Ian Ousley | |
|---|---|
| Ousley at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2024 | |
| Born | Ian Luke Ousley March 28, 2002 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Known for | Avatar: The Last Airbender |
Ian Luke Ousley (born March 28, 2002) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Sokka in Avatar: The Last Airbender, the live-action adaptation of the Nickelodeon series of the same name.
Ousley was born on March 28, 2002, in College Station, Texas. He began practicing taekwondo at the age of 9 and competed nationally for five years, later earning a third-degree black belt in 2018. [1] He appeared in 3 episodes of 13 Reasons Why in 2019 and 2020. [2]
In August 2021, Ousley was cast as Sokka in the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender . [3] When his casting was announced, an official bio describing him as a "mixed-race, Native American" and a "Cherokee tribe member" was released. [1] However, it was later reported by the Cherokee Phoenix that he is not a citizen of any of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes in the United States, and is instead a member of the Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky, an organization that self-identifies as a tribe. The organization has received some acknowledgement at the state and municipal level in Kentucky, but is not recognized as a tribe by the state government, the federal government, or any of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes. [4]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Runner | Everett | Short | [5] |
| 2025 | Nine | Ethan | Short | [6] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–2020 | 13 Reasons Why | Robby Corman | 3 episodes | [7] |
| 2019 | Sorry for Your Loss | Brayden | 1 episode | [8] |
| 2020 | Young Sheldon | Jeremy | 1 episode | [9] [10] |
| 2021 | Big Shot | Bodhi | 2 episodes | [11] |
| Physical | Zeke Breem | Season 1 only; 4 episodes | [11] | |
| 2024–present | Avatar: The Last Airbender | Sokka | Main role | [3] |
According to his management, Ian Ousley – shown in his first TV role in "Sorry For Your Loss" – is "of the Cherokee tribe," but none of the three federally recognized Cherokee governments [list] him on their rolls.