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Nico Hiraga | Source: Nico Hiraga (Center) and His Parents | Source: Getty Images | Instagram/nicotheduffer
Nico Hiraga | Source: Nico Hiraga (Center) and His Parents | Source: Getty Images | Instagram/nicotheduffer

Nico Hiraga's Parents: The Actor Calls Himself a 'Mama's Boy, 100%'

Akhona Zungu
Jun 15, 2023
11:15 P.M.

Nico Hiraga's parents have been integral in shaping the young actor's confidence and reassuring him when he feels out of place. He has celebrated his love for them with touching posts online alongside photos that exude their relationship's warmth.

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Nico Hiraga is a San Francisco native and is relatively new to the Hollywood spotlight. The young star has been an avid skateboarder since he was nine. His first skateboard was a gift from his cousins, which ignited his love for the sport.

It fused with his identity, and after receiving a sponsorship at 14, he was committed to improving his skills. He even wanted to be homeschooled to have more time to practice, but his parents wouldn't have it.

Nico Hiraga poses at the premiere of "Booksmart" during the 2019 SXSW Conference And Festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 10, 2019, in Austin, Texas | Source: Getty Images

Nico Hiraga poses at the premiere of "Booksmart" during the 2019 SXSW Conference And Festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 10, 2019, in Austin, Texas | Source: Getty Images

Nico Hiraga's Mother Helps Him Read His Scripts

Hiraga was an active kid, constantly running bare-chested and getting into trouble. His mom nicknamed him Mowgli from "The Jungle Book" because of his hyperactive nature. Conversely, as did his dad, she knew how to calm and reassure him in times of uncertainty.

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In a 2021 interview with Teen Vogue, Hiraga spoke about getting to know his character, Seth, from the teen film "Moxie," directed by Will Arnett's ex-partner Amy Poehler. He had previously starred in the Olivia Wilde-directed film "Booksmart," opposite Ryder McLaughlin.

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Hiraga confessed that reading scripts was not his "strong suit," but that's when his mom came in. "Usually, if I'm around my mom, my mom will read it, and she'll read it out loud to me," he explained.

However, she also intervenes when he needs it the most. The self-proclaimed "mama's boy 100%" once shared a story he called "the staircase talk." It was about a conversation he had with his mom when he was 20 years old and was worried he was becoming a burden to his parents.

When he told her, she said, "You're always going to continue to grow. Don't stop, ever." She also told her son she pictured him as a "glowing sun." Her words became a philosophy he vowed to live up to daily.

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Nico Hiraga's Father Is His Love

Hiraga's father also played a significant role in shaping his son's ethics. "He always told me this growing up: Nanakorobi yaoki. It means fall down seven times, stand up eight," he recalled. The saying which stuck with him was eventually tattooed on his tricep.

On his dad's birthday in February 2017, alongside an adorable photo of himself and his dad in an embrace, he sweetly wrote, "Happy birthday my love. I love you so much. My wonderful pops, Jun."

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Nico Hiraga's Parents Are Frequently Showered with Affection

One of the earliest photos Hiraga shared with his mom was a 2014 birthday tribute on Instagram, calling her "the best woman out there" and "role model" as he wished her a happy birthday.

In June 2017, he posted a black-and-white photo of himself wrapping his arms around his parents during "The Flare" premiere that year. In March 2020, Hiraga shared an appreciation post featuring a throwback photo of his mom and dad, saying it was "one of the hardest photos" that just happened to be of the couple.

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