Jake T. Austin

Austin was born in New York City, the son of Giny Rodriquez Toranzo and Joe Szymanski.{{cite web|url=http://www.jaketaustin.com/forums/index.php?topic=3587.0|title=Jake T. Austin facts|access-date=October 15, 2010|publisher=Jake T. Austin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413032045/http://www.jaketaustin.com/forums/index.php?topic=3587.0|archive-date=April 13, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.showbizcafe.com/en/interviews/exclusive-selena-gomez-on-being-latin/1247|title=Selena Gomez on being Latin|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=ShowbizCafe|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225172708/http://showbizcafe.com/en/interviews/exclusive-selena-gomez-on-being-latin/1247|archive-date=December 25, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.missoandfriends.com/interviews/jake-t-austin-interview.php|title=Interview: Jake T. Austin|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=Miss O & Friends|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714102207/http://www.missoandfriends.com/interviews/jake-t-austin-interview.php|archive-date=July 14, 2011}} His middle initial, "T", is taken from his mother's maiden name. His mother is of Puerto Rican, Argentine, and Spanish descent, and his father is of Polish, Irish, and English ancestry.{{cite web|url=http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=3113247&type=austin|title=Jake T. Austin "Max Russo"|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=Disney Channel Medianet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923150804/http://disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=3113247&type=austin|archive-date=September 23, 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/jake-t-austin-powers-tv-article-1.422524|title=Jake T. Austin's 'powers' beyond TV|access-date=June 10, 2022|work=New York Daily News|first=Lee|last=Hernández|date=January 7, 2009}} Austin embraces his Puerto Rican heritage, though he has said that he is not fluent in Spanish.{{cite web|last=Arreola|first=Cristina|title=20 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT JAKE T. AUSTIN|date=December 3, 2014|work=Latina|url=http://www.latina.com/entertainment/celebrity/jake-t-austin-facts-trivia#5|access-date=November 10, 2018}} He has a younger sister, Ava.

File:Jake T. Austin 2008.jpg

Austin's career began in 2002 when he appeared in commercials. A year later, he appeared in his first credited acting role as Kid 1698 in a comedy sketch on Late Show with David Letterman. In 2005, he landed his first major role – voicing Diego, the cousin of Dora, on the hit Nickelodeon animated series Dora the Explorer.{{cite web|url=http://www.missoandfriends.com/interviews/jake-t-austin-page-3-interview.php|title=Interview: Jake T. Austin 'Go, Diego, Go!'|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=Miss O & Friends|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714102218/http://www.missoandfriends.com/interviews/jake-t-austin-page-3-interview.php|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nickjr.com/video/?videoid=101062|title=Meet The Voice of Diego: Jake Toranzo Szymanski|access-date=January 13, 2011|publisher=Nick Jr.}} He continued to voice Diego on the spin-off series, Go, Diego, Go!, for three seasons. Along with voicing Diego, Austin was cast in multiple voice roles for the feature films The Ant Bully and Everyone's Hero – he was also cast in the Comedy Central special Merry F %$in' Christmas.{{cite web|url=http://www.blackfilm.com/20060908/features/ravenjake.shtml|title=EVERYONE'S HERO : An Interview with Raven Symone and Jake T. Austin|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=BlackFilm}} In 2006, Austin landed the lead role of Angel Macias in his first live-action feature film, The Perfect Game, which was based on a true story about the first non-U.S. team to win the 1957 Little League World Series. The film would not be released in the United States until more than three years later due to post-production financing difficulties.{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Interview-The-Perfect-Game-s-Jake-T-Austin-And-Cheech-Marin-18082.html|title=Interview: 'The Perfect Game's' Jake T. Austin|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=Cinema Blend|archive-date=April 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415234926/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Interview-The-Perfect-Game-s-Jake-T-Austin-And-Cheech-Marin-18082.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/03/hollywood-revival-report-the-perfect-game-is-back-from-the-dead.html|title='The Perfect Game' stages ninth-inning comeback|access-date=January 12, 2011|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 10, 2010 }}

File:Jake T.Austin 2010.jpg in 2010]]

Austin appeared in his first Walt Disney Company production in 2007 when he portrayed Chris in the Disney Channel original film Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board. Later that same year, he was cast as Max Russo in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place. He played the youngest sibling of a wizarding family, co-starring with Selena Gomez and David Henrie.{{cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-10-17-nielsens-analysis_N.htm|title=Nielsens: Friday night was 'Murder' on ABC|access-date=June 10, 2022|work=USA Today|first=Gary|last=Levin|date=October 18, 2007}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2007-10-23-495187257_x.htm|title=Cable's most-watched shows, Oct. 15–21|access-date=January 12, 2011|work=USA Today|date=October 23, 2007}} Until the end of Wizards of Waverly Place in 2011, Austin appeared in multiple Disney productions. In the summer of 2009, he played the role of Max Russo in the Wizards on Deck crossover episode which included two other popular Disney shows, The Suite Life on Deck and Hannah Montana.

During the same summer, he starred in the television film Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie.{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/video/10392590/wizards-of-waverly-place-the-movie--jake-t.-austin-interview|title='Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie: Jake T. Austin Interview|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=TV.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Wizards-Waverly-Place-1009215.aspx|title='Wizards of Waverly Place' Movie Casts Spell|access-date=January 9, 2011|work=TV Guide|date=August 27, 2009}} The film was a ratings hit, becoming the second most-viewed Disney Channel film at that time, behind High School Musical 2. It was also the #1 scripted telecast of 2009.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/12/29/espn-domination-top-100-most-watched-telecasts-on-basic-cable-for-2009/37284|title=Top 100 Most-Watched Telecasts On Basic Cable For 2009 – Ratings|publisher=TVbytheNumbers|date=December 29, 2009|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=June 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603013633/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/12/29/espn-domination-top-100-most-watched-telecasts-on-basic-cable-for-2009/37284|url-status=dead}} Austin made his live action feature film debut in 2009 with the role of Bruce, an orphan who hides numerous dogs in an abandoned hotel, in the DreamWorks film Hotel for Dogs.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzCnogLzj8s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/fzCnogLzj8s| archive-date=November 17, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Jake T. Austin Interview 'Hotel For Dogs'|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=Chuck The Movieguy}}{{cbignore}} In the fall of 2010, Austin was named as one of the "25 Brightest Latino Stars Under 25" by Latina magazine.{{cite web|url=http://www.latina.com/entertainment/celebrity/25-brightest-latino-stars-under-25?slide=13|title=The 25 Brightest Latino Stars Under 25: Jake T. Austin|access-date=January 12, 2011|work=Latina}} He wrote and sold his first screenplay, Kings of Suburbia, which he described as being written in the same vein as his favorite film Stand by Me.{{cite web|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/04/15/jake-t-austin-writing-kings-of-suburbia/#more-33515|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418170539/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/04/15/jake-t-austin-writing-kings-of-suburbia/#more-33515|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2010|title=Jake T. Austin Writing A Script – 'Kings Of Suburbia'|access-date=January 9, 2011|date=April 15, 2010|publisher=MTV Movies Blog}}

File:Jake T. Austin 2011 (Straighten Crop).jpg

In 2011, Austin voiced the role of Fernando, an orphaned Brazilian boy who is forced to capture exotic birds, in the 20th Century Fox animated musical film Rio. He reprised the role in the sequel, Rio 2.{{cite press release|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130222005613/en/Twentieth-Century-Fox-Animation-Announces-RIO-2#.VWq4789Viko|title=Twentieth Century Fox Animation Announces RIO 2 Casting|date=February 22, 2013|archive-date=August 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816064502/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130222005613/en/Twentieth-Century-Fox-Animation-Announces-RIO-2|access-date=May 31, 2015}} He was also in the romantic-comedy film New Year's Eve, released in December 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/whos-married-actor-kissing-lea-michele-wbna42143315|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415065920/https://www.today.com/popculture/whos-married-actor-kissing-lea-michele-wbna42143315|url-status=live|archive-date=April 15, 2019|title=Who's the Married Actor Kissing...|date=March 18, 2011|publisher=Today|access-date=June 10, 2022}} The following year, he had guest roles on the Lifetime comedy-drama Drop Dead Diva as Samuel Forman, a 16-year-old multimillionaire,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/drop-dead-diva-lifetime-jake-t-austin-casting-297519/|title='Wizards of Waverly Place' Star Jake T. Austin Lands 'Drop Dead Diva' Guest Role (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Nededog|first=Jethro|date=March 7, 2012|access-date=June 10, 2022}} and on the NBC legal drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Rob Fisher, the boyfriend of a girl whose family is murdered.{{cite web|title='Law & Order: SVU': Jake T. Austin Books Guest Role|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/law-order-svu-jake-t-austin_n_1205631|access-date=June 10, 2022|work=HuffPost|date=January 13, 2012}}

Austin landed his next major role in 2013, when he was cast as Jesus Foster in the ABC Family family/teen drama series The Fosters.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wizards-waverly-places-jake-t-austin-star-jennifer-lopezs-abc-family-pilot-379213/|title='Wizards of Waverly Place's' Jake T. Austin to Co-Star in Jennifer Lopez's ABC Family Pilot (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|date=October 18, 2012|access-date=June 10, 2022}} The series tells the story of two moms raising both biological and foster children in a "multi-ethnic" household in San Diego, California. He played Jesus for two seasons until he left the show in the second-season finale in 2015. In a statement on his departure, Austin said: "I'm honored to have been a part of such a groundbreaking series ... Thank you for letting me be a part of your family, it's been a pleasure."{{cite web|last=Mink|first=Casey|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/03/24/the-fosters-jake-t-austin-leaving-jesus-dead-finale/|title='The Fosters' Finale: Jake T. Austin Confirms Series Exit – Is Jesus Dead?|publisher=Hollywood Life|date=March 24, 2015|access-date=May 31, 2015}} His role was recast for the third season, with Noah Centineo.{{cite web|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/06/08/the-fosters-jesus-alive-jake-t-austin-recast/|title='The Fosters' Recasting Jesus After Jake T. Austin's Departure|publisher=Hollywood Life|date=June 8, 2015}}

In 2016, he provided the voice for Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle in the DC Comics animated direct-to-video film Justice League vs. Teen Titans.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvinsider.com/article/66981/meet-the-cast-of-justice-league-vs-teen-titans-dc-comics-animated-movie/|title=Roll Call: Meet the Cast of Justice League vs. Teen Titans|publisher=TVInsider.com|first=Rich|last=Sands|date=January 18, 2016|access-date=January 18, 2016}} On August 30, 2016, Austin was revealed as one of the contestants who would compete on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with professional dancer, Jenna Johnson.{{cite web|url=https://gma.yahoo.com/dwts-2016-celebrity-cast-revealed-ryan-lochte-amber-123029354--abc-news-tv.html|title='DWTS' 2016 Celebrity Cast Revealed: Ryan Lochte, Amber Rose, Rick Perry Among Star Lineup|work=Good Morning America: Yahoo|access-date=August 30, 2016|date=August 30, 2016|archive-date=August 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830144906/https://gma.yahoo.com/dwts-2016-celebrity-cast-revealed-ryan-lochte-amber-123029354--abc-news-tv.html|url-status=dead}} On September 20, 2016, Austin and Johnson were announced as the first couple to be eliminated from the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.buddytv.com/dancing-with-the-stars-results-the-first-elimination-of-season-23/|title='Dancing with the Stars' Results Live Blog: The First Elimination of Season 23 |work=buddytv.com|date=September 20, 2016|access-date=June 10, 2022}} In October 2018, it was announced that Austin joined the cast of Adverse, a neo-noir thriller starring Mickey Rourke. Adverse had its premiere at the opening of the Fantasporto Festival on February 28, 2020, in Portugal.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mickey-rourke-adverse-opens-fantasporto-festival-1203477912/|title='Adverse Opens Fntasporto'|work=Variety|date=June 15, 2020}}

Austin divides his time between living in Los Angeles and New York. He has two dogs, Bogey and Beju.{{cite web|url=http://www.okmagazine.com/2009/01/emma-roberts-jake-t-austin-go-to-%e2%80%98dogs%e2%80%99-11369/|title=Jake T. Austin Goes To "The Dogs"|date=January 2009|access-date=January 12, 2011|work=OK!}} His family owns a restaurant called The Clarksville Inn in West Nyack, New York, which was originally built in 1840 and served as a hotel.{{cite web|url=http://patch.com/new-york/nyack/saving-an-historic-building-and-returning-it-to-its-pub-days|title=Saving An Historic Building|access-date=January 12, 2011|publisher=Nyack-Piermont NY Patch|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715051640/http://nyack.patch.com/articles/saving-an-historic-building-and-returning-it-to-its-pub-days|archive-date=July 15, 2011}}

Austin devotes time to various charitable causes including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions; the Starlight Children's Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions; and Variety{{'s}} Power of Youth initiative, which partners with young stars to help raise money for their chosen causes.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTpA0gTP24Y&feature=player_embedded| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/eTpA0gTP24Y| archive-date=November 17, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Jake T. Austin Interview: A Stellar Night 2010|access-date=January 9, 2011|date=March 24, 2010|publisher=ClevverTV}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/5100197|title=Jake T. Austin – Variety's Power of Youth|access-date=January 9, 2011|publisher=CharityBuzz}} He has also supported the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, stating "I know how important it is to have a supportive environment and feel good about yourself, especially as an adolescent."{{cite web|url=https://www.looktothestars.org/news/18528-jake-t-austin-attends-boys-and-girls-club-of-hollywood-dream-big-gala|title=Jake T. Austin attends boys and girls club of hollywood dream big gala|date=November 2018|access-date=November 28, 2018|work=look to the stars}}

In October 2020, Austin discussed his biracial familial heritage and the importance of voting in the upcoming election: "... whether it's via mail-in voting or at the polling place, becoming active in the electoral process is so important. Whether the person on the ticket is running for local, state or national positions, our role as their constituents starts with voting."{{cite web|url=https://www.latinoleadersmagazine.com/interviews/jaketaustin|title=Jake T. Austin Leadership|date=October 2020|access-date=October 12, 2020|work=latino leaders}}

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Category:1994 births

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Category:American people of Polish descent

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