Joshua Ryan "Josh" Hutcherson (born October 12, 1992) is an American actor. He began his acting career in the early 2000s, appearing in several minor film and television roles. His first acting role came in 2002, in the pilot episode of House Blend. His first film role was landed in 2003, when he appeared in Animal Planet's Miracle Dogs. Growing up as a child-actor, he gained exposure between 2004 and 2009 with major roles in the films Little Manhattan and Zathura, the comedy RV, and the family adventure film Firehouse Dog. Along the way, he also appeared in film adaptations of The Polar Express, Bridge to Terabithia, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Kids Are All Right, and Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. He received eight Young Artist Award nominations for Best Leading Young Actor in those five years, half of which he won. In 2011, Hutcherson landed the leading role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games film series, based on Suzanne Collins