The Kentucky-born actor who started performing at nine, came close to donning Spider-Man's suit, and took Hollywood by storm is celebrating a birthday. Here are ten facts about the star behind The Hunger Games.
He knew what he wanted from the start: Hutcherson was born in Kentucky and decided he wanted to be an actor at just four years old. By nine, he and his mother had already moved to Hollywood to pursue the industry seriously.
The famous mentor: In one of his earliest roles in the film "The Promised Land" (2004), he acted alongside Tom Hanks. Hanks was impressed by his talent and became something of a mentor to him early in his career.
Groundbreaking experience in The Polar Express: He played the lead child character in the animated film "The Polar Express" (2004) using motion-capture technology, which was entirely pioneering in cinema at the time.
Nearly unmasked as Spider-Man: Before Andrew Garfield was cast as Peter Parker in "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012), Hutcherson went through advanced auditions and was one of the final and leading candidates for the role.
The role that changed his life: His massive global breakthrough came when he was cast as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games film series alongside Jennifer Lawrence, a role that made him one of the most recognizable stars in the world.
Hair color as occupational hazard: To portray Peeta Mellark, Hutcherson, a natural brunette, had to bleach his hair blond throughout all the years of filming the series.
Breaking personal box-office records: In 2023 he returned to the forefront in the lead role of the horror film "Five Nights at Freddy's," which became a stunning box-office success and the highest-grossing film of his career.
The hilarious on-set accident: During the filming of The Hunger Games, Hutcherson was demonstrating his high kick to Jennifer Lawrence and accidentally struck her directly in the head. The impact was strong enough to give Lawrence a mild concussion, an incident the two continue to laugh about in every joint interview since.
His height doesn't hurt his confidence: Hutcherson is also known for his self-deprecating humor about his height (approximately 5'5"). He jokes about it frequently in interviews and doesn't hesitate to laugh at the height differences between himself and his co-stars.
Moving behind the camera: Beyond acting, Hutcherson has entered the worlds of production and directing in recent years, he has directed several music videos and short films, and produced the series "Future Man" in which he also starred.
