Noah Andrew Ringer(born November 18, 1996)[1][2]is an American martial artist and former child actor. He starred asAangin the 2010 filmThe Last Airbenderand played Emmett inCowboys & Aliens.[3][4][5]
Noah Ringer | |
|---|---|
 Ringer at the 2010New York Citypremiere ofThe Last Airbender | |
| Born | Noah Andrew Ringer November 18, 1996 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, martial artist |
| Years active | 2008–2011 |
Life and career
editRinger was born inDallas,Texas.[6]When he was ten, his mother enrolled him at ATA Martial Arts inCarrollton,Texas, part of theAmerican Taekwondo Association(ATA).[7][8]He showed early promise and soon began competing intournaments.In December 2008, at age twelve, Ringer earned hisfirst degreeblack belt.[7]
Ringer kept his head shaved, and fellow students nicknamed him "Avatar", after the character Aang in the animated television seriesAvatar: The Last Airbender.[9]Ringer's taekwondo instructor, Master Eric Pechacek, started watching the show and also noticed the resemblance of Ringer to Aang, in both appearance and personality. He introduced the show to Ringer, who became an immediate fan.[10]
In July 2008, Pechacek received an email from the ATA, inviting any interested students to audition for the role of Aang inThe Last Airbender.Pechacek urged Ringer to try out for the part.[7]For the audition video, Ringer dressed in Aang's attire, using his Halloween costume from the previous year.[11]He performed an XMA Jahng Bong routine and recited a few lines.[10]A month after sending in the video, Ringer was called toPhiladelphiato meet with directorM. Night Shyamalan.A month after that, he was offered the part.[8]Ringer had one month to prepare for the film. He did an intense study with director Linda Seto at the Dallas Young Actors Studio, where continued classes afterwards. He also began training in different types of martial arts, which continued during the filming process.[12]
In March 2011, Ringer was nominated for Best Performance In A Feature Film By A Leading Young Actor for the 32nd AnnualYoung Artist Awards.[13]In May 2011, Ringer won the 3rd Annual TheSkyKid.Com "Coming of Age" Best Actor movie award for his performance inThe Last Airbender.[14]
Ringer played the role of Emmett Taggart inCowboys & Aliens,asci-fiwesternfilm directed byJon Favreau.[3]
Martial arts
editRinger's first ATA tournament was the World Championships inArkansas.He won first place in every category he competed in.[7]After watching the "extreme" routines at that tournament, Ringer decided to start training inExtreme Martial Arts,or XMA, which involved him choreographing his own moves and choosing his own music.[6][7]He became proficient with a variety of Eastern weapons, including thebō staff,which his character Aang uses.[10][15]During his first two years with the ATA, Ringer competed in 25 tournaments, winning 100 medals, 80 of them gold.[7]He was given "The Competitor of the Year" award for the Texas region in February 2008.[6]Ringer won the 2008-2009 title of Texas State Champion in five categories: Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Sparring, X-Treme Forms, and X-Treme Weapons.[16]
ForThe Last Airbender,Ringer learnedbaguazhang,tai chi,andWushu.[8][17]These styles are "soft", compared totaekwondo,which is a "hard" style.[17][18]Ringer continues to train in American taekwondo. In October 2010, he earned his second degree black belt.[18][19]Ringer teaches other students in the ATA, as part of the Leadership Program.[18]He also doesgymnasticsand has started to learnChoy Li Futkung fu.[12]
Personal life
editRinger washomeschooled.[7]He has stated that he has someNative Americanheritage.[20]
He's namedAvatar: The Last Airbender,Transformers: Prime,The Spectacular Spider-Man,Breaking BadandPenny Dreadfulas among his favorite TV shows whileThe Incredibles,Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,Die Hard,DesperadoandSaving Private Ryanare some of his favorite movies.
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Last Airbender | Aang | |
| 2011 | Cowboys & Aliens | Emmett Taggart |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | TheSkyKid.com | "Coming of Age" Best Actor | The Last Airbender | Won | [14] |
| 2011 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor | Nominated | [21] | |
| 2011 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Couple | Nominated |
References
edit- ^Mixco, Rosemarie (August 30, 2010)."Noah El último maestro del aire".elsalvador.com.Archived fromthe originalon September 1, 2010.
- ^Ringer, Noah."The Last Airbender".Archived2011-12-23 at theWayback MachineInterview by Karen Valby.EW.com.Entertainment Weekly, November 3, 2010. Web. February 1, 2010.
- ^abDreamWorks Studios."Cowboys & Aliens".Archived2010-11-21 at theWayback MachineDreamWorks Studios.DreamWorks Animation, 2010. Web. February 14, 2011.
- ^Kroll, Justin."Noah Ringer".ArchivedNovember 8, 2012, at theWayback MachineVariety.April 16, 2010. Web. February 14, 2011.
- ^Marnell, Blair."'Last Airbender' Star Noah Ringer JoinsCowboys and AliensCast. "ArchivedSeptember 29, 2012, at theWayback MachineMTV.April 19, 2010. Web. February 14, 2011.
- ^abcParamount Pictures."Noah Ringer".ArchivedJanuary 16, 2012, at theWayback MachineThe Last Airbender.Paramount Pictures, 2010. Web. February 1, 2011.
- ^abcdefgRoth, James (July 14, 2010)."Local boy is 'Last Airbender'".Star Local News.Archived fromthe originalon January 31, 2013.
- ^abc"First News interviews The Last Airbender star Noah Ringer".Archived2011-09-28 at theWayback MachineFirst News.December 14, 2010. Web. February 7, 2011.
- ^Bowles, Scott."First Look: Actors put up a real fight in 'Airbender.'"ArchivedJuly 19, 2012, at theWayback MachineUSA Today.May 25, 2009. Web. February 14, 2011.
- ^abcFormichelli, Linda. "Noah Ringer's Big Break".ATA WorldSummer 2010: 18-24. Print.
- ^Valby, Karen. "The Kids' Table".Entertainment WeeklyNovember 5, 2010: 46-49. Print.
- ^ab"Hyper Exclusive Interview with Noah Ringer Star of The Last Airbender"ArchivedDecember 22, 2015, at theWayback MachineHyper.Scribd, 2010. Web. February 1, 2011.
- ^The Young Artist Foundation."32nd Annual 2011 Nominations".ArchivedAugust 8, 2013, at theWayback MachineYoung Artist Awards.The Young Artist Foundation, 2011. Web. March 2, 2011.
- ^abtheSkyKid.Com website."3rd Annual Coming of Age Movie Awards Recipients Named".ArchivedMay 2, 2014, at theWayback MachineSkyKids.Com Coming of Age Best Actor award.theSkyKid.com website, 2011. Web. May 9, 2011.
- ^D'Alessandro, Anthony."Noah Ringer heeds Shyamalan's call".ArchivedNovember 8, 2012, at theWayback MachineVariety.December 3, 2009. Web. February 9, 2011.
- ^American Taekwondo Association."Texas 2008-2009 Championship Totals".Archived2011-07-07 at theWayback MachineATA.American Taekwondo Association, 2010. Web. February 9, 2011.
- ^abBennett, Tara. "The Fourth Element".Sci FiAugust 2010: 25-29. Print.
- ^abc"American Taekwondo Association and Noah Ringer Kick off The Last Airbender DVD release".ArchivedOctober 18, 2012, at theWayback MachineWebcast.Ustream.com.November 16, 2010. February 1, 2011.
- ^Ringer, Noah.Facebook.com.December 27, 2010. Web. February 1, 2011. <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Noah-Ringer/109306182466431?v=wall>
- ^Karen Valby (November 3, 2010)."Noah Ringer of 'The Last Airbender' has nothing up his sleeve: EW at 'The Kids' Table'".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon December 23, 2011.RetrievedOctober 8,2011.NOTE:Upon further inquiry, Karen Valby confirmed that Noah Ringer self-identified as "American Indian". For the discussion, see:Loraine Sammy (November 11, 2010)."Noah Ringer: American Indian".Racebending.com.Archivedfrom the original on April 7, 2012.RetrievedOctober 9,2011.
- ^"32nd Annual Young Artist Awards - Nominations / Special Awards".The Young Artist Foundation. 2011.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2013.RetrievedMarch 14,2011.