Josh Hutcherson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Josh Hutcherson
Josh in 2015
Born	Joshua Ryan Hutcherson (1992-10-12) October 12, 1992 (age 32) Union, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2002–present
Signature

Joshua Ryan Hutcherson (born October 12, 1992) is an American actor. He started acting in the early 2000s. He appeared in many commercials and small roles in movies and TV shows.

He became well-known as a teenager with main roles in films like Little Manhattan and Zathura: A Space Adventure (both 2005). He also starred in RV (2006), Bridge to Terabithia (2007), and Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008). In 2010, he was in The Kids Are All Right.

In 2011, when he was 18, Josh got the main role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games movie series. These popular films came out every year from 2012 to 2015. For this role, he won several awards, including three MTV Movie Awards. During this time, he also starred in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) and voiced a character in the animated movie Epic (2013).

After The Hunger Games, Josh worked on independent films. On TV, he starred in the Hulu comedy series Future Man from 2017 to 2020. He also voiced the main character in the animated series Ultraman (2019–2023). More recently, he starred in the successful horror film Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) and the action film The Beekeeper (2024).

Josh has always been interested in making movies, not just acting. He has helped produce films like Detention (2011), The Forger (2012), and Escobar: Paradise Lost (2015). He also acted in all of these movies.

Early Life and Education

Josh Hutcherson was born in Union, Kentucky, on October 12, 1992. His mother, Michelle, used to work for an airline and now helps with his career. His father, Chris, works for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Josh also has a younger brother named Connor.

Josh wanted to be an actor from a very young age, starting at four years old. His parents were worried about this career choice at first. When he was eight, Josh looked through the yellow pages to find an acting agency. In 2002, he and his mom met an acting coach from New York City. The coach told them to go to Los Angeles for auditions. Before this, Josh had only acted in a Kroger TV commercial and a training film. For three years, Josh and his mother lived in Los Angeles in a community for young actors and their families.

Josh spent most of his childhood on movie sets instead of in a regular classroom. He went to New Haven Elementary School in Union until he was nine. After that, his mother taught him at home. He later went back to Ryle High School in Kentucky for one semester. Josh played on the high school's soccer team. He loves sports, including football and tennis. When he was 13, he even did a triathlon. He once said he didn't like getting up at the same time every day for school. He felt he could learn things more easily on his own.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out: 2002–2010

After moving to Hollywood in 2002, Josh appeared in many TV commercials. His first big acting role was in a TV pilot called House Blend in 2002. He also had small parts in ER and Becoming Glen. In 2003, he played the main character, Charlie Logan, in the TV movie Miracle Dogs. He also starred with Peter Falk in Wilder Days. Peter Falk's co-star, Tim Daly, was very impressed with Josh, calling him "an exceptional kid."

Josh's first movie role was as a boy dressed as Robin in the independent film American Splendor. In 2004, he played young Hero Boy in the fantasy film The Polar Express. His movements and facial expressions were used to create the character. He also voiced Markl in the animated film Howl's Moving Castle.

Josh at the premiere of Cirque du Freak in 2009

In 2005, Josh was in several Hollywood movies. He had a small role in Kicking & Screaming. He then starred in Little Manhattan with his younger brother. Critics liked his performance, saying he had a good sense of humor. He also had a main role in Zathura: A Space Adventure, which he enjoyed because of the special effects and stunts. He won a Young Artist Award for this film.

In 2006, Josh appeared in the comedy RV, playing the son of Robin Williams' character. He found it hard to focus because Robin Williams made him laugh so much. The movie didn't get great reviews.

Josh's big break as a child actor came in 2007. He played Jesse Aarons in the fantasy drama Bridge to Terabithia. The movie was filmed in New Zealand for over three months. Josh loved the experience, saying it was "amazing." He hadn't read the book before being cast. Critics praised his acting and his chemistry with co-star AnnaSophia Robb. He won his second Young Artist Award for this role. His next movie was Firehouse Dog (2007), where he played a firefighter's son who becomes friends with a dog.

Josh at the 2010 New York Film Festival

In 2008, he was in the drama Winged Creatures with Dakota Fanning. They played two friends who survive a terrible event. He also starred in Journey to the Center of the Earth, a 3D movie. He played a teen who travels to Iceland with his uncle, played by Brendan Fraser. Over the next two years, he appeared in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. He also had a supporting role in the highly praised film The Kids Are All Right. In this movie, he played the son of a lesbian couple. This role was important for his career as he moved into adult roles. Josh was happy to be in the film, enjoying the freedom that independent films offer. The film won a Golden Globe Award in 2010 and was nominated for an Academy Award.

The Hunger Games and Major Success: 2011–2015

On April 4, 2011, it was announced that 18-year-old Josh Hutcherson would play Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games series. He would star opposite Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. Josh really wanted the role and felt he understood the character well. To get ready, he had to dye his hair blonde and gain 15 pounds. Jennifer Lawrence, who is a close friend, has always praised his acting. She said he brings all of Peeta's good qualities to the screen. Josh was known for playing pranks on set. Once, Jennifer accidentally kicked him in the head while they were play-fighting, knocking him out.

The first Hunger Games movie came out on March 23, 2012. It became one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Josh won the MTV Movie Award for "Best Male Performance". He also won the "Next Mega Star" award and the "Breakthrough Performer of the Year" award.

Josh and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island co-star Vanessa Hudgens in Sydney in January 2012

Before The Hunger Games was released, Josh also acted in and helped produce two other films. These were Detention (2011) and The Forger (2012). In Detention, he played a popular teenager. In The Forger, he played a 15-year-old orphan. He then returned as Sean Anderson in the 2012 sequel, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Josh likes to work on all kinds of movies. He said it was cool to go from an independent drama like The Kids Are All Right to a big studio film like Journey 2. Even though Journey 2 got mixed reviews, it made a lot of money, and his acting was well-liked. Later in 2012, he appeared in Red Dawn, a remake of a 1984 movie.

In 2013, Josh voiced the character Nod in the animated 3D film Epic. This film was very successful, second only to The Hunger Games series. For The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the sequel, he worked out five hours a week. This movie earned $420 million in North America, making it his most successful film. Critics praised his acting, saying he showed more depth in his character. Josh won his second MTV Movie Award for "Best Male Performance" for this role.

Josh with co-star Jennifer Lawrence at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International promoting The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

On November 23, 2013, the day after The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was released, Josh hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live. His performance received average reviews.

Josh played Peeta Mellark again in the two-part film adaptation of Mockingjay. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 came out in November 2014, and Part 2 came out in November 2015. His character changed a lot in these films, which was a challenge for him as an actor. He said he was nervous about playing a character who goes "crazy." Critics had mixed opinions on his portrayal.

Before filming the Mockingjay movies, Josh filmed Escobar: Paradise Lost, a thriller. It was released in the U.S. in January 2015. He also helped produce this film, assisting with casting and planning shots. Josh said this experience made him want to do more producing.

Recent Roles: 2016–Present

In the two years after The Hunger Games ended, Josh acted in independent films. He also produced several short films, including his first directing project, Ape, in 2017. He directed music videos too. He had supporting roles in three films directed by James Franco: The Long Home (not yet released), In Dubious Battle (2016), and The Disaster Artist (2017).

In November 2017, Josh began starring in the science fiction comedy series Future Man on Hulu. The show was produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and ran for three seasons, ending in 2020. In 2019, he starred in the thriller film Burn. He also started voicing Shinjiro Hayata, the main character in the Netflix anime Ultraman (2019–2023). He appeared in the 2022 film Across the River and Into the Trees. In 2023, he starred with Morgan Freeman in the science fiction thriller 57 Seconds.

In October 2023, Josh starred as Mike Schmidt in the Blumhouse Productions film Five Nights at Freddy's. This movie is based on the popular video game series. The film was a big success at the box office and one of the top horror films of the year. Josh later shared that a sequel is being planned. In January 2024, Josh played the main bad guy, Derek Danforth, in the Jason Statham action film The Beekeeper.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Josh Hutcherson looks up to actor Jake Gyllenhaal, admiring his career choices. He also finds inspiration in actor, director, and producer Philip Seymour Hoffman.

As of 2024, Josh divides his time between Los Angeles, California, and Madrid, Spain. In 2012, he bought a house in Laurel Canyon, Hollywood Hills, which used to belong to Heath Ledger. He says that fame hasn't changed him. He loves his job and couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Josh is a strong supporter of the LGBT community. He actively supports the "Straight But Not Narrow" campaign, which promotes understanding between straight and LGBTQ+ people. His involvement comes from his family; two of his uncles, who were gay, passed away. In April 2012, he became the youngest person to receive the GLAAD Vanguard Award from GLAAD. This award is given for promoting equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. He also received the Young Humanitarian Award in 2015.

In 2014, Josh started his "Power On" campaign with The Trevor Project. This project helps young LGBTQ+ people in rural areas connect with others. They do this by donating old computers and cell phones to LGBTQ+ resource centers. Josh started the campaign by donating one of his own old computers. From 2012 to 2014, he hosted the "Josh Hutcherson Celebrity Basketball Game" in Los Angeles. This event raised money and awareness for the "Straight But Not Narrow" campaign. In November 2013, Josh and Queen Latifah presented awards to young community volunteers at the TeenNick HALO Awards.

Josh supported Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections.

Filmography

Key

Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Josh at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con promoting The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2003	American Splendor	Robin
2004	Motocross Kids	TJ
	Polar Express, TheThe Polar Express	Young Hero Boy	Additional motion capture only
2005	One Last Ride	Joey
	Kicking & Screaming	Bucky Weston
	Howl's Moving Castle	Markl (voice)	English dub
	2005	Little Manhattan	Gabriel "Gabe" Burton
		Zathura: A Space Adventure	Walter Budwing
2006	RV	Carl Munro
2007	Bridge to Terabithia	Jesse Aarons
	Firehouse Dog	Shane Fahey
2008	Winged Creatures	Jimmy Jaspersen
	Journey to the Center of the Earth	Sean Anderson
2009	Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant	Steve "Leopard" Leonard
2010	Kids Are All Right, TheThe Kids Are All Right	Laser Allgood
	Third Rule, TheThe Third Rule	Chuck	Short film
2011	Detention	Clapton Davis	Also executive producer
2012	Journey 2: The Mysterious Island	Sean Anderson
	Hunger Games, TheThe Hunger Games	Peeta Mellark
	7 Days in Havana	Teddy Atkins
	2012	Forger, TheThe Forger	Joshua Mason	Also executive producer
		Red Dawn	Robert Kitner
2013	Epic	Nod (voice)
	Hunger Games: Catching Fire, TheThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire	Peeta Mellark
2014	Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, TheThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1	Peeta Mellark
2015	Escobar: Paradise Lost	Nick Brady	Also executive producer
	Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, TheThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2	Peeta Mellark
	The Rusted	Max	Short film Also executive producer
2016	In Dubious Battle	Vinnie
2017	Ape	Travis Wilker	Short film Also director
	The Disaster Artist	Philip Haldiman
	Tragedy Girls	Toby Mitchell
2018	Elliot the Littlest Reindeer	Elliot (voice)
2019	Burn	Billy
2022	Across the River and into the Trees	Jackson
2023	57 Seconds	Franklin Fausti
	Five Nights at Freddy's	Mike Schmidt
2024	The Beekeeper	Derek Danforth
2024	Long Gone Heroes	David
2025	Five Nights at Freddy's 2	Mike Schmidt	Filming
TBA	The Long Home	Nathan Winer	Unreleased
	Littlemouth	TBA	Post-production

Television

Music videos

Awards and Nominations

Early in his career, Josh Hutcherson was nominated for eight Young Artist Awards and won four of them. He and the cast of The Kids Are All Right (2010) were nominated for "Best Cast" or "Best Ensemble" by eight different groups. For The Hunger Games, Josh and his co-stars were nominated for ten awards and won eight. These included the "Breakthrough Performer of the Year" and "Next Mega Star" awards in 2012.

State Orders and Honors

Josh Hutcherson has been given the special title of a Colonel of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

See also

In Spanish: Josh Hutcherson para niños