Mateo Arias is an American actor and voice performer best recognized for his leading role in the martial arts comedy series Kickin’ It and his appearance in the short film Blast Beat. He launched his acting career with a minor part in the family comedy Yours, Mine & Ours. Arias rose to prominence for his portrayal of Jerry Cesar Martinez, a black-belt martial artist, in Kickin’ It, a performance that earned him a nomination for the Imagen Foundation Award for Best Young Actor in Television. His film work also includes a supporting role in the critically acclaimed romantic drama First Girl I Loved, directed by Kerem Sanga, as well as the role of Kasim, a key character in The Samuel Project.
Career of Mateo Arias
Mateo Arias began his acting journey in 2005 with a small role in the family comedy Yours, Mine & Ours, directed by Raja Gosnell and inspired by the 1968 film of the same name. Although the movie performed well at the box office, it was poorly received by critics. Arias appeared as a minor character, playing a bully. His television debut came through a guest appearance on the sitcom Drake & Josh, followed by similar roles in the popular musical comedy Hannah Montana and the crime drama series Cold Case.
In 2012, he appeared alongside his younger brother, Moises Arias, in the short war drama Brothers in Arms, which was both written and directed by Moises. The film focused on two brothers whose lives are disrupted when they are separated due to a military draft.
Between 2011 and 2015, Arias portrayed a leading character in the martial arts comedy series Kickin’ It, which premiered on Disney XD in June 2011. The show centered on a struggling martial arts academy led by an unconventional instructor and his group of five unlikely students. While the series achieved moderate success, it received several awards and nominations.
In 2015, Arias appeared in the short film Blast Beat. The following year, he took on a supporting role in the romantic drama First Girl I Loved, written and directed by Kerem Sanga. The film debuted at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best of Next, and was praised by critics. That same year, he also featured in Good Kids, directed by Chris McCoy, portraying an MMA trainer known as “The Lion.” The film followed four friends attempting to reinvent themselves after finishing high school.
In 2018, Arias appeared in a supporting role in The Samuel Project, a film about a socially isolated teenager named Eli who forms a bond with his reclusive grandfather, Samuel. As Eli chooses his grandfather as the focus of a school art assignment, he uncovers unexpected truths about Samuel’s past.
Family & Personal Life
Mateo Arias was born on October 31, 1995, in New York City, USA. His parents are of Colombian origin from the Paisa region. He has a younger brother, Moises Arias, who is also an actor and is known for his roles in films such as Ender’s Game and Despicable Me 2.