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Josh Hutcherson Joshua Ryan "Josh" Hutcherson is an American
film and television actor. He began his acting career in the early 2000s, appearing in several
minor film and television roles. Growing up as a child-actor, he gained exposure with
major roles in the films Little Manhattan and Zathura, the comedy RV, the family adventure
film Firehouse Dog, and the film adaptations of Bridge to Terabithia, Journey to the Center
of the Earth and Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Along the way, he picked up four
Young Artist Award nominations for Best Leading Young Actor, two of which he won. In 2011,
Hutcherson landed the leading role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games film series, based
on an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' novel series.
Early life Hutcherson was born in Union, Kentucky, on
October 12, 1992. His mother, Michelle (née Fightmaster), is a former Delta Air Lines
employee who now assists with Josh's career, and his father, Chris Hutcherson, is an analyst
for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He attended New Haven Elementary
School in his hometown of Union until he began his career at the age of 9, after which he
began homeschooling with his mother as his teacher. Hutcherson's passion for entertaining
people began developing at the age of three when he would watch television and think "how
cool it would be to be like them." For six years his parents had ignored his requests
to pursue acting, however they realized that it could be something worth pursuing for Hutcherson
and was not just a phase. Acting career
Early roles and breakthrough In January 2002, Hutcherson and his mother
met acting coach Bob Luke who advised them to head to Los Angeles and begin auditioning
for TV pilots. He landed his first acting role in the 2002 pilot episode of House Blend,
playing Nicky Harper; in the same year, he appeared in an episode of ER and was cast
in the pilot of Becoming Glen. In 2003, he played the lead role, Charlie Logan, in the
film Miracle Dogs which was released on Animal Planet. The film, Hutcherson's first, earned
a 79% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Later that year, Hutcherson
starred opposite Peter Falk and Timothy Daly in the made-for-television film, Wilder Days,
and took on the minor role of Robin in the well-reviewed independent film, American Splendor.
He also performed in 2004's The Polar Express. The character, Hero Boy, was created by motion-capture
of his facial expressions and body movements. The film received mixed reviews from critics.
In the animated film Howl's Moving Castle, he voiced the character of Markl alongside
Christian Bale and Billy Crystal. From 2005–06, Hutcherson appeared in several
Hollywood films. He had a minor role in the comedy Kicking & Screaming with Will Ferrell,
playing Bucky Weston. He played lead roles in Little Manhattan and Zathura. In Little
Manhattan, he appeared alongside his younger brother, Connor, for the first time. For Zathura,
Hutcherson received the Young Artist Award for "Best Performance in a Feature Film by
a Leading Young Actor". In early 2006, he appeared in the comedy RV, playing the son
of Robin Williams' character. Hutcherson played Jesse Aarons in the fantasy
drama Bridge to Terabithia, which was filmed in New Zealand and released on February 16,
2007. Regarding his off-sceen friendship with co-star AnnaSophia Robb, he stated: "We became
great friends and I think it showed in the film." The pair both admitted to not having
read the novel that the film is based on before being cast in their roles. For Bridge to Terabithia
he received his second Young Artist Award for "Best Performance in a Feature Film by
a Leading Young Actor" while Robb also received the same award for "Leading Young Actress".
Hutcherson's next role was in Firehouse Dog (released on April 4, 2007), in which he played
Shane Fahey, a firefighter's son who befriends a dog. He was described as very patient and
confident while working on set with the animals. He next appeared in the independent drama
Winged Creatures, playing Jimmy Jasperson in his first crime film. Released in mid-2008,
he starred in Journey to the Center of the Earth, a new 3D version of the novel of the
same name, working alongside co-star Brendan Fraser. From 2009–11, Hutcherson appeared
in a film adaptation of the book Cirque Du Freak, had a supporting role in the critically
acclaimed movie The Kids Are All Right, playing Laser, and was credited as an executive producer
as well as an actor in the comedy-horror film, Detention.
Continued success through The Hunger Games On April 4, 2011, Lionsgate announced that
Hutcherson had been cast as Peeta Mellark in the The Hunger Games series opposite Jennifer
Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. Between landing the role and the film's release, he appeared
in two films: The Forger, where he also served as an executive producer, and the Journey
to the Center of the Earth sequel, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, reprising his role
as Sean Anderson. After The Hunger Games was released on March 23, 2013 in the United States,
Hutcherson received mostly positive reviews on his performance. CNN stated, " brings humor
and a bruised heart to a boy who needs to mature fast." He was awarded the 2012 NewNowNext
award for "Next Mega Star" and the National Association of Theatre Owners's 2012 CinemaCon
award for "Breakthrough Performer of the Year." Later in 2012, he appeared in the Red Dawn
remake; the reception was not nearly as positive as his previous films, putting up a 12% approval
rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest of any film he has appeared in.
In 2013, Hutcherson voiced the character, Nod, in the animated action-adventure film
Epic, alongside Beyoncé and Colin Farrell. Later that year, he reprised his role as Peeta
in The Hunger Games sequel, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The film received a 90% average
approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes along with a 92% audience approval. It brought in $420
million ($427.06 million in 2014 dollars) at the box office, making it Hutcherson's
most commercially successful film. The day following the films' United States release,
Hutcherson hosted his first episode of Saturday Night Live.
Hutcherson will reprise his role as Peeta Mellark in the two feature-length parts of
the Mockingjay film adaptation. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 will be released
on November 21, 2014, and Part 2 will follow on November 20, 2015.
Personal life Hutcherson has a younger brother, Connor.
His ancestry is English, Scottish, German, and Irish. His hobbies and interests while
growing up included cars, bowling, soccer, competing in triathlons, playing guitar, song
writing, basketball, and rock climbing. He has been a long-time fan of Justin Timberlake
and even dyed the tips of his hair to match one of Timberlake's old looks as a child.
He also has cited actor Jake Gyllenhaal as an inspiration.
Being from Northern Kentucky, Hutcherson has been a lifelong fan of both the Kentucky Wildcats
and nearby Cincinnati Reds. He was invited to throw the ceremonial opening pitch before
the Reds' game against the Miami Marlins on April 7, 2012.
Hutcherson previously dated his Journey 2 co-star Vanessa Hudgens, and have been seen
together in public. In January 2012, the pair revealed that they are now simply "good friends."
He began dating Claudia Traisac in 2013, during filming of Paradise Lost.
Hutcherson is a co-founder for "Straight But Not Narrow," a gay–straight alliance campaign
started by Avan Jogia. Around the time he was born, two homosexual uncles of his in
their early thirties died of AIDS. On April 21, 2012, he became the youngest recipient
of the Vanguard Award from GLAAD, given for promoting equal rights for LGBT people. In
regards to his own sexuality, Hutcherson told Out in October 2013 that while he considers
himself to be "mostly straight" he does not believe in labels.
Awards and nominations