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Who is Avatar: The Last Airbender star Dallas Liu? The young Asian-American has appeared in Marvel’s Shang-Chi, Hulu’s hit show Pen15 – and the martial arts-trained actor even played Bruce Lee

Dallas Liu, 22, is the latest Asian-American star to be making waves in Hollywood. Photo: @dallas_liu/Instagram
Dallas Liu, 22, is the latest Asian-American star to be making waves in Hollywood. Photo: @dallas_liu/Instagram

  • The actor stars as Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender, which has reportedly been renewed by Netflix for 2 more seasons; he’s also competed in Shotokan karate
  • The Chinese Indonesian actor grew up in San Gabriel Valley, California and was in Marvel’s Shang-Chi alongside fellow stars Simu Liu and Awkwafina

With Hollywood increasingly embracing diversity on screen, Asian and Asian-American actors have been enjoying their moment in the sun over the past several years. From the first Asian-led Marvel film Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings to Everything Everywhere All at Once starring Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan sweeping up multiple accolades during awards season in 2023, the success of these films has shown that there is an appetite for these stories that transcend race and culture.
Young actor Dallas Liu with his co-stars in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Photo: @dallas_liu/Instagram
Young actor Dallas Liu with his co-stars in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Photo: @dallas_liu/Instagram

And with the rise in popular Asian cinema and television in Hollywood, Asian actors are met with more opportunities than even their contemporaries just a decade ago. Netflix’s Asian-led shows, such as Never Have I Ever to the more recent Avatar: The Last Airbender, have redefined film and television for a younger Asian audience.

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Dallas Liu has already starred in major films and shows such as Marvel’s Shang-Chi and Pen15. @dallas_liu
Dallas Liu has already starred in major films and shows such as Marvel’s Shang-Chi and Pen15. @dallas_liu
Actors like Barbie’s Simu Liu, Emily in Paris’ Ashley Park, and Never Have I Ever’s Maitreyi Ramakrishnan represent the diverse culture and background of Asians – and audiences are here for it.

Starring in the recently launched live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender remake, the martial arts-trained actor Dallas Liu is winning over fans with his exceptional performance. Here’s what we know about the rising star.

Dallas Liu is 22 years old

Dallas Liu posing for his close-up. Photo: @dallas_liu/Instagram
Dallas Liu posing for his close-up. Photo: @dallas_liu/Instagram

Practising the Japanese martial arts of Shotokan, a style of karate, Liu began competing at age five in the North American Sport Karate Association. In 2009, he scored his first on-screen role in the martial arts film Tekken.

The young athlete caught the attention of Nickelodeon and landed a recurring role in the series Legendary Dudas. He also played Bruce Lee in Netflix’s The Who Was? Show, a historical sketch comedy television series.

By 2019, Liu transitioned into comedy with Hulu’s coming-of-age series Pen15, about a group of teenagers in the year 2000. Liu plays the cool older brother Shuji Ishii-Peters, proving that he can handle a range of characters and genres.

He’s already been in a Marvel film