Ryan Potter
{{short description|American actor (born 1995)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ryan Potter
| image = Ryan Potter talks to LA Teen Festival about Supah Ninjas.jpg
| caption = Ryan Potter in 2011
| birth_name = Ryan Kenichi Hagimoto
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|9|12}}
| birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| body_discovered =
| alma_mater =
| education =
| othername =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|martial artist|voice actor}}
| years_active = 2010–present
| parents =
| known_for = Big Hero 6
Titans
Supah Ninjas
| height_ft =
| signature =
| website =
| relatives = James 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
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 (née Glaskin), is an American of English, German, Swedish, Russian-Jewish and Ukrainian-Jewish descent.
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/celebrity/news/ryan-potter-birthday-q-and-a.html|title=News – Happy Birthday Ryan Potter!|date=September 12, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Nick.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404062834/http://www.nick.com/celebrity/news/ryan-potter-birthday-q-and-a.html|archive-date=April 4, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://nickpress-supahninjas.com/bios.html|title=Super Ninjas Press Site – Bios – Ryan Potter|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=NickPress.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021233456/http://nickpress-supahninjas.com/bios.html|archive-date=October 21, 2013}} He was then raised by his single mother and changed his name to her maiden name.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbbs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=9iILI3NGKhK6F&b=6470175&ct=12252621|title=Ryan Potter Celebrates Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge - Big Brothers Big Sisters|work=bbbs.org|access-date=November 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030208/http://www.bbbs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=9iILI3NGKhK6F&b=6470175&ct=12252621|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://blog.greatwolf.com/blog/great-wolf-360/ryan-potter-celebrates-howl-o-ween-at-great-wolf-lodge-v2|title=Ryan Potter at Great Wolf Lodge - Great Wolf Resorts|author=Amanda Roark|work=greatwolf.com|access-date=November 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009212206/http://blog.greatwolf.com/blog/great-wolf-360/ryan-potter-celebrates-howl-o-ween-at-great-wolf-lodge-v2|archive-date=October 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://nukethefridge.com/2014/11/03/big-hero-6-exclusive-ryan-potter-cat-rocket-boots-film-school/|title=Ryan Potter Talks About Cat Rocket Boots, Film School and BIG HERO 6 with Nuke the Fridge!|author=Fred Topel|work=Nuke The Fridge|access-date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104033048/http://nukethefridge.com/2014/11/03/big-hero-6-exclusive-ryan-potter-cat-rocket-boots-film-school/|archive-date=November 4, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/07/13/big-hero-6-character-reveal-exclusive/12535005/|title=Meet the saviors of San Fransokyo in 'Big Hero 6'|work=USA Today|date=July 13, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://martialartsentertainment.com/big-hero-6/|title=Big Hero 6 Wins Best Animated Film|author=Martial Arts Entertainment|work=Martial Arts Entertainment|date=February 22, 2015 }}
In 2014, his mother remarried to Chinese-American martial artist and Hollywood stuntman James Lew, making Potter his stepson.{{cite web|url=https://ryan-potter.org/ryan-potter/|title=Ryan Potter|access-date=June 4, 2024}} Potter's first language was Japanese; however, he is no longer fluent.[https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/24/general/disneys-big-hero-6-animates-bridging-cultures/#.XDsuhFxKhPY], Disney's Big Hero 6 Animates a Bridging of Cultures, Kelts, The Japan Times, 2014
At the age of eight, he began studying White Tiger kung fu, a discipline which he would continue to pursue throughout his teenage years.{{cite web|url=http://kids.aol.com/2011/04/16/twelve-things-about-ryan-potter/|title=Twelve Things About Ryan Potter|author=Kate Conrad|date=April 16, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=AOL Kids}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fanlala.com/news/exclusive-interview-supah-ninjas-star-ryan-potter|title=Exclusive Interview: 'Supah Ninjas' Star Ryan Potter|date=July 23, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Fanlala|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314042858/https://www.fanlala.com/news/exclusive-interview-supah-ninjas-star-ryan-potter|archive-date=March 14, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.asiancemagazine.com/news/2013/01/22/ryan-potter-stars-on-nickelodeon--s--supah-ninjas--|title=Ryan Potter stars on Nick's "Supah Ninjas"|date=January 22, 2013|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Asiance Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185732/http://www.asiancemagazine.com/news/2013/01/22/ryan-potter-stars-on-nickelodeon--s--supah-ninjas--|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}} Other childhood interests reportedly included baseball, skateboarding, and playing the drums.{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/celebrity/ryan-potter.html|title=Nickelodeon – About Ryan Potter – Ryan Potter's Bio|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Nick.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127044122/http://www.nick.com/celebrity/ryan-potter.html|archive-date=January 27, 2013}}
Career
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnGPPH8zyXw|title=Supah Ninja's Ryan Potter – My Day My Life|date=September 16, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Alloy TV}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrZkE1p9UHQ|title=Supah Ninjas: Carlos Knight and Ryan Potter
|date=May 7, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=StuffWeLike.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JBAQdRPdfE|title=Watch Ryan Potter Film an Episode of Supah Ninjas!|date=December 30, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Popstar!}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9Fys_Z2p7E|title=Ryan Potter 'Supah Ninjas!' Interview|date=April 21, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2011|work=ClevverTV}} In March 2012, Nickelodeon announced it had renewed Supah Ninjas for a second season.{{cite web|url=http://rbr.com/nickelodeon-presents-2012-upfront/|title=Nickelodeon Presents 2012 Upfront|author=Carl Marcucci|date=March 15, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=RBR.com}}{{cite web|url=http://triblive.com/aande/moreaande/3233081-74/lee-season-chu#axzz2J2MZ9mMj|title=Entertainment briefs: 'Supah Ninjas,' 'From the Top'|date=January 8, 2013|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Tribune-Review}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g07QuEQhcz4|title=Nickelodeon's Ryan Potter Talks Supah Ninjas Season 2
|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Fanlala}}
Following the premiere of Supah Ninjas in January 2011,{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/George-Takei-Ninjas-1027503.aspx?rss=breakingnews&partnerid=foxnews&profileid=breaking|title=George Takei Joins New Nickelodeon Series|author=Robyn Ross|date=January 10, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=TV Guide}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/09/14/nickelodeon-celebrates-largest-ever-worldwide-day-of-play-in-washington-around-the-world-on-sept-24/103716/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109145247/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/09/14/nickelodeon-celebrates-largest-ever-worldwide-day-of-play-in-washington-around-the-world-on-sept-24/103716/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2013|title=Largest Ever WorldWide Day of Play|author=Bill Gorman|date=September 24, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=TV by the Numbers}}{{cite magazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/06/08/nickelodeon-figure-it-out-reboot/|title=Nickelodeon's Figure It Out' Reboot|author=Marc Snetiker|date=June 8, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2013|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMTIxRbX62A|title=Supah Ninjas Cast at the HALO Awards|date=October 27, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Popstar!}} In March 2012, Potter began a recurring role on Fred: The Show, portraying Fred's best friend.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Freds-All-Nighter-HD/dp/B007X15JA0|title=Fred: The Show: Season 1, Episode 14|author=Nickelodeon|date=April 23, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Amazon.com}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/KINGDOMHEARTS/status/1060193480918609920|title=Kingdom Hearts on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=November 7, 2018|language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsdwfSxgTP4|title= Tim Drake Concept Fight|website= YouTube|date=September 10, 2016|access-date=September 10, 2016}} He was then cast as Beast Boy in the DC Universe / HBO Max series Titans.{{cite web|last1=Arrant|first1=Chris|title=Actor Lands Live-Action TITANS Role, Just Not The One He Campaigned For|url=https://www.newsarama.com/37005-big-hero-6-star-lands-live-action-titans-role-after-social-media-campaign-but-not-the-one-he-expected.html|date=October 18, 2017|publisher=newsarama.com|access-date=October 18, 2017}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Jeremy |date=2024-10-21 |title=Titans Star Ryan Potter Is Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond Fan Film Trailer |url=https://www.cbr.com/batman-beyond-year-one-trailer-ryan-potter/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=CBR |language=en}}
Advocacy
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.clevvertv.com/news/35150/ryan-potter-teams-up-with-kyle-weiss-other-stars-for-chance-to-play-2012.html|title=Ryan Potter Teams Up with Kyle Weiss|date=July 19, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=ClevverTV|archive-date=October 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016090444/http://www.clevvertv.com/news/35150/ryan-potter-teams-up-with-kyle-weiss-other-stars-for-chance-to-play-2012.html|url-status=dead}} 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.'"{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/celebrity/news/ryan-potter-hosts-the-toy-box-of-hope-charity-drive.html|title=Ryan Potter Hosts The Toy Box of Hope Charity Drive|date=December 3, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=Nick.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206115934/http://www.nick.com/celebrity/news/ryan-potter-hosts-the-toy-box-of-hope-charity-drive.html|archive-date=February 6, 2013}} In 2012, Potter was reportedly planning to expand Toy Box of Hope to include a "Birthday Party Box" program.
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."{{cite web|url=http://www.noh8campaign.com/article/why-i-posed-by-ryan-potter|title=Why I Posed, by Ryan Potter|author=Ryan Potter|date=June 13, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2013|work=No H8 Campaign}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Peter Hammer | Main role |
| Big Hero 6
| Voice role |
| 2015
| Eric Barret | |
| 2016
| Fish | Voice role; English dub |
| 2018
| Jo | Main role |
| 2024 |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2011–2013
| Mike Fukanaga | Main role |
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Himself | Panelist, 9 episodes |
| Fred: The Show
| Bryan | 2 episodes |
| 2016
| Riker | Recurring role |
| 2017–2021
| Hiro Hamada | Main voice role |
| 2018–2023
| Titans | Main role; story writer: "Dude, Where’s My Gar?" |
| 2019
| Koichi | Guest voice role; episode: "Big in Japan" |
| 2020–2022
| Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous | Kenji Kon | Main voice role |
| 2022
|Hiro Hamada |Main voice role; miniseries |
=Web series and music videos=
=Audio=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2020
| Shigeo "Shig" Ito | Audiobook; Chapter 2 |
=Video games=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{TV Guide person}}
- {{Twitter}}
- {{Instagram}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Porter, Ryan}}
Category:American male child actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American martial artists
Category:American people of English descent
Category:American people of German descent
Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent
Category:American people of Swedish descent
Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent
Category:American male actors of Japanese descent
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:American expatriates in Japan
Category:American LGBTQ rights activists
Category:Male actors from Portland, Oregon
Category:21st-century American male actors