Nico Hiraga

Nico Hiraga is an American actor, skateboarder, and screenwriter. He is best known for his breakout role as Tanner in the 2019 coming-of-age comedy Booksmart and as Seth in the Netflix film Moxie. With a natural, laid-back presence, Hiraga has become a recognizable face in Gen-Z cinema, appearing in projects like North Hollywood, Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between, and the 2024 romantic comedy Sweethearts. He also played a recurring role in the HBO series Ballers and appeared in the Amazon Prime series The Power. Beyond acting, he remains an active skateboarder and member of the Illegal Civilization crew, and has begun exploring screenwriting. [edit]

Nico Hiraga grew up in San Francisco, a city he has called home his entire life. He picked up a skateboard around age 10 or 11, and by 14 he was sponsored, joining the Illegal Civilization skate crew founded by Mikey Alfred. His dream was to turn pro, but a serious ankle injury at 19 stopped that path cold. "I'd been skating since I was 10 or 11 years old. It's all I'd known," he told Character Media. "I was like, 'What do I do if I can't skate?'" While recovering, he decided to try acting. He had done some modeling as a kid, and family members had encouraged him to give it a shot. He hired a manager and landed a small role in Crystal Moselle's Skate Kitchen (2018). Around the same time, Mikey Alfred was making short films with friends, giving Hiraga early on-camera experience. That small role and those DIY shorts became the foundation of his acting career. [edit]

Hiraga's breakthrough came in 2019 when he played Tanner in Olivia Wilde's Booksmart. The film was a critical hit, and his performance as a charming, slightly goofy high schooler put him on the map. In 2021, he starred as Seth in Amy Poehler's Netflix film Moxie, co-starring with Olivia Rodrigo. That same year, he appeared in North Hollywood, a skateboarding drama directed by his friend Mikey Alfred. He followed up with a role in the 2022 Netflix romance Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between. In 2023, he joined the cast of the Amazon Prime series The Power. His most recent release is the 2024 romantic comedy Sweethearts. Hiraga also ventured into screenwriting and collaborated with sportswear brand Lakai on a Cherry Blossom capsule collection inspired by Japan's cherry blossom season. [edit]

Hiraga projects a laid-back, effortlessly cool persona that resonates with Gen-Z audiences. His style is casual and skate-influenced, hoodies, sneakers, beanies. Media often calls him a "heartthrob," a label he has mixed feelings about. In interviews, he comes across as down-to-earth and self-deprecating, never taking himself too seriously. He has been described as an "accidental teen heartthrob" and an "alt-heartthrob," reflecting his unexpected rise from skateboarder to screen. Fans connect with his authenticity and the sense that he is just a regular guy who happens to be in movies. He does not have an official fandom name. [edit]

Nico Hiraga stands as a recognizable face in Gen-Z cinema, bridging the gap between skate culture and mainstream comedy with a natural, laid-back presence. Despite his growing filmography including standout roles in Booksmart and Moxie, he currently holds no placement in the published Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list within the iFANN rankings. The iFANN Global Fame Engine evaluated his profile but determined he does not yet secure a specific numeric rank among the world's most famous personalities. This lack of a formal ranking reflects his status as a rising talent rather than a global icon with massive, mobilized fan campaigns. His audience remains a niche following derived from independent cinema and the Bay Area skate scene, characterized by standard social media engagement rather than organized rituals or collective movements. There is no documented name for his fanbase, nor are there records of fans initiating chart-pushing campaigns or disrupting events. While media outlets have playfully labeled him an alt-heartthrob, the community surrounding him lacks the structured mythology or legendary folklore seen in larger pop culture phenomena. His public narrative is defined by verified professional milestones, such as his transition from a sponsored skateboarder to an actor in high-profile indie films. Recent projects like the horror thriller The Devil's Mouth and appearances in KENZO campaigns continue to expand his reach, yet his fame remains grounded in specific cultural moments rather than global dominance. The absence of a formal fandom name or viral legends underscores that his influence is currently concentrated within the circles of skateboarding enthusiasts and fans of coming-of-age stories.[edit]

Hiraga never intended to pursue acting, admitting he somewhat fell into the industry after sustaining a skateboarding injury that shifted his trajectory. Born on December 19, 1997, in San Francisco, he is half-Japanese; his father Jun Hiraga hails from Japan while his mother carries German-English descent. He still resides in San Francisco today, often crashing on friends' couches instead of booking hotels when at home. Media has affectionately tagged him an alt-heartthrob, a label he finds amusing given his background as a Hapa Japanese skateboarding kid with a potty mouth. He remains an active member of the Illegal Civilization skate crew and continues to skate regularly. A specific, verified moment capturing his local roots is the skateboarding piece Bombing SF Hills With Nico Hiraga, which documents his skating prowess in his hometown streets. These real-life achievements form the core of his public history, blending his athletic past with his current success in film without the need for exaggerated folklore.[edit]

Nico Hiraga is the son of Jun Hiraga, who is Japanese, and a mother of German-English descent. He has a younger brother. The family is based in San Francisco, where Nico was raised. He has not publicly shared details about his parents' occupations or his brother's name. As of 2026, he is not married and has no children. He lives in San Francisco, often staying with friends rather than maintaining a permanent residence of his own. [edit]

Mikey Alfred, founder of Illegal Civilization and director of North Hollywood, is a close friend and frequent collaborator. Hiraga also worked with director Olivia Wilde on Booksmart and Amy Poehler on Moxie, where he co-starred with Olivia Rodrigo. [edit]

Nico Hiraga keeps his personal life private. There are no confirmed public relationships documented in credible sources. In 2021, rumors briefly circulated online that he was dating Olivia Rodrigo, his co-star in Moxie, but no reliable outlets confirmed the speculation. As of 2026, Hiraga is reportedly single and focused on his career. He has not been linked to anyone else publicly. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Nico Hiraga's net worth at $1 Million. This figure represents a researched editorial assessment of his financial standing based on his career activities. His income streams are primarily driven by acting salaries for various film and television roles, including his breakout performances in major comedies. Beyond screen work, he generates revenue through strategic brand collaborations, most notably his Cherry Blossom capsule collection with Lakai. As a dedicated member of the Illegal Civilization skate crew, he also benefits from merchandise sales and content creation associated with the group. Despite this steady growth since his 2019 breakthrough, Hiraga has not publicly disclosed any real estate holdings or major investments outside of these primary sources. The total valuation reflects a consistent upward trend as each new project adds to his earnings.[edit]