JOSEPH ASHTON

previous | index | next

Joseph Ashton is an award winning actor who at 18 years old is already a veteran of television and films. Demonstrating an early affinity for sports and show biz, Joseph first bounced before the cameras as an Olympic baby in a McDonald’s commercial — and kicked off a career. The accomplished teenager is now winning awards and accolades in both fields. He is earning rave reviews as Billy Coleman in Where the Red Fern Grows based on Wilson Rawls’ best selling children’s book. The heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages is about a young boy and his quest for his own red-bone hound hunting dogs. Joseph's voice is immediately recognized as the lead character ‘Otto Rocket’ on Nickelodeon's popular animated series Rocket Power. Joseph has been on the series for 4 seasons and has been nominated twice for a Young Artist Award for his voice-over work. Joseph has lent his voice to other animated projects including Hey Arnold!, Whatever Happened to Robot Jones and the animated film Tarzan. He voiced the lead role in the highly acclaimed animated version of Victor Herbert’s classic operetta Babes in Toyland with James Belushi and Charles Nelson Reilly. Joseph had a regular role as Nick Newman on the award winning CBS drama LA Doctors and was nominated for a Young Artist Award for his portrayal of a divorced physician’s son. His guest starring roles include playing diverse characters on episodic television including an ill-fated skateboarder on ER, an orphaned boy who denied his Indian heritage on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, a mobster’s son on Walker, Texas Ranger, a kidnap victim on Martial Law, a sniper’s son on Cracker and the wise cracking neighbor’s kid on Smart Guy. He reprised his role as the voice of ‘Otto Rocket’ in the television movie Rocket Power: Race Across New Zealand for Nickelodeon and Rocket Power: Island of the Menehune. He appeared in the HBO telefilm Asylum as Young Tordone, who witnessed the suicide of his father and the NBC mini series Blind Faith based on the #1 national best-seller authored by Joe McGinniss. On the big screen, Joseph made his feature film debut as part of an ensemble in The Little Rascals. In the critically acclaimed The Education of Little Tree he called upon his own Native American heritage to play the title character ‘Little Tree.’ Joseph’s compelling performance earned him a Young Artist Award. Roger Ebert gave Joseph hearty two thumbs up for playing the half-Cherokee orphan calling him "fresh and natural." Proving that he can easily go from a drama to comedy Joseph earned a second Young Artist Award for best performance in a feature film for the starring role of 'Sonny' in the Columbia Tri Star release of Slappy and the Stinkers. Joseph is an avid sports enthusiast. When this multi-faceted young actor is not working, Joseph maintains the lifestyle of a typical young man. In high school, Joseph was an Honor Roll student, Captain of his Club Soccer Team, a starting player on the Varsity Soccer Team and went to England participating in the Olympic Dev. Soccer Team program at the regional level. He is now in College studying film and television production. He enjoys all outdoor sports, especially motorcross racing and lends his support to a variety of charitable causes.