Dante Basco
Actor
Los Angeles, CA
Biography:
With a career spanning over two and a half decades, DANTE BASCO is a Hollywood actor who has become a cult classic and pioneering figure in Asian American cinema. He was first introduced in Steven Spielberg's fairytale movie Hook, as "Rufio", the leader of the Lost Boys. He quickly jumped to leading roles like Newline's Take the Lead, opposite Antonio Banderas, and The Debut, which became the voice of a Filipino American generation. 20th Century Fox executives were so mesmerized by the uniqueness of Dante's look and ability that they gave him a development deal for his own series and he starred in a pilot for Touchstone/ABC, The Chang Family Saves the World, written and produced by John Ridley and directed by Paris Barclay. Ever versatile, he's "Jake Long" in Disney's animated series American Dragon: Jake Long as well as "Prince Zuko" in Nickelodeon's phenomenal hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Born and raised in the City by the Bay, Dante started out breakdancing with his three brothers at the age of 8, calling themselves "The Street Freaks". Quickly they became one of the top groups in San Francisco, opening for acts like Ice-T and Vanity and performing during half-time shows for the 49ers and the Oakland A's.
Dante and his family moved to Los Angeles in the mid-80s where he started to work immediately. By the age of 16, Dante was fencing against Dustin Hoffman and flying with Robin Williams in Hook. He's found success on the small screen as well on from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and recurring on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and Moesha in the 90's to prominent spots on Nash Bridges, Touched by an Angel, and Providence in the early 2000's and hit shows today like CSI: Miami, Entourage and Hawaii Five-0.
A young man of many talents, Dante is the founder of on e of the largest weekly poetry venue in the country, "Da Poetry Lounge" in Los Angeles and he has also shared his spoken word poetry on Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry Jam. He has also begun writing and producing his own features with his production company Kinetic Films, including Hang Loose, a (hilarious buddy) comedy with YouTube sensation KevJumba, winning the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Special Jury Prizes for "Best Actor" and "Best Newcomer" respectively.
From breakdancing in the streets of San Francisco to starring in movies on the silver screen, Dante Basco has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood and truly an Asian American icon.
Sci-fi Convention Guest Appearances
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2024
- GalaxyCon Raleigh 2024 - July 25-28, 2024 in Raleigh, NC
- Florida Supercon 2024 - July 12-14, 2024 in Miami, FL
- Montreal Comiccon 2024 - July 5-7, 2024 in Montreal, QC, Canada
- Phoenix Fan Fusion 2024 - May 24-26, 2024 in Phoenix, AZ
- PopCon Indy 2024 - April 26-28, 2024 in Indianapolis, IN 2023
GalaxyCon Columbus 2023 - December 1-3, 2023 in Columbus, OHCancelled Appearance- Fan Expo Chicago 2023 - August 10-13, 2023 in Rosemont, IL
- PopCon Louisville 2023 - June 16-18, 2023 in Louisville, KY
- Sci-Fi Valley Con 2023 - June 9-11, 2023 in Altoona, PA
- Fan Expo Philadelphia 2023 - June 2-4, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA
- Fan Expo Cleveland 2023 - March 24-26, 2023 in Cleveland, OH
- Pensacon 2023 - February 24-26, 2023 in Pensacola, FL 2022
- Fan Expo San Francisco 2022 - November 25-27, 2022 in San Francisco, CA
- Edmonton Expo 2022 - September 16-18, 2022 in Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Florida Supercon 2022 - July 8-10, 2022 in Miami Beach, FL
Fan Expo Chicago 2022 - July 7-10, 2022 in Rosemont, ILCancelled Appearance- Fan Expo Denver 2022 - July 1-3, 2022 in Denver, CO
- MegaCon Orlando 2022 - May 19-22, 2022 in Orlando, FL
- Fan Expo St. Louis 2022 - May 13-15, 2022 in St. Louis, MO 2021
- FACTS 2021 - November 6-7, 2021 in Gent, Belgium
- FanExpo Canada Limited Edition 2021 - October 22-24, 2021 in Toronto, ON, Canada
Sci-Fi Valley Con 2021 - October 8-10, 2021 in Altoona, PACancelled Appearance- Fan Expo Dallas 2021 - September 17-19, 2021 in Dallas, TX
- Calgary Expo: Limited Edition 2021 - September 10-12, 2021 in Calgary, AB, Canada
- Fan Expo Boston 2021 - September 3-5, 2021 in Boston, MA 2020
Sci-Fi Valley Con 2020 - June 12-14, 2020 in Altoona, PAConvention PostponedCalgary Expo 2020 - April 23-26, 2020 in Calgary, AB, CanadaConvention Postponed 2019- Wales Comic Con 2019 - April 27-28, 2019 in Wrexham, UK
- No Such Convention 2019 - February 22-24, 2019 in Poughkeepsie, NY 2018
- Raleigh Supercon 2018 - July 27-29, 2018 in Raleigh, NC 2016
- CaperCon 2016 - September 16-18, 2016 in Sydney, NS, Canada
- Fan World 2016 - August 26-28, 2016 in Niagara Falls, NY
- Space Coast Nerd Fest 2016 - April 16-17, 2016 in Melbourne, FL
- Zenkaikon 2016 - April 1-3, 2016 in Lancaster, PA 2014
- Con-G 2014 - February 21-23, 2014 in Guelph, ON, Canada 2013
- Armageddon Expo Christchurch 2013 - March 9-10, 2013 in Christchurch, New Zealand 2009
- Armageddon Expo Auckland 2009 - October 24-26, 2009 in Greenlane, New Zealand
- Armageddon Expo Melbourne 2009 - October 17-18, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia
33 confirmed guest appearances
View Dante Basco on FanCons.com for 115 additional guest appearances