Dakota Goyo was born in Toronto, Canada, to Debra Goyo, a former model and singer, and David Goyo. His siblings, Devon Goyo and Dallas Goyo, have also acted. He has Italian and Scottish ancestry.
Goyo appeared in his first commercial as an infant. His television debut came at the age of 5 in the CBS pilot “Ultra” (2006). His natural acting, emotional range and ability to memorize scripts at such an early age landed him roles in numerous television and animation series. Not new to acting, Goyo continued at a steady pace and achieved principal and leading roles in both film and television. Happiest when performing, young Goyo displays a confidence and maturity that is beyond his years.
His featured television work includes: Disney’s JoJo’s Circus (2003), Ultra (TV) (2006), Super Why! (2007), The Murdoch Mysteries (TV) (2008), The Listener (TV) (2008), My Neighbor’s Secret (2009), Happy Town (TV) (2009) and a recurring role as Timmy Tibble on the popular children’s television series “Arthur” (2009-). Goyo also completed a series lead role in the ABC pilot Solving Charlie (2009). Goyo played Charlie, an orphaned child who has an IQ of 190 and helps his long lost brother solve crimes.
Goyo has an extensive and impressive list of credits in feature films. His first lead role in a feature was completed at the tender age of 6 as Teddy Kernan in Resurrecting the Champ (2007), for which he received accolades, rave reviews and was nominated for a Young Artist Award. By age 7 Goyo was starring alongside Susan Sarandon and Christopher Plummer in the feature film Emotional Arithmetic (2007). By age 9, Dakota appeared as Jack Carter in the feature film Defendor (2009) opposite Woody Harrelson.
After a nationwide search by Dreamworks Studios in early 2010, at the age of 10, Dakota was chosen to play the lead role of Max in the feature film Real Steel (2011), co-starring Hugh Jackman. The film was produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Shawn Levy. Notably, Dakota won a Young Artist Award (2012) and was nominated for a Saturn Award for his performance.
By late September 2010, Dakota was cast in the highly anticipated Marvel feature Thor (2011). Goyo plays the role of Young Thor opposite Anthony Hopkins. Kenneth Branagh directed.
No stranger to voice work, then 11 year old Goyo was cast as Jamie in the Dreamworks animation feature Rise of the Guardians (2012), also starring Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine and Isla Fisher.
In 2011, Dakota had a guest starring role in _R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour’. His performance did not go unnoticed and by the age of 12, Dakota was nominated for an Emmy.
By July 2012, Dakota was off to Iceland to film Noah (2014), starring Russell Crowe as Noah. Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly and Anthony Hopkins also star. Darren Aronofsky directed. Dakota played Young Noah.
By Dakota’s 13th birthday, he was filming the lead role of Jesse in the feature film Dark Skies (2013), co-starring Keri Russell and directed by Scott Stewart.
By May 2013, Dakota was off to the Arctic regions of Canada to film the starring role of Luke in Midnight Sun (2014), the story of a boy trying to save a Polar Bear cub against all odds. Bridget Moynahan and Goran Visnjic also appear.
