Jake Toranzo Austin Szymanski (born December 3, 1994), known professionally as Jake T. Austin, is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of seven, Austin is a five-time Young Artist Award nominee, best known for his role as Max Russo on the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place (co-starring alongside Maria Canals-Barrera), and as the voice of Diego on the Nickelodeon animated series Dora the Explorer in the Seasons 4-5 episodes Dora and Diego to the Rescue!, Dora Saves the Mermaids, and Dora Saves Three Kings Day. He also voiced him on Go, Diego, Go! from Seasons 1-3. Austin was also the original actor who portrayed Jesus Foster on the ABC Family family/teen drama series The Fosters.
His career began in 2002 when he appeared in commercials. A year later, he appeared in his first credited acting role as Kid 1698 in a comedy sketch on The Late Show With David Letterman. In 2003, he landed his first major role – voicing Diego, the cousin of Dora, on the hit Nickelodeon animated series Dora the Explorer. He continued to voice Diego on the spin-off series, Go, Diego, Go!, for the first three seasons.
To view all of his contributions to the franchise, see here.
Trivia[]
- His favorite episode is Diego Saves Baby Humpback Whale.[1]
- In both Dora and Diego to the Rescue! and the first season of Go, Diego, Go!, he is credited as Jake Toranzo-Szymanski.
- Between 2006 and 2007, Austin was nominated for the Young Artist Award and Imagen Award for his role as Diego.