Life and career

Bobo was born in Roosevelt Island, New York. His mother, Denise Raimi, is a physical therapist and personal trainer (she played his character's foster mother in Choke

Choke (film)

Choke is a 2008 American black comedy film directed by Clark Gregg. The film stars Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston. Production took place in New Jersey in 2007. It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was purchased by Fox Searchlight Pictures for distribution...

), and his father, Scot, works in software. He has a younger sister named Georgia. His great-grandmother was Tampa

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

 businesswoman and philanthropist Salha "Mama" Bobo. He was raised in an Orthodox Jewish

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...

 home.

His first film role was in the 2004 independent film

Independent film

An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...

, The Best Thief in the World

The Best Thief in the World

The Best Thief in the World is a film starring Mary-Louise Parker. The movie was released in 2004 at the Sundance Film Festival, and it aired on Showtime on January 11, 2005.-Plot:...

. He co-starred opposite Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken is an American stage and screen actor. He has appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows, including Joe Dirt, Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, The Prophecy trilogy, The Dogs of War, Sleepy Hollow, Brainstorm, The Dead Zone, A View to a Kill, At Close Range, King of New...

 and Josh Lucas

Josh Lucas

Josh Lucas is an American actor. He has appeared in many films, including Glory Road, A Beautiful Mind, and Poseidon.-Early life:...

 in the 2004 drama Around the Bend

Around the Bend

Around the Bend is a 2004 road movie written and directed by Jordan Roberts. The film is inspired by the relationship between Roberts and the absentee father he barely knew.-Main cast:*Michael Caine – Henry Lair*Jonah Bobo – Zach Lair...

, playing the youngest of a four-generation family. Bobo was subsequently cast in the big-budget fantasy film Zathura

Zathura (film)

Zathura: A Space Adventure is a 2005 fantasy science fiction film directed by Jon Favreau, and is loosely based on the illustrated book Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg, author of Jumanji. It stars Jonah Bobo as Danny and Josh Hutcherson as Walter. Tim Robbins also had a small role as the boys'...

, which opened in November 2005 to a disappointing box office, grossing $28 million in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

Bobo's next role was in another independent film, Strangers with Candy

Strangers with Candy (film)

Strangers with Candy is a 2005 comedy film released by THINKFilm, first screened at the Sundance Film Festival. It serves as a prequel to the TV series of the same name...

, which opened on June 28, 2006. Bobo played young Victor Mancini in the film adaptation

Choke (film)

Choke is a 2008 American black comedy film directed by Clark Gregg. The film stars Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston. Production took place in New Jersey in 2007. It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was purchased by Fox Searchlight Pictures for distribution...

 of Chuck Palahniuk

Chuck Palahniuk

Charles Michael "Chuck" Palahniuk is an American transgressional fiction novelist and freelance journalist. He is best known for the award-winning novel Fight Club, which was later made into a film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter...

's novel Choke

Choke (novel)

-Plot summary:Choke follows Victor Mancini and his friend Denny through a few months of their lives with frequent flashbacks to the days when Victor was a child. He had grown up moving from one foster home to another, as his mother was found to be unfit to raise him...

. He has also made an appearance on 30 Rock as a paparazzo

Paparazzi

Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people...

 named Ethan. He appeared on Roosevelt Island in the play Seussical Jr. at the Main Street Theatre and Dance Alliance. He was also on episode 5 of Royal Pains.

In 2007, he began attending Tranquillity Camp located in Earlton, Greene County, New York

Greene County, New York

Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...

. There he particpated in the weekly performances, such as "The Wizard of Oz". He was a neighbor of radio personality Fez Whatley

Fez Whatley

Fez Marie Whatley , is an American talk radio host and comedian who co-hosts The Ron and Fez Show. From October 9, 2007 to June 27, 2008, Whatley also served as the Executive Producer....

.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2004	The Best Thief in the World The Best Thief in the World The Best Thief in the World is a film starring Mary-Louise Parker. The movie was released in 2004 at the Sundance Film Festival, and it aired on Showtime on January 11, 2005.-Plot:...	Sam Zaidman
	Around the Bend Around the Bend Around the Bend is a 2004 road movie written and directed by Jordan Roberts. The film is inspired by the relationship between Roberts and the absentee father he barely knew.-Main cast:*Michael Caine – Henry Lair*Jonah Bobo – Zach Lair...	Zach Lair
	The Backyardigans The Backyardigans The Backyardigans is a Canadian/American 3-D CGI-animated children's TV series, created by Janice Burgess. It features five animal children, who imagine that their backyard becomes an adventure place. It is a coproduction of Treehouse TV, and the Canadian animation studio Nelvana. Debuting on...	Austin	Lead voice only Television series
2005	Zathura Zathura (film) Zathura: A Space Adventure is a 2005 fantasy science fiction film directed by Jon Favreau, and is loosely based on the illustrated book Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg, author of Jumanji. It stars Jonah Bobo as Danny and Josh Hutcherson as Walter. Tim Robbins also had a small role as the boys'...	Danny	Lead role
2006	The Fox and the Hound 2 The Fox and the Hound 2 The Fox and the Hound 2 Soundtrack Album is the album containing songs from Reba McEntire, who was the voice of Dixie in the film, as well as other well-known artists such as Trisha Yearwood, Chip Davis and Little Big Town. Composer Joel McNeely has a few score tracks on the album: "Depressed...	Tod	Voice only Direct to video
	Strangers with Candy Strangers with Candy (film) Strangers with Candy is a 2005 comedy film released by THINKFilm, first screened at the Sundance Film Festival. It serves as a prequel to the TV series of the same name...	Shamus Noblet
2008	Choke Choke (film) Choke is a 2008 American black comedy film directed by Clark Gregg. The film stars Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston. Production took place in New Jersey in 2007. It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was purchased by Fox Searchlight Pictures for distribution...	the young Victor Mancini
2009	30 Rock 30 Rock 30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...	Ethan	Episode 3.18 "Jackie Jormp-Jomp"
	Royal Pains Royal Pains Royal Pains is a USA Network television series that premiered on June 4, 2009, starring Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Flint and Reshma Shetty. The series is based in part on actual concierge medicine practices of independent doctors and companies...	Arlo Grant	Episode 1.05 "No Man Is an Island"
2011	Crazy, Stupid, Love.	Robbie Weaver

External links

• About.com interview (November 7, 2005)