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Entertainment • Actor

Dante Basco

Dante Basco is an American actor, voice actor, producer, and dancer best known for playing Rufio in *Hook* and voicing Prince Zuko in *Avatar: The Last Airbender* and the title character in *American Dragon: Jake Long*.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Dante Basco is an American actor, voice actor, producer, and dancer. He is best known for playing Rufio in *Hook* and voicing Prince Zuko in *Avatar: The Last Airbender* and the title character in *American Dragon: Jake Long*. Born in Pittsburg, California, Basco has also worked in film, television, and spoken-word performance.

Early life

Basco was born on August 29, 1975, in Pittsburg, California. He is of Filipino-American background and grew up in California.

Acting career

Basco's breakout live-action role was Rufio in Steven Spielberg's *Hook* (1991). He has since appeared in films such as *But I'm a Cheerleader* and *The Debut*. He is also known for voice roles: Prince Zuko in Nickelodeon's *Avatar: The Last Airbender* and the title character in Disney's *American Dragon: Jake Long*.

Other creative work

In addition to acting, Basco has worked as a producer. He is also credited as a poet and spoken-word artist on his official site.

Public profile

Basco is widely associated with Asian American representation in film and television. He is often cited as a prominent Filipino-American figure in entertainment, particularly for his roles in fantasy and animation.

Key facts

  • He is of Filipino-American background and is widely associated with Asian American representation in film and television.
  • His breakout live-action role was Rufio in Steven Spielberg’s *Hook* (1991).
  • He voiced Prince Zuko in Nickelodeon’s *Avatar: The Last Airbender* and Jake Long in Disney’s *American Dragon: Jake Long*.
  • He has appeared in films including *But I’m a Cheerleader* and *The Debut*.
  • He is also credited as a poet and spoken-word artist.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Dante Basco?
Dante Basco is an American actor and voice actor best known for *Hook*, *Avatar: The Last Airbender*, and *American Dragon: Jake Long*.
What is Dante Basco’s full name?
His full name is Dante Roman Titus Basco.
When was Dante Basco born?
He was born on August 29, 1975.
What is Dante Basco best known for?
He is best known for playing Rufio in *Hook* and voicing Prince Zuko in *Avatar: The Last Airbender*.
What is Dante Basco’s background?
Sources describe him as Filipino-American.
Has Dante Basco worked outside acting?
Yes. He has also been described as a producer, dancer, poet, and spoken-word artist.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Basco
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, birthplace, occupation, and notable roles.
  2. Dante Basco Official Website — https://dantebasco.com/about/
    Supports: Biography, occupations, and major roles.
  3. RepresentASIAN Project — https://representasianproject.com/stories/dante-basco
    Supports: Filipino-American background, career overview, and family entertainment history.
  4. Wikipedia (Catalan) — https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Basco
    Supports: Filipino-American identity and upbringing in California.