Dallas Liu is an American actor who has been making waves in both television and film. He first gained recognition for his role as young Jin Kazama in the 2009 film Tekken.
Since then, Liu has appeared in popular TV shows like Pen15 and Legendary Dudas. His biggest role to date is set to be Prince Zuko in the upcoming Netflix series Avatar: The Last Airbender, a live-action remake of the beloved animated series.
In this article, we will explore Dallas Liu’s net worth, career trajectory, and most buzzworthy roles so far.
Dallas Liu’s net worth and career
Liu is a rising star in the entertainment industry, with an estimated net worth of $3-5 million. Although he’s still in the early stages of his career, he has already amassed an impressive resume that includes notable roles in film and television.
His journey in the entertainment world began in 2009 when he made his film debut as young Jin Kazama in the martial arts movie Tekken. His manager had discovered him through karate videos he had uploaded on YouTube.
Over the years, he has appeared in various television shows. He had a recurring role as Carter on Nickelodeon’s Legendary Dudas. He played Maya Erskine’s brother, Shuji, on the critically acclaimed Hulu dramedy PEN15.
His career continued flourishing with his portrayal of Taylor King in Snapchat’s young adult drama series Players and his appearance in the 2021 Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
In addition to his on-screen roles, Liu has also been involved in theater productions. In 2020, he participated in a virtual reading of Seven Minutes in Heaven to commemorate the play’s 10th anniversary, demonstrating his passion for acting across various mediums.
His most highly anticipated role to date is in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Announced in August 2021, this role has generated significant excitement among fans of the original series.
Dallas Liu got widespread recognition with ‘Pen15’
While Liu made his acting debut with the film Tekken, it was through his role in the Hulu comedy series Pen15 that he gained widespread recognition.
Pen15 is an American comedy series created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and Sam Zvibleman, which premiered on Hulu in February 2019. The show stars Erskine and Konkle as fictionalized versions of themselves as 13-year-old social outcasts in school.
In Pen15′ Liu, he played the role of Shuji Ishii-Peters, Maya’s older brother. Despite being only 19 years old then, his portrayal of the cool, rebellious, and cannabis-smoking high school student was widely praised for its authenticity.
In an interview with NBC Asian America, Liu expressed his excitement about playing Shuji, stating that he could “connect with Shuji’s character on such a personal level.”
As an older brother himself, he could easily relate to the love-hate dynamic that Shuji shared with his younger sister, Maya. His performance as Shuji was particularly noteworthy for his ability to balance the tough love and guidance he gave Maya and the bond between siblings.
He could call out Maya’s immaturity and bratty behavior while maintaining genuine affection, mirroring the complexities of real-life sibling relationships.
Dallas Liu was also a part of the Marvel universe
After gaining widespread recognition for his role in the Hulu comedy series, Liu entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a role in the 2021 film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
The film featured an impressive ensemble cast, including Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, and Ronnie Chieng. Liu was cast as Ruihua, the younger brother of Awkwafina’s character, Katy, and the best friend of the film’s protagonist, Shang-Chi.
While the movie’s central story focuses on the family drama between Shang-Chi and his criminal father, Wenwu, Liu’s character, along with Katy, provides a grounded perspective on a Chinese American family living in San Francisco.
In an interview, Liu discussed his involvement in the project and how he was initially cast. He shared that he began with a self-tape audition and a callback with the casting director.
A few weeks later, he received the exciting news that he had booked the role, which he described as “one of the best phone calls I’ve ever received.”
His role as Ruihua offered a familial contrast to Wenwu, the film’s villain, and provided an American-born Chinese perspective that resonated with audiences.
When asked about this aspect of his character, Liu acknowledged the differences between Chinese and American Chinese communities, stating, “I think that it’s a great way to show to the world that we’re not all the same by any means.”
“There are so many different kinds of Asian cultures. I feel like any sort of American-born Asians are pretty different from the rest of the Asian community outside of the U.S.”
Dallas Liu plays Zuko in the live-action ‘Avatar: The Last Air Bender’
Netflix’s highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender has generated significant fan anticipation.
As the series prepares to debut on February 22, Netflix has unveiled the first clip, showcasing Liu’s interpretation of the iconic character, Prince Zuko.
In the original animated series, Zuko was the disgraced Fire Nation prince, determined to regain his honor by capturing the Avatar. Dante Basco voiced his character and became a fan favorite for his complex journey and character development.
The clip released by Netflix offers a glimpse into Liu’s portrayal of the skilled Firebender. It depicts Zuko rescuing his Uncle Iroh, played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, from a group of Earthbenders who have captured him.
The scene showcases Zuko’s impressive firebending abilities and hints at the close relationship he shares with his wise and compassionate uncle.
While the animated series introduced Zuko as a driven and often angry young man solely focused on capturing the Avatar, the live-action adaptation aims to delve deeper into the complexities of his character.
The series may offer a more nuanced perspective on Zuko’s journey by introducing crucial Fire Nation players like Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim) and Princess Azula (Elizabeth Yu) earlier in the narrative.
As Liu steps into the iconic role of Prince Zuko, fans eagerly anticipate how he will interpret the character’s journey. The clip offers a promising introduction to his interpretation, showcasing his fire-bending skills and the depth of his relationship with Iroh.
