Actor Dante Basco played Rufio in Steven Spielberg’s take on Peter Pan in Hook.
He’s Jake Long from Disney’s American Dragon.
Basco is also known as Zuko in Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
But he told Sparks the role he’s perhaps most proud of is the one he played in the Filipino American classic, The Debut, the first ever Filipino American film.
“Being Filipino and just being a cult classic for Asian Americans and definitely a staple for every Filipino American household…So it was a special experience. The whole thing was special.”” said Basco. “We all knew going into this this was the first film like this. At that time my career had been active for ten years but it was the first time I got to play Filipino. And it was very important for myself and my whole family was in the movie.”
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You can view a scene from The Debut below.
“It is great that we are in a time where Asians in America are at the height of where they’ve been which is great. But at the same token its no where near where it needs to be.”
You can watch the entire 13 minute interview with Basco on Sparks.
RE: Dante Basco in first Filipino American movie:I was really inspired after seeing this film, but it didn’t get released nationally. Guess it was too ethnic for Hollywood. However, I still have the T shirt from the movie. Hope when Linsanity is released 10/4, there will be a T shirt to add to my collection…
RE: Dante Basco in first Filipino American movie: Sorry I missed The Debut. Hopefully its out on DVD somewhere. I can't wait to see the Linsanity move too. Coming out October 4 in select cities. Here's a trailer. http://j.mp/15jzXD8