Jake T. Austin was born Jake Toranzo Austin Szymanski on December 3, 1994, in New York City. He is the son of Giny Rodriguez Toranzo and Joe Szymanski. His father is of Polish, English and Irish ancestry, and his mother is of Puerto Rican, Argentine and Spanish heritage. He has one younger sister, Ava. The middle initial “T” in his stage name honors his mother’s maiden name (Toranzo).
Austin grew up speaking both English and Spanish. He has described his childhood as “a melting pot” – English was spoken in school, while at home he spoke Spanish with his family. For example, he noted that family dinners might be “hot dogs or enchiladas,” reflecting the blend of his parents’ different cultural traditions.
Austin has said he was “born and raised in New York,” which is reflected in his strong New York accent. During his youth, his family lived in West Nyack, New York, where they owned The Clarksville Inn – a historic restaurant originally built in 1840. He attended local schools in the Clarkstown (West Nyack) area while growing up.
| Fact Category | Details |
| Full Name | Jake Toranzo Austin Szymanski |
| Date of Birth | December 3, 1994 |
| Age (2026) | 31 years old |
| Birthplace | New York City, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (Puerto Rican, Argentine, Spanish, Polish, English, Irish) |
| Languages | English and Spanish (bilingual upbringing) |
| Early Career Start | Began acting in commercials around age 7 |
| Breakthrough Role | Max Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place |
| Known For | Disney Channel roles and voice of Diego in Go, Diego, Go! |
Jake T. Austin built a successful career from early voice roles to leading performances on major networks, becoming widely recognized for his work in both family entertainment and evolving television projects. Jake T. Austin began acting as a child, appearing in commercials around 2002 when he was about seven years old. He soon moved into television and film work. His first on-screen appearance was in a small comedy sketch on late-night TV, after which he landed voice-acting roles in animated children’s shows.
In 2005 he was cast as the speaking voice of Diego Márquez, Dora the Explorer’s cousin, on Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorerand its spin-off Go, Diego, Go!. His early film work included co-starring as the young baseball player Angel Macias in the sports drama The Perfect Game(filmed 2006, released 2010). These projects helped establish Austin’s career in family-oriented entertainment at a young age.
Austin’s breakthrough came with auditions for Disney Channel productions as a pre-teen. Around age 12 he auditioned for the Disney Channel movie Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, one of his first live-action film roles. He then successfully auditioned for the role of Max Russo, the youngest sibling on Disney Channel’s fantasy sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, debuting in 2007.
During those auditions in New York and Los Angeles, he received encouragement from his future co-star Selena Gomez, which he later recalled as confidence-boosting. Landing the part of Max Russo marked a turning point in Austin’s career, as it made him one of Disney Channel’s most visible young actors.
Austin achieved early fame through two key roles. First, as the voice of Diego on Nickelodeon’s preschool series Go, Diego, Go!(2005–2009), he became well-known among young viewers.
Second, his portrayal of Max Russo (2007–2012) on Wizards of Waverly Placemade him a familiar face to the Disney Channel audience. Wizards of Waverly Placewas a top-rated sitcom, and Austin co-starred alongside Selena Gomez and David Henrie as part of the Russo family of wizards.
The show’s popularity led to crossover episodes with other Disney hits (The Suite Life on Deckand Hannah Montana) and a made-for-TV movie in 2009. Wizards of Waverly Place: The Moviebecame the second-most-viewed Disney Channel movie of its time, underscoring Austin’s breakout success.
Reflecting on the role years later, Austin said that portraying Max Russo was “one of the highlights” of his career. His work on Wizardshelped introduce him to a broad young audience and earned him nominations for youth acting awards.
Austin’s steady work with Disney and Nickelodeon throughout the late 2000s kept him in the public eye. By the time Wizards of Waverly Placeended in 2012, he had appeared in multiple Disney productions.
In 2009 he co-starred as Bruce, an orphan who hides stray dogs, in the DreamWorks family film Hotel for Dogs, which marked his first major Hollywood feature. That same year he appeared as himself in the popular Disney crossover. In 2011 he voiced a character named Seth in the ensemble comedy New Year’s Eve, directed by Garry Marshall.
Austin’s high profile on Disney and Nickelodeon also brought industry recognition: he received several Young Artist Award nominations (for example, for Hotel for Dogs) and an Imagen Award nomination for his voice work.
His popularity in family entertainment was noted in media; for instance, he was named one of the “25 Brightest Latino Stars Under 25” by Latinamagazine in 2010. Throughout this period, Austin leveraged his Disney and Nickelodeon fame to build a diverse résumé in television and film aimed at young audiences.
Beyond the Disney and Nickelodeon sphere, Austin took on a variety of roles in television and movies. He debuted on ABC Family as Jesus Foster in the drama series The Fosters(2013–2015), playing one of the foster children in a multi-ethnic family led by two mothers.
This role marked a shift toward more mature teen drama and he portrayed Jesus for two seasons. Austin left The Fostersin 2015; in a public statement he said he was “honored to have been a part of such a groundbreaking series” and thanked viewers for the experience. Other television guest roles included a 2012 episode of Drop Dead Divaand an appearance on Law & Order: SVU.
In film, Austin’s notable credits include The Perfect Game(2009), where he played Angel Macias; Hotel for Dogs(2009), where he portrayed Bruce; New Year’s Eve(2011), where he played Seth; Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn(2014), where he portrayed Huckleberry Finn opposite Joel Courtney; and The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex(2013), a Disney Channel television special that reunited the Wizards of Waverly Placecast. These projects demonstrated his ability to work across both television and feature films.
Alongside on-screen acting, Austin built a significant career as a voice actor. In addition to Diego, he lent his voice to multiple animated films and series. Early in his career he voiced characters in the animated films The Ant Bully(2006) and Everyone’s Hero(2006).
In 2011 he voiced Fernando, an orphaned Brazilian boy, in the animated musical Rio, and he reprised the role in the sequel Rio 2(2014). Additional voice credits include portraying the DC Comics hero Blue Beetle in animated films such as Justice League vs. Teen Titans(2016) and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract(2017).
He also voiced the title character in The Emoji Movie(2017) and contributed voice work to the preschool series Happy Monster Band. Reflecting on voice acting, Austin said that voice-over work for animated projects is “challenging but a lot of fun,” highlighting the creative process involved in bringing animated characters to life.
As Austin matured professionally, he expanded into projects that allowed him to explore more mature themes and storytelling styles. During this stage of his career he also pursued writing and sold an original screenplay titled Kings of Suburbia. In 2016 he competed on the television series Dancing with the Stars, which further broadened his visibility on national television.
By the late 2010s he began working on independent films and dramatic projects. Among these roles was a performance in the thriller Adverse, which premiered at the Fantasporto Film Festival in 2020. Austin has also expressed interest in developing projects behind the camera, including writing and directing, as part of his long-term professional ambitions.
Jake T. Austin transitioned beyond child stardom by taking on more mature roles, including his work in The Fosters and later independent films, reflecting a shift toward diverse and substantive storytelling in his career. In the early 2020s Austin continued working in both film and television productions. He appeared in the drama The Valleyand participated in several independent film projects. More recent roles include performances in the short film Inclusive Spaceand the psychological thriller Daft State.
In addition, Austin confirmed plans to return to the role of Max Russo in a new sequel series connected to Wizards of Waverly Place, reuniting him with members of the original cast.
The revival represents a continuation of one of the most recognizable roles of his career while reflecting his ongoing presence in television and film. As of 2026, Austin remains active in acting and continues pursuing new projects that expand his work across both mainstream and independent productions.
As of 2026, Jake T. Austin’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. His income is derived from live-action television and film roles, voice acting in animated projects, and earlier commercial work. However, specific details regarding his earnings, contract values, and current income remain undisclosed.
Jake T. Austin is an American actor known for his work in television, film, and voice acting. He gained early recognition through Disney Channel and Nickelodeon projects.
He is best known for playing Max Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place. He is also widely recognized as the voice of Diego in Go, Diego, Go!.
Jake T. Austin began acting as a child, appearing in commercials around the age of seven. He soon transitioned into television and voice acting roles.
He speaks both English and Spanish. He grew up in a bilingual household, using Spanish at home and English in school.
His notable films include Hotel for Dogs, The Perfect Game, and New Year’s Eve. He has also appeared in independent and television film projects.