Heroes

Background:

Japanese American actor Masi Oka is best-known to television audiences as computer whiz Hiro Nakamura on the hit NBC series “Heroes” (2006-2008). For his performance, he won a Saturn Award and was nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Satellite, and a Teen Choice Award. Commenting about his Golden Globe nomination, he said, “It is absolutely wonderful. It is such an honor to be recognized for the work. I am happy the show got nominated too. That is a tribute to everyone's work. I remember waking up to 18 phone messages. I didn't wake up at 5:30. You wake up with 18 messages and think, 'Something good happened.’”

Starting his professional career at George Lucas’ visual effects company, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the Brown University graduate first enjoyed success behind the camera as a digital artist and programmer on Wolfgang Petersen's “The Perfect Storm” (2000) before branching out into acting with guest appearances in TV shows like “Dharma & Greg” and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.” Thanks to his recurring role on ABC's “Scrubs” (2002-2004), Oka landed his star-making role on “Heroes.” Making his feature acting debut in “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002), Oka has added a string of movies to his resume, including “Legally Blonde 2” (2003), Robert Ben Garant's “Balls of Fury” (2007), Steve Conrad's “The Promotion” (2008), Peter Segal's “Get Smart” (2008) and its spin-off, “Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control” (2008). Oka has also continued his work as a digital artist for such movies as the Star Wars prequel trilogy, “War of the Worlds” (2005) and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest” (2006). “I love both acting and programming equally. I think it enriches me and enhances me as an artist. I have a lot of appreciation for what people do in front of the camera as well as behind the camera. I don't think I could like one without the other.” Masi Oka

Currently a resident of Los Angeles, Oka speaks English, Japanese and Spanish. He enjoys Japanese sword fighting (Kendo), playing video games, beatboxing, playing the piano, and singing. Oka is a big fan of the New York Rangers and is frequently spotted cheering in the stands with his friend and “Heroes” costar, Milo Ventimiglia.

Whiz Kid

Childhood and Family:

Masayori Oka, who would later be popular as Masi Oka, was born on December 27, 1974, in Tokyo, Japan. He was raised solely by his mother, Setsuko Oka, after his father left the family. At the time, Masi was only one month old. His mother immigrated to the United States when he was six years old and the family stayed in Los Angeles.

An intelligent student, Masi attended elementary school at The Mirman School and graduated high school from Harvard-Westlake School in 1992. He went on to pursue his studies at Brown University and earned his B.S. degree in Computer Science and Mathematics in 1997.

Masi first appeared on television at age 8 when he participated in the CBS game show “Child's Play.” Four years later, he graced the cover of the August 31, 1987, issue of Time magazine titled “Those Asian-American Whiz Kids,” but he was not featured in the article. The next year, Masi ranked No. 4 in the California state MATHCOUNTS competition and subsequently competed in the national competition.

Special Effects

Career:

Masi Oka received many job offers after graduating from Brown University. Rather than taking a programming position at Microsoft, he chose to accept an entry level job at the California-based Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a motion picture visual special effects company owned by George Lucas. After several months of training, he got the opportunity to work as a CG technical assistant in the Ron Underwood 1998 adventure film “Mighty Joe Young,” and continued to serve as technical support for 1999's “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” and 2000's “Mission to Mars.”

Oka's first big break arrived when he served as a digital artist/programmer on the Wolfgang Petersen-directed thriller “The Perfect Storm” (2000). Under the supervision of ILM visual effects master John Anderson, he helped develop a computer program to create water effects. This led to work in several other movies, including “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones” (2002, served as digital effects artist), Ang Lee's “Hulk” (2003, served as technical director), “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003, served as CG artist), “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” (2005, served as digital artist), Steven Spielberg's “War of the Worlds” (2005, served as digital artist) and Gore Verbinski's “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest” (2006, served as digital artist). It was also in 2000 that Oka got his first start in acting. In 2001, after gaining a Screen Actors Guild card by appearing in industrial videos, he made his way to Los Angeles to become a professional actor.

Oka landed a series of guest spots in television series like Fox's “Dharma & Greg” (2001), “Gilmore Girls” (2001), “Yes, Dear” (2002), “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” (2002) and “She Spies” (2002). He also had roles in such movies as “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002, as a Japanese pedestrian) and “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde” (2003, as a Congressional Intern). Oka's first major part came when he was cast in the reoccurring role of Franklyn on the ABC comedy series “Scrubs,” a role he played in five episodes during 2002 to 2004. He stated, “I think 'Scrubs' is brilliant. It's brilliant writing and I owe a lot to those guys for my career. So if they ever want me back, I'll gladly do it.”

The hardworking actor next costarred in the Fox television comedy series “Luis” (2003), opposite Luis Guzman, before supporting Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston n the comedy “Along Came Polly” (2004), directed and written by John Hamburg. He then appeared as Ronald in an episode of CBS' “Still Standing” called “Still Bill's Dad.” Later that year, he co-wrote and acted in the 7-minute comedy “Chester's Big Night,” directed by Gregory Lemkin, and appeared in the WB sitcom “All of Us,” as Edwin.

2005 saw Oka appear in the made-for-TV movie “House of the Dead 2” and in one episode of “Less Than Perfect.” He also provided his voice for the animated TV film “The Proud Family Movie” and voiced Brother Eo on the Leslie Streit-directed drama “God Wears My Underwear.” He went on to portray KJ in the 2006 short “One Sung Hero,” for director Samantha Counter, and appeared in episodes of WB's “Reba” and “Joey,” CBS' “Without a Trace,” and Fox's “The Loop” (all 2006).

However, Oka did not hit the big time until he won the role of Hiro Nakamura on the NBC science-fiction series “Heroes,” which debuted in September 2006. Playing the spiritless Japanese drone who detects one morning that he can transport and change the time-space continuum, he charmed audiences with his childlike wonder and tirelessly sense of curiosity and eventually won the hearts of critics as well. For his good acting, he received an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, as well as nominations at the Satellite Awards and the Teen Choice Awards. The role also brought him a 2007 Saturn for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Program and the Future Classic Award from the 2007 TV Land gala.

While working on the show, Oka was also busy on other projects. He was featured as a clerk in a 2007 episode of the sitcom “The Sarah Silverman Program,” portrayed Agent Osaka in the TV film “Jane Doe: Ties That Bind” (2007), starring Lea Thompson, and teamed up with Christopher Walken, Dan Fogler and George Lopez for the comedy feature “Balls of Fury” (2007), helmed by Robert Ben Garant. He also provided the voice of Charles 'Chachi' Arcola in a 2007 episode of the cartoon series “Robot Chicken.”

When “Heroes” was on hiatus, Oka could be seen as a Japanese tourist in an episode of “Reno 911.” He also appeared in the festival screened “The Promotion” (2008), helmed by Steve Conrad and starring Seann William Scott, and played the supporting role of Bruce on Peter Segal's movie adaptation of “Get Smart” (2008), starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway and Dwayne Johnson. He went on to reprise the role of Bruce for the spin-off “Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control” (2008), which was directed by Gil Junger.

Awards:

• Saturn: Best Supporting Actor in a Television Program, “Heroes,” 2007

• TV Land: Future Classic Award, “Heroes,” 2007