The latest adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender has awoken nostalgia among those growing up were enraptured by the high-fantasy epic of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko for Nickelodeon in the early 2000s.
It brings back to life these words uttered by the waterbending master Katara to open the first episode of the series:
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. But when the world needed him most, he vanished."
At the heart of this revival is the Filipino-Canadian actor Gordon Cormier, who plays the lead character Aang from the Southern Air Temple, charged to restore peace among all nations as the Avatar.
Although Gordon was born after the show ended, he approaches the role with unwavering dedication, aiming to meet the expectations of the series' devoted cult following.
Let's find out more details about the actor playing master to the classic elemental bending arts.
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Table of Contents
BACKGROUND
NAME, AGE, BIRTHDAY
Gordon Kyle Diez Cormier, 14, is a Libra born on October 8, 2009.
FAMILY
Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Gordon boasts a rich heritage blending Filipino and Canadian roots.
His mother, Genalyn, from Laguna, and his father, Gordon Porter, of Canadian and European descent, contribute to his diverse cultural background.
When talking about his Filipino lineage in an interview with a local morning show in the Philippines, he expressed affection, saying: “I have such a supportive country on my back!
"First time, my mom showed me a video on MGM, it’s a Filipino channel, I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s me!’
"And they said, ‘First Filipino actor to book [the] lead!’ I thought that was amazing and I just love the Philippines, too. It’s my home!"
Despite the contrasting landscapes of Canada and the Philippines, Gordon's heart resonates with love for both homelands.
He said in the interview, "It is very warm compared to Canada when I'm used to negative 20. It's really nice."
He added, "It's crazy people here [Philippines] speak better English than I do. So it is more than impressive."
When asked if his mom taught him any Tagalog words, he answered: "When I was really young she actually tried to teach me... The first word she actually told me was pogi [handsome]."
HOMECOMING
Returning to the Philippines for the local Netflix press tour for Avatar: The Last Airbender on February 21, 2024, Gordon expressed joy at reconnecting with his roots.
"It has been amazing. I'm back in my homeland... I haven't been here in a while because of COVID, so it's really nice,” Gordon said.
He mentioned last visiting the tropical country at the age of seven, when he joined a few family reunions.
The visit not only involved official engagements but also a heartwarming sleepover with his grandmother and relatives in Taguig, creating lasting memories.
“They actually came here for the night and stayed in the hotel, and it was really nice,” he shared.
EDUCATION
Gordon balances his acting career and his high school education.
Homeschooled for most of his life, he has been honing his craft since the age of six, delving into acting, dance, and singing.
Currently, he receives acting instruction from the Vancouver Young Actors School.
CAREER
Gordon's journey into the entertainment world began with TV commercials at the age of 9, paving the way for his appearance in the 2019 American comedy series Get Shorty Season 3, which starred comedians Chris O’Dowd and Ray Romano.
Subsequently, he co-starred in A Christmas Miracle and the sci-fi series Lost in Space.
His notable recurring role in The Stand—a post-apocalyptic fantasy adapted from Stephen King's renowned 1978 novel—displayed his versatility in adapting to post-apocalyptic settings.
AVATAR
The teen actor was only 11 when production started for Netfliix's Avatar: The Last Airbender.
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Reflecting on the journey, he related in the same local Netflix press tour for the show: "I feel like I've grown up quite a bit.
"But even in the original series, it only takes place in three months but you could see Aang growing as a person... and even physically a little bit."
His immersion into the character extended beyond the screen, evident in his multiple viewings of the series, reaching a staggering 35 times to date.
When it came down to the specifics, channeling Aang's childlike personality was a breeze for Gordon, although he did admit he needed to do some fine-tuning when tapping into his character's emotional depth.
With a cheeky nod to the audience, he acknowledged his resemblance to Aang: "I think you could tell."
Among others, the series also includes the American actor of Chinese-Indonesian descent Dallas Liu (Zuko), Canadian actress from a Mohawk family Kiawentiio (Katara), mixed-race American actor Ian Ousley (Sokka), and American actress of Chinese descent Elizabeth Yu (Azula).
Also in the show, the South Korean-Canadian actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Uncle Iroh) and renowned South Korean-born American actor Daniel Dae Kim (Fire Lord Ozai).
On his chemistry with his co-stars, Gordon said, "You can see our relationships grow throughout this series, because Aang doesn't know these characters yet.
"But, you can tell the second we meet, we do actually know that we're family, and that's kind of happened in real life too, so you can see it develop."
SPORTS
Gordon's early training in taekwondo aligns seamlessly with the real-world martial arts influence in Avatar.
Jumping into taekwondo at four years old, he brings authenticity to Aang's dynamic movements as the master of all four elements.
In addition to his martial arts proficiency, Gordon proudly identifies as a devoted skateboarder, as evidenced by the "skater" label adorning his Instagram bio.
Immersed in the subculture, he frequented local skate parks, establishing himself as a true-blue skateboard enthusiast.