Masi Oka

• Character: Hiro Nakamura
• Date of Birth: December 27th, 1974
• Age: 35

Masi Oka (born in 1974) is both a Golden Globe-nominated actor and a digital effects artist. He graduated with a Bachelor degree from Brown University in computer science and mathematics (with a minor in theater). Masi worked at George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic as a programmer and worked on many top-grossing movies, such as the Star Wars prequels and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Masi had appeared in many television shows, including Dharma and Greg, Gilmore Girls, Scrubs, Reba and Without a Trace. He has also appeared in several movies, including Austin Powers: Goldmember, Along Came Polly and House of the Dead 2: Dead Aim.

Masi was born in Tokyo, Japan and moved to California as a young child. He is in Japanese, English and German and is proficient in Spanish. His fellow cast members have said that he has an IQ of 180 and, despite his acting career, he still occasionally does work for ILM.

Hiro Nakamura

Masi Oka currently plays the role of Hiro Nakamura on Heroes. Working as an office worked in Tokyo, Hiro discovered that he has the ability to manipulate time and space. Hiro confided in his friend and fellow office-worker Ando about his abilities, but Ando was doubtful. Attempting to use his powers, Hiro transported himself from Tokyo to New York. Realizing that he had transported himself into the future, Hiro discovered that he appeared as a character in Isaac's comic book. Going to Isaac's apartment, Hiro found him dead with his head sliced open and witnessed an explosion that leveled New York.

Transporting himself back to the present before the explosion killed him, Hiro again told Ando of powers. Hiro managed to convince Ando to accompany him to the United States when he helped save a little girl from getting hit by a truck, thereby convincing Ando that he did possess special abilities. Hiro is convinced that he is capable of becoming a true hero. Hiro and Ando use the comic book as a blueprint for their trip. Hiro met Nathan Petrelli in Las Vegas, where he witnessed Nathan flying. Eventually, Hiro contacted Isaac's apartment and, after speaking with Peter Petrelli, he and Ando set out for New York. Along the way, Hiro and Ando encountered D.L. Hawkins and his son, Micah Sanders, and assisted D.L. in saving people from a car wreck. Hiro and Ando make their way to Texas, but arrived after Sylar attacked Claire, and Hiro is upset because he believed he was unable to save Claire.

In Texas, Hiro met up with Isaac and convinced Isaac to concentrate and paint the future. Isaac's painting depicted Hiro holding a sword and fighting a dragon. Hiro and Ando set off to find the sword in Isaac's painting. Hiro found what he believed to be the sword in the Museum of Natural History in New York. However, it was merely a replica and Hiro discovered that the sword was in the private collection of Mr. Linderman, so Hiro and Ando set off again for Las Vegas. After watching Ando get shot, Hiro was convinced that his mission was too dangerous for Ando and sent him off. Hiro's attempt to get into Linderman's casino is thwarted but Nathan Petrelli assists him. Once inside Linderman's vault, Hiro attempted to retrieve the sword and Ando comes to his rescue against the security staff.

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