Josh Hutcherson bio, height and weight, age, career path, girlfriend, net worth 2025

Josh Hutcherson's Biography

Josh Hutcherson knew he wanted to act from an incredibly young age. At just eight years old, he found an agent's number in the phone book and called them himself. Two years later, in 2002, he moved to Hollywood with his mother.

The young actor was open to any minor roles in television series and films. His breakthrough came with his role in the 2007 drama "Bridge to Terabithia," which earned critical acclaim and caught the attention of major directors. Just five years later, he landed the lead role in "The Hunger Games" franchise, transforming him from child actor to international teen heartthrob with millions of fans.

Childhood and Family

Joshua Ryan Hutcherson was born on October 12, 1992, in Union, Kentucky. His parents weren't in the entertainment business at all - his father worked for the Environmental Protection Agency, and his mother worked for Delta Airlines. Josh would later have a younger brother, Connor.

Josh's grandfather, a psychologist, had a huge impact on how he saw the world. "He taught me to be curious about human nature, explaining why people act the way they do in different situations," the actor once said.

Josh Hutcherson with his father and brother

By age four, inspired by his grandfather's stories, Josh started trying out different characters and became fascinated with TV shows. His parents remembered how he'd point at characters on TV and announce he wanted to be just like them. They had their doubts about this career path for their son but didn't try to stop him.

Four years later, when Josh was eight, he was flipping through the phone book when he found the number for an acting agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. When he called them up, he told them he wanted to work with them - and that's how his acting career began, even while he was still in elementary school.

Josh Hutcherson's early commercial (2002)

Initially, he could only audition for commercials. But in 2002, Hutcherson and his mother got invited to meet famous acting coach Bob Luke. He'd come all the way from New York to Kentucky just to check out Josh's talent. Luke told the family they should move to Los Angeles so Josh could audition for more roles. Josh's mother, who believed in his dreams, went with him when they left Union.

First Roles

At first, the young boy and his mother moved into a motel on the outskirts of Los Angeles, a place Hutcherson described as "small and dirty". Despite the countless daily auditions, he was ecstatic: "It was exhilarating. It was a dream come true. I had finally become an actor!"

For the next three years, they lived in a housing complex designed for child actors. During this time, Hutcherson played minor roles in TV series such as "ER", "Miracle Dogs", "Line of Fire" and films like "Becoming Glen", "Wilder Days", among others. He also tried his hand at voice acting, lending his voice and motion capture work to the 2004 animated film "The Polar Express". Hutcherson was fortunate to work with many famous colleagues, from Tom Hanks and Christian Bale to Peter Falk and Tim Daly.

Since he spent so much time on set, attending traditional school wasn't practical. Instead, his mother homeschooled him. During the few semesters when Hutcherson did attend school, he was more drawn to sports than academics, especially football and tennis.

Josh Hutcherson in Line of Fire

Meanwhile, Hutcherson's younger brother and father remained in Kentucky. The family made a rule to never be apart for more than two weeks: "...Whether it meant one of us traveling across the country to Union or flying somewhere central to meet up."

Hutcherson's breakthrough role came in 2007 with the drama "Bridge to Terabithia". Filming required a temporary relocation to New Zealand.

In the story, his character, the introverted Jesse, finds comfort in adventures shared with his new friend Leslie (Anna Sophia Robb), another "outsider". Away from prying eyes, they construct their imaginary world.

Bridge to Terabithia- Anna Sophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson

The film earned high praise from both critics and audiences. The following year, Hutcherson won the "Young Artist Award" for best performance in a leading role in this film. He also forged a strong friendship with Anna Sophia Robb:

...We became real friends on set, and I think that's one of the lessons of this film – boys and girls can simply be friends without any romantic attraction.

The same year also saw the release of several other projects featuring Hutcherson - "Journey to the Center of the Earth" with Brendan Fraser, "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" with Willem Dafoe and Salma Hayek, and "The Kids Are All Right" with Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo.

Career Flourishing

Josh's career hit a major turning point in 2012. He secured the role of Peeta Mellark in the first part of the "Hunger Games" franchise. The actor was eager to take on this complex character and committed to dyeing his hair and packing on 15 pounds of muscle for the role. He pushed himself with intensive training and followed a strict diet. The hard work paid off – Hutcherson landed the role over other contenders, including Alex Pettyfer and Evan Peters.

The film became the year's biggest box office hit, launching Hutcherson into global stardom and earning him multiple performance awards. Hutcherson also forged a strong friendship with his co-star Jennifer Lawrence. "We're really good friends, almost like siblings. She's from Kentucky too, so we share similar values and outlook on life," Hutcherson said about their bond.

Josh Hutcherson react to old Hunger Games interview

In the same year, Hutcherson starred in the adventure film "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", alongside Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine. He also appeared in the action film "Red Dawn" with Chris Hemsworth and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

But Hutcherson's rise wasn't without its setbacks. He didn't make it past auditions for "The Amazing Spider-Man," losing the role to Andrew Garfield.

Josh Hutcherson's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Audition Video

In 2013, Hutcherson reprised his role as Peeta in the sequel "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire". He then starred in the two-part finale of the franchise, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" (2014-2015).

Hutcherson also ventured into producing, backing the film "Detention" and the thriller "Escobar: Paradise Lost." In the latter, Hutcherson played one of the leading roles alongside Benicio Del Toro.

Josh Hutcherson in Escobar: Paradise Lost

In 2016, Hutcherson made his directorial debut with the short film "Ape". "Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to be behind the camera. So going forward, I see myself as a producer, director, or writer," the actor said about the experience.

Ape – Short Film Directed by Josh Hutcherson

In 2017, Hutcherson's career saw him in the comedy "The Disaster Artist", directed by James Franco. The actor also began starring in the sci-fi series "Future Man", which aired on Hulu. He played a janitor-turned-gamer at a research center who gets thrown into a virtual reality adventure.

The project ran for three seasons. "This was my first TV series and my first time doing comedy. It was fun being part of something so weird and out there," Hutcherson explained.

Josh Hutcherson's Personal Life

Josh stays incredibly close to his parents. When his acting career took off, his mother stepped in to manage his affairs and became his agent. With his first major earnings, Hutcherson bought a large house for his family and paid for his younger brother's college education.

As for his personal life, the actor rarely comments on his relationships. In 2010, he dated actress and singer Victoria Justice, but they broke up pretty quickly.

After filming "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", Josh started dating co-star Vanessa Hudgens. But this relationship didn't last long either. "Things like that happen in beautiful places like Hawaii. I'm the kind of person who lives in the present and enjoys every moment," the actor explained.

Romance rumors with his "Hunger Games" co-star Jennifer Lawrence have surfaced repeatedly, but both actors have shot down the speculation.

In 2014, Josh began dating actress Claudia Traisac, who starred in his production of "Escobar: Paradise Lost". "It's easier for me to date actresses. They don't freak out because I have to pretend to be in love and kiss someone else on screen," Hutcherson said about the relationship.

Josh Hutcherson and his girlfriend Claudia Traisac

In 2020, paparazzi spotted Josh and Claudia on a stroll in Venice. Since then, the couple has been extra careful about their public appearances.

Josh Hutcherson Now

By 2023, the actor's filmography boasted nearly 50 projects. Plus, Josh was actively fielding interesting offers for future roles. He starred in the thriller "The Beekeeper" alongside Jason Statham and Jeremy Irons, and teamed up with Morgan Freeman in the sci-fi film "57 Seconds."

Five Nights At Freddy's Official Trailer

In May 2023, the first teaser for the horror movie "Five Nights at Freddy's" was released, an adaptation of the eponymous horror game about a restaurant with cursed animatronics. Hutcherson landed the lead role of security guard Mike. The film's premiere from Universal Pictures was scheduled for October.

Interesting Facts

Josh openly admits he idolized Jake Gyllenhaal as a kid. Gyllenhaal was the one who inspired Hutcherson to dream of becoming an actor.
In 2012, Josh bought a ranch in the Hollywood Hills that had previously belonged to Heath Ledger. Hutcherson is a huge fan of his talent.
Josh enjoys motorcycling and adores his Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight.
During the filming of "The Hunger Games," Hutcherson and Lawrence constantly played pranks on each other on set, and sometimes this led to serious incidents. For example, Jennifer once accidentally kicked Josh so hard that he lost consciousness and suffered a concussion.

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Photos: Josh Hutcherson