Tanner Buchanan bio, height, age, girlfriend, parents 2025

Biography of Tanner Buchanan

Tanner Buchanan is an American actor who's been working in the entertainment industry since he was ten years old. He's appeared in TV shows and commercials, but his acting breakthrough came with his role as Jack Downey in the drama series "The Fosters". Tanner became truly famous after his portrayal of Robby Keene in the martial arts series "Cobra Kai". He brought authenticity to the role of a skilled martial artist, having trained in Muay Thai and Taekwondo for years.

Childhood, Youth, and Family

Tanner was born in the winter of 1998 to Steve and Marlon Buchanan in the small American town of Lima, Ohio. From an early age, he showed a passion for performing, and his parents decided to nurture his musical talents. Over the course of several years, he learned to play the guitar and piano.

Beyond music, he also took up dance and sports, spending lots of time at the stables learning to ride horses. His grandfather also taught him magic tricks, which Buchanan fondly recalls:

My grandpa actually introduced me to magic. I practiced card tricks and coin tricks for many, many years... I became more confident. You have to be that confident, because you know how it works, but you have to fool everyone and make sure they know that it doesn't work or that it's impossible, and only you can do it.

After watching the musical "Singin' in the Rain" when he was eight, young Tanner decided he wanted to sing and dance like Gene Kelly. During a trip to New York for a competition, Tanner caught the attention of talent agents. He landed his first commercial contract, prompting his parents to relocate to Los Angeles so their son could pursue both his acting career and education. Buchanan recalled:

It was an Acura commercial, I remember that. All I did was smile and ride a bike all day. That was my job.

In Los Angeles, Tanner studied at the Edge Performing Arts Centre and worked with the talent scouting company, Huckleberry Friend Productions, in pursuit of his dream of becoming a successful actor.

10 Things Cobra Kai's Tanner Buchanan Can't Live Without | GQ

Film Career

In 2010, Tanner made his screen debut in a Halloween episode of the television series "Modern Family". From there, he landed regular appearances in hit TV shows, taking on smaller parts in major productions. He appeared in "Grey's Anatomy" (Lucas), "Major Crimes" (Michelle Brand), "The Fosters" (Jack Downey), and "The Goldbergs" (Evan Turner).

Tanner's resume grew when he scored his first major role in the political thriller "Designated Survivor", playing Leo Kirkman, son of Kiefer Sutherland's lead character.

Tanner Buchanan in Designated Survivor Series

But Tanner's real breakout moment came when he landed the role of Robby Keene in the hit series "Cobra Kai", playing the son of William Zabka's character and karate sensei.

Years of tension with his dad turned Robby into a troubled kid, but eventually brought him face-to-face with his father's old rival, who saw his potential and helped steer him toward the right path. The show struck a chord with both younger viewers and fans of the classic 80s film "The Karate Kid", particularly since the original movie's main cast returned to reprise their iconic roles.

Tanner's training during the filming of Cobra Kai.

While working on "Cobra Kai", Tanner also took on the thriller "Cruel Fixation", playing the enigmatic Dylan who becomes friends with a boy grieving his father's death. He also nabbed the starring role of Connor Lawson in the family adventure "Max Winslow and the House of Secrets", following a group of teens on a perilous mission.

Tanner Buchanan in the film Cruel Fixation

In 2021, Buchanan starred in "She's All That", a gender-swapped remake of the classic teen rom-com. His co-star in the romantic story was popular TikToker Addison Rae. She made her acting debut as the popular girl who sets out to transform the shy, introverted guy into the ultimate prom king and party hero. Buchanan described his character, Cameron Kweller, as:

Cameron is a bit of an outcast in our time. He doesn't really connect with people his age and can't wrap his head around technology or everyone's social media obsession. He can be a bit judgmental at times, but the more you get to know him, the more you realize that he's just a really sweet and caring guy.

Tanner Buchanan's personal life

In 2017, Tanner met Lizze Broadway, a model and actress who audiences know from films like "Separated at Birth" and "Here and Now." Tanner kept their relationship under wraps for a while, but in 2019, they made their public debut at Comic-Con, and the couple was later spotted vacationing in Venice.

While there's no wedding talk yet, their relationship remains solid, despite 2021 rumors linking Tanner to his "He's All That" co-star Addison Rae. The rumors started when Tanner and Addison shared a kiss at the MTV Awards ceremony while announcing the Best Kiss contest winners. However, both actors confirmed they're happy with their respective partners (Rae is dating Omar Fedi).

Tanner Buchanan Now

Tanner Buchanan had a busy and successful 2022. He starred as Apollo in the action-comedy "The Hyperions" and landed the lead in romantic drama "How to Date Billy Walsh." The film co-starred Lucy Punch, Kunal Nayyar, and Nick Frost. He also continued filming new "Cobra Kai" episodes.

Interesting Facts

He's a huge rom-com fan and considers them his guilty pleasure. One of his favorite films is the action-adventure "The Last Airbender" starring Noah Ringer.
Buchanan frequently models clothing and accessories, appearing in fashion magazines like Flaunt and The HERO Summer Zine in 2021.
Like many actors, he's involved in charity work and donates part of his earnings to Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit that builds affordable housing for homeless and low-income families.
Buchanan has expressed interest in playing Robin, Batman's sidekick, in a future Batman film.