Leo Howard
A martial artist turned actor and director who channeled his childhood black belt into on-screen action and a record-breaking turn behind the camera.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American actor, director and martial artist·Birthday: July 13·Generation Z
Biography
Leo Howard didn't just act in action roles; he lived them. A dedicated martial artist from a very young age, he brought an authentic physicality to Hollywood that separated him from peers who merely trained for a part. This was evident when he played a young Snake-Eyes in 'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,' performing his own intricate fight sequences. He became a familiar face to a generation of kids as Jack Brewer on Disney XD's 'Kickin' It,' a role that seamlessly blended comedy with his real-world skills. Perhaps most impressively, Howard parlayed that on-set experience into directing, earning a Guinness World Record as the youngest television director ever for an episode of that same series at just 16. His career represents a natural evolution from physical performer to creative storyteller.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Leo was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Leo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Leo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Certified by Guinness World Records as the youngest television director ever at age 16 for directing an episode of 'Kickin' It.'
- Starred as lead character Jack Brewer on the Disney XD series 'Kickin' It' for over 80 episodes.
- Portrayed the iconic silent ninja Snake-Eyes as a child in the film 'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.'
- Won a Young Artist Award for his role in the family film 'Shorts.'
Did You Know?
He began studying martial arts at the age of four and earned his first black belt at seven.
He is also a musician and plays guitar.
He directed multiple episodes of 'Kickin' It' beyond the record-breaking one.
He was a model as a young child, appearing in advertisements before moving into acting.
“The fight scene is written in the script, but the truth is in the body.”
