Josh Hutcherson's Real Name: Joshua Ryan Hutcherson

Quick answer: Josh Hutcherson's documented full name is Joshua Ryan Hutcherson. Encyclopedia.com records that form and, with WCPO, gives his birth date as October 12, 1992, in Union, Kentucky (Encyclopedia.com; WCPO).

Real name and early life

WCPO, a Cincinnati television station, describes him as a Union, Kentucky, native and says that by the time he was ten he was already spending much of his time on sets in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, and elsewhere. The same account says that at age eight he looked up a local talent agent and persuaded his parents to sign him up, then moved to Los Angeles with his mother, Michelle, after early commercial work. Encyclopedia.com lists the full name Joshua Ryan Hutcherson and the October 12, 1992, Union birth, and names his parents as Chris and Michelle Hutcherson.

Career highlights

Early credits in both accounts include a part in the independent film American Splendor, voice work in Howl's Moving Castle, and a role in Tom Hanks's The Polar Express (2004), which WCPO says was directed by Robert Zemeckis. Encyclopedia.com also lists Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), for which WCPO says he won a Young Artist Award, plus Little Manhattan, Kicking & Screaming, RV (2006), and the lead as Jesse Aarons in Bridge to Terabithia (2007). WCPO later points to family-adventure work with Brendan Fraser in Journey to the Center of the Earth and to a more adult ensemble role in the independent film The Kids Are All Right, alongside Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. His widest fame came as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games films, opposite Jennifer Lawrence. WCPO, writing as the fourth film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 opened, said the series had already sold $2.4 billion in tickets worldwide and described Hutcherson as a busy actor who was also beginning to produce and hoping to direct. The same account mentions an early producing credit on the independent film Detention.

Name notes for searchers

Joshua Ryan Hutcherson is the documented full name; he is known professionally as Josh Hutcherson. Searchers looking for Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games, Jesse in Bridge to Terabithia, or the young lead in Zathura: A Space Adventure are usually aiming at the same person. WCPO also notes early television appearances, including a remake pilot titled Eddie's Father.