.com/blog/hudson-ian-and-forrest-join-isatv/|title=HUDSON, IAN, AND FORREST JOIN ISATV!}} In "The Forrest Wheeler Adventures" series, Wheeler goes on a quest to learn what it takes to become an action hero.{{cite web | title=isaKIDtv w/ Hudson, Ian, and Forrest | website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwf-CGTso19TL0LWALuzx00Ygd61i90Sf | access-date=February 19, 2018}}
On December 19, 2017, Wheeler hosted Kore Asian Media's 16th annual "Unforgettable Gala's" Fresh Off the Carpet event where he interviewed award recipients and celebrities including Maggie Q and Ross Butler.{{cite web | last=Hong | first=Tae | title=WATCH: The Unforgettable Gala Red Carpet with Forrest Wheeler | website=kore.am | date=December 19, 2017 | url=http://kore.am/watch-the-unforgettable-gala-red-carpet-with-forrest-wheeler/ | access-date=February 19, 2018}}
On August 8, 2018, The Hollywood Reporter named Wheeler among "Hollywood's Top 30 Stars Under Age 18".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/hollywoods-top-30-stars-under-age-18-1130157|title=Hollywood's Top 30 Stars Under Age 18|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 8, 2018 }}
Personal life
Wheeler was born on March 21, 2004, in Santa Monica, California to a Chinese-American mixed family. He speaks Cantonese at home and studies Mandarin in school. He graduated Campbell Hall School in 2022 and currently attends New York University.
Wheeler is a martial artist and competed in the 2014 US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships where he won seven 1st places. He earned his first Karate black belt in 2015, and a second black belt in Extreme Martial Arts (XMA) in 2016.{{cite web | last=Lindsay | first=Benjamin | title=Forrest Wheeler Talks 'Fresh Off the Boat' Season 2 | website=backstage.com | date=November 3, 2015 | url=https://www.backstage.com/interview/forrest-wheeler-talks-fresh-boat-season-2/ | access-date=February 19, 2018}}
Media
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2013
| Recurring role; 2 episodes |
| rowspan=3|2014
| New Girl | Kid | Episode: Exes; uncredited |
| Community
| Kid #2 | Episode: "G.I. Jeff" |
| Chasing Life
| Boy | Episode: The Family the Lies Together; uncredited |
| 2015—2020
| Emery Huang | Series regular; 116 episodes |
| 2017
| Prince Jin | Episode: The Mystic Isles: The Falcon's Eye; voice role |
| 2018
| Himself - Contestant | Episode: Fresh Off the Run |
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| rowspan=2|2013
| Boomerang | Jeremy | TV movie |
| 2014
| The Incredible Burt Wonderstone | Cambodian Boy |
| 2015
| Little Kuenlay/Little Kuenphay | |
| 2016
| Power Play | Billy | Short film |
Awards
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Ref |
|---|
| 2015
| Vulture Awards | Best Child Actor | rowspan=4|Fresh Off the Boat | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|2016
| Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Television Series | {{won}} |
| Young Entertainer Awards
| Best Young Ensemble Cast - TV Series | {{won}} | align="center"| |
| 2017
| Best Performance in a TV Series - Leading Young Actor | {{nom}} | align="center"| |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|5549251}}
- {{Twitter|wheeler_forrest|Forrest Wheeler}}
- {{Instagram|forrestwheeler|Forrest}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Forrest}}
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male child actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male actors of Chinese descent