Tanner Emmanuel Cristobal Buchanan (born December 8, 1998) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Leo Kirkman in the political conspiracy drama series Designated Survivor (2016–2018) and Robby Keene in the martial arts action series Cobra Kai (2018–2024).
Early life Buchanan was born in Lima, Ohio, on December 8, 1998. His parents are Steve and Marlona Buchanan, both industrial engineers.«Tanner Buchanan | Dancer in a Dojo» – July 30, 2024. His maternal grandfather was Filipino«GQ: 10 Things Tanner Buchanan Can't Live Without» – September 20, 2022. while his paternal grandparents are of Scottish ancestry.
He was raised in a Christian household, and he attended Glandorf Elementary School in Ohio. Since he was very young, he has excelled in the sport of skateboarding.«Let's talk about Tanner Buchanan and why we're obsessed with him» – September 3, 2021.
Buchanan practiced taekwondo throughout his childhood. He was introduced to the world of karate at a very early age by his mother, who is a black belt in martial arts.«Cobra Kai: Which actors know karate in real life?» – January 7, 2022.
He is also an expert dancer since he was five years old, winning national tap dance tournaments throughout his childhood and adolescence. He trained at the dance academy "Center Stage Dance Academy" in Ottawa, Ohio.«Tanner Buchanan and 11 interesting facts you didn't know about the star of the Netflix film» – September 1, 2021.
At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, beginning his acting training at the "Edge Performing Arts Centre (PAC)" and at "Huckleberry Friend Productions, Inc." owned by acting coach David Kaufman.
Acting career 2010–2017: Early work and breakthrough In 2010, he began his acting career, making his television debut with a child role on the series Modern Family. He has since participated in television in the TV shows Grey's Anatomy, Major Crimes, The Goldbergs, and Deputy. He was cast in the 2011 film Untitled Jeff and Jackie Filgo Project playing the lead role, but the pilot was not purchased so the project did not go forward. In 2013, he made his film debut with the comedy Jake Squared directed by Howard Goldberg.
Buchanan played Charlie Gardner in the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World and Mason Kendall in the Nickelodeon series Game Shakers in 2015.
In 2016, he played Leo Kirkman, son of the President of the United States, Thomas Kirkman, in the political conspiracy series Designated Survivor and Jack Downey in the family drama series The Fosters.
He made a special participation as the young dancer Chad Brad Bradley in the 2017 series Fuller House produced by Warner Bros.
2018–present: Cobra Kai and worldwide recognition In 2018, he began portraying Johnny Lawrence's estranged son, Robby Keene in the Netflix martial arts series, Cobra Kai, a sequel to The Karate Kid films created by Robert Mark Kamen.
Buchanan co-starred with Chad Michael Murray in the science-fiction film Max Winslow and the House of Secrets in 2019. On the same year, he starred as Dylan Warren in Damián Romay's thriller and suspense film Sinister Seduction opposite Kristina Klebe. He co-starred with Blake Cooper in the biographical film Chance directed by John B. Crye, which was released on May 22, 2020, at the Starlite Drive in Amelia, Ohio.
In 2021, Buchanan starred in the remake of She's All That called He's All That with Addison Rae, in which he played the lead role of Cameron Kweller. That same year he also narrated the audio version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby for Blackstone Publishing.«Tanner Buchanan Narrates 'The Great Gatsby'» – YouTube In 2022, he starred in the superhero action-comedy film The Hyperions as Apollo, directed by Jon McDonald. He starred alongside Sebastian Croft and Charithra Chandran in the British teen romantic comedy film How to Date Billy Walsh, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai, which was released on Amazon Prime Video on April 5, 2024.
He voiced Prince Arluu in the animated anthology series Star Wars: Visions created by Disney+ and produced by Lucasfilm in 2025.«Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 to Stream Worldwide on Disney+ from October 29» - September 25, 2025.
Other artistic disciplines Martial arts Buchanan is a martial arts specialist. He is a karateka black belt in shotokan karate-do.«Tanner Buchanan – Imagine Magazine» – May 16, 2025. While filming Designated Survivor in Toronto, Canada, Buchanan trained in Muay Thai for about eight months before being cast in Cobra Kai. He shared a workout routine on Men's Health that included barbell jumping jacks to get in fighting shape.«Tanner Buchanan, the ugly duckling with glasses and braces who traded tap dancing for martial arts» – September 2, 2021. Buchanan inherited kali sticks from his maternal grandfather, who was originally from Southeast Asia, which he considers essential elements for his life when practicing eskrima, the ancestral Filipino martial art.«Tanner Buchanan of Netflix's "Cobra Kai" Discusses His Filipino Heritage» – August 20, 2024.
Dance Buchanan has training in five types of dance: traditional or folk, classical or ballet, modern, contemporary, and urban. He excels professionally in percussion technique, winning multiple awards in tap and jazz competitions.«Lima native goes from Ohio to Hollywood» - March 5, 2019.
Music Buchanan has musical training and is a skilled pianist and guitarist. He was part of the progressive death metal band "Acidosis" being the lead guitarist using the electric guitar.«'Cobra Kai' Star TANNER BUCHANAN Was In A Progressive Death Metal Band: 'We Played A Lot Of GOJIRA Covers'» – March 7, 2021. He debuted as a singer with the song "Fall Into my Arms" which was featured on the soundtrack to his film Max Winslow and the House of Secrets.«‘Cobra Kai’ Star Tanner Buchanan Is Secretly a Musician Too» – August 25, 2020.
Personal life
Buchanan is an amateur in the practice of magic and photography.«GQ: 10 Things Tanner Buchanan Can't Live Without» – September 20, 2022.
He has participated in various charitable works, including the construction of homes for the families of American war veterans.«Celebrities lend helping hand to local veterans building homes» - August 25, 2018.
Buchanan and actress Mary Mouser announced their engagement in February 2025. They met in October 2017 during the filming of the first season of the series Cobra Kai.«‘Cobra Kai’ Stars Tanner Buchanan and Mary Mouser Share How They Both Ended Up With Engagement Rings» – March 26, 2025.«The secret love story of 'Cobra Kai's' Mary Mouser and Tanner Buchanan, and their surprise engagement» – March 6, 2025.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 Jake Squared Sammy Klein 2014 Guests Bobby Bell Short film Ellie Bowie Short film 2015 The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards Bobby Bell Alone in the Dust Izzi Short film 2017 Anything Jack Sachman 2019 Max Winslow and the House of Secrets Connor Lawson Also musician Sinister Seduction Dylan Warren 2020 Chance Colton 2021 He's All That Cameron Kweller Painted Beauty Young Peter 2022 The Hyperions Apollo 2024 How to Date Billy Walsh Billy Walsh
Television Year Title Role Notes 2010 Modern Family Mummy Child Episode: "Halloween" 2011 Untitled Jeff and Jackie Filgo Project Jimmy Unsold pilot 2012 The Real St. Nick Cynical Kid Television film 2013 Grey's Anatomy Lucas Episode: "Idle Hands" Major Crimes Michelle Brand Episode: "Boys Will Be Boys" Ghost Ghirls Hero Episode: "Field of Screams" 2013–2014 The Goldbergs Evan Turner Special participation; 2 episodes 2014 Growing Up Fisher Slade Episode: "Work with Me" Mixology Young Dom Episode: "Fab & Jessica & Dominic" 2015 Girl Meets World Charlie Gardner Recurring role; 3 episodes 2015–2019 Game Shakers Mason Kendall Recurring role; 6 episodes 2016 The Fosters Jack Downey Recurring role; 6 episodes 2016–2018 Designated Survivor Leo Kirkman Main role; 28 episodes 2017 Fuller House Chad Brad Bradley Special participation; 2 episodesAlso dancer 2018 The Goldbergs: 1990-Something Mike Stamm Schooled backdoor pilot 2018–2025 Cobra Kai Robby Keene Main role; 61 episodes 2020 Deputy Brendan Episode: "10-8 Entitlements" 2025 Star Wars: Visions Prince Arluu (voice) Main role; 1 episode
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2027 Until Dawn 2 Cameron
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Nominated work Result Jury Prize Awards 2019 Best Supporting Actor Max Winslow and the House of Secrets
References
External links