Ian Hecox Explained

Ian Hecox
Birth Name:Ian Andrew Hecox
Birth Date:30 November 1987
Birth Place:Sacramento, California, U.S.
Associated Acts:Smosh
Years Active:2005–present

Ian Andrew Hecox (; born November 30, 1987) is an American internet personality, filmmaker, host, and actor. He co-founded the YouTube channel Smosh with Anthony Padilla, and has starred in the channel's sketch comedy videos since 2005, making him the longest-serving member.[1] [2]

Early life

Ian Andrew Hecox[3] was born on November 30, 1987, in Sacramento, California[4] and is a native of Carmichael, California.[5] His parents are Sharon and Stephan Andrew Hecox, and he has an older sister named Melissa.[6] His mother appeared as a recurring character in various Smosh sketches.[7] Hecox attended Del Campo High School and did cross-country.[8] He attended American River College where he took screenwriting, film and improv classes, before dropping out to focus on Smosh two years later.[9]

Career

Smosh

In 2002, Hecox joined smosh.com, made by his friend Anthony Padilla, whom he first met in sixth grade.[5] Hecox and Padilla made the Smosh (main) YouTube channel in 2005 and first uploaded lip sync videos to several theme songs. It was their lip sync video to the Pokémon Theme, uploaded on November 28, 2005, that became the most-viewed YouTube video for a time (later surpassed by Judson Laipply's Evolution of Dance) until it was eventually taken down due to copyright infringement after surpassing 24 million views.[5] [10]

They shifted on making sketch comedy skits, such as the Food Battle[11] and If It Were Real[12] series. The viral videos helped Smosh become the most-subscribed YouTube channel on three separate occasions.[5] Before the third such occasion, Smosh was acquired by Defy Media (then Alloy Digital) in 2011.[10] Hecox created an individual channel in 2006, "IanH", which became Smosh's second channel for behind-the-scenes videos and series such as "Lunchtime with Smosh" and his own series "Ian Is Bored".[13] [14] Hecox also ventured into feature film with Smosh, co-producing and acting in the films (2015) and Ghostmates (2016).[15] [16] Despite the growth and expansion the channel received,[5] [10] Padilla left Smosh in 2017 to focus on independent solo ventures. Hecox stayed, as according to him, "I'm really looking forward to taking Smosh to the next phase, and we can't wait for people to see what we have coming up."[17] He and Padilla publicly stated that they remained friends following the latter's departure,[18] although Hecox would later state that their friendship was actually strained until they reconnected in 2022.[19] Hecox remained the only original member of Smosh since its inception, and was credited for continuing the success of the channel.[20] JJ Rankin of Screen Rant wrote of his role as a comedian that he "balances both exaggerated and muted humor scenes effortlessly and can engage audiences with his self-aware comedy."

After Padilla's departure, Hecox became more involved with the business aspects of the channel. Defy Media shut down in 2018, leaving Hecox to seek new investors to keep the channel going.[21] [22] In February 2019, Smosh was bought in by Rhett & Link,[23] who remained the owners until June 20, 2023, when Hecox, alongside Padilla (who returned), announced that they purchased and acquired Smosh to be independent once again.

Outside Smosh

Hecox was a producer for the web series Krogzilla, and was also an executive producer for the series Oishi High School Battle, for 23 episodes between 2012 and 2014.[24] [25] Hecox acted in The Angry Birds Movie (2016)[26] and Hedgehogs (2017).[27] In 2016, Hecox made a guest appearance on an episode of Chelsea.[28] He also hosted a weekly series for the streaming service Crackle in 2017,[29] and starred in the Tastemade cooking series "Sunday at Nana's" in 2019.[30]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2015HimselfMain role[31]
2016The Angry Birds MovieBubblesVoice[32]
Hal and BubblesBubblesVoice; short film[33]
HedgehogsMaddoxVoice; English dub[34]
GhostmatesEddie ClaytonMain role[35]

Television

YearFilmRoleNotes
2015Ridiculousness Himself Episode: Smosh [36]
2016ChelseaHimself
Scare PewDiePieHimselfEpisode: "Naughty Pie"
2017This Week OnHimself[37]

Web

YearFilmRoleNotes
2005–presentSmoshHimself,various characters
2013Ray William JohnsonHimselfEpisode: "RWJ vs Smosh"[38]
2014Epic Rap Battles of HistoryMichelangeloEpisode: "Artists vs TMNT"[39]
2016Part TimersIanMain role[40]
2012–2015, 2017YouTube RewindHimselfEpisode: "Rewind YouTube Style 2012"
Episode: "What Does 2013 Say?"
Episode: "Turn Down for 2014"
Episode: "Now Watch Me 2015"
Episode: "The Shape of 2017"
[41] [42]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Smosh Creator Ian Hecox On Early Days, Movie Experience, GDFN & More. Jimmy. Leszczynski. Bleeding Cool. July 15, 2020. August 23, 2023.
  2. Web site: From Myspace to Mythical, Smosh co-founder Ian Hecox and CEO Daniel Tibbets share how the brand has grown over 16 years. Grace. Stanley. The Daily Dot. June 23, 2022. August 23, 2023.
  3. Book: Lange, Patricia . Thanks for Watching: An Anthropological Study of Video Sharing on YouTube. November 15, 2019. University Press of Colorado. 978-1-60732-955-8. 230. 2019025982 . 1110676050 . Original content was also offered by Smosh, [...], officially known as Ian Andrew Hecox [...].. May 24, 2023.
  4. Book: Grzesiak, Mateusz. Personal Brand Creation in the Digital Age: Theory, Research and Practice . April 3, 2018 . . 978-3-319-69696-6 . 75. 2017957652. 1029352544 . ...Ian Hecox (born November 30, 1987 in Sacramento).... May 24, 2023.
  5. Web site: How Sacramento's YouTube darlings Smosh went Hollywood and scored big time. Jane. Borden. Sacramento News & Review. July 16, 2015. February 14, 2023.
  6. Web site: Meet Smosh Co-founder Ian Hecox Mom Sharon Hecox and Dad Stephan Hecox. Dotel. Alisha. 23 June 2023. The Family Nation. June 5, 2023.
  7. Smosh Answer The Web's Most Searched Questions. 2:12. Wired. July 28, 2023. April 15, 2024.
  8. Web site: Forever Young: How Smosh Plans To Build A YouTube Fame That'll Last. Anne Helen. Petersen. BuzzFeed News. July 26, 2015. August 26, 2023.
  9. Web site: The Sketch Artist. Curtis. Yee. Sactown Magazine. January 23, 2020. August 26, 2023.
  10. Web site: Smosh: YouTube Gods and Unlikely Online Video Superstars. Troy. Dreier. October 4, 2012. July 21, 2022. Streaming Media Magazine.
  11. Web site: Sam Gutelle . After Three Week Long Bracket, Smosh Guys Have 'Food Battle 2012′ . Tubefilter. October 19, 2012. October 31, 2012.
  12. Web site: Tina Amini . It's Silly When Video Games Try To Be Real . Kotaku . April 17, 2012 . July 7, 2012.
  13. Web site: THE ORIGINAL YOUTUBE STARS: How Smosh went from making a ridiculous Pokémon video to building a comedy empire. Kirsten. Acuna. Insider. August 1, 2015. March 25, 2024.
  14. Web site: Smosh: New Media Personalities. Melly. Lee. New Media Rockstars. April 3, 2012. July 31, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20120406040211/http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/04/smosh/. April 6, 2012. dead.
  15. Web site: Review: 'Smosh: The Movie' Wades Through YouTube's Shallows. Mike. Hale. The New York Times. July 23, 2015. March 10, 2024.
  16. Web site: Smosh Grows Up: After 10 Years on YouTube, The Online Comedy Empire Continues to Evolve. Jude. Dry. IndieWire. January 4, 2017. April 12, 2024.
  17. Todd. Spangler. Smosh Co-Founder Anthony Padilla Is Leaving the YouTube Comedy Group. June 14, 2017. June 14, 2017. Variety.
  18. Web site: 15 things you didn't know about Smosh, one of YouTube's biggest channels. Bryan. Rolli. The Daily Dot. August 14, 2017. March 17, 2024.
  19. Spangler. Todd. 2023-06-20. Smosh Co-Founders Anthony Padilla, Ian Hecox Reunite to Acquire Comedy Brand From Rhett & Link (EXCLUSIVE). 2023-06-20. Variety. en-US.
  20. Web site: The Cast of YouTube Comedy Group Smosh, Ranked By Comic Abilities. JJ. Rankin. Screen Rant. April 24, 2022. March 17, 2024.
  21. Spangler . Todd . November 6, 2018 . Defy Media Is Shutting Down, Will Lay Off Employees . November 7, 2018 . Variety.
  22. Web site: HOW SMOSH BEAT DEFY - SmoshCast #1. SmoshCast. . February 23, 2019. July 10, 2023.
  23. Smosh Acquired By Rhett & Link's Mythical Entertainment. Todd. Spangler. Variety. February 22, 2019. March 20, 2019.
  24. Web site: Shut Up! Cartoons Debuts 'Krogzilla'. Mercedes. Milligan. Animation Magazine. June 4, 2012. March 18, 2024.
  25. Web site: SMOSH's Shut Up Cartoons Delivers Strong Numbers. Ramin. Zahed. Animation Magazine. May 4, 2012. March 18, 2024.
  26. McNary. Dave. Dave McNary. 'Angry Birds' Movie Casts Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Maya Rudolph. October 1, 2014. Variety. October 1, 2014. August 20, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820005634/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/angry-birds-movie-jason-sudeikis-josh-gad-peter-dinklage-bill-hader-1201318330/. live.
  27. Web site: Anthony Padilla, Jenn McAllister Lend Voices To Lionsgate's 'Hedgehogs' Film. Weiss. Geoff. Tubefilter. December 18, 2017. July 10, 2023.
  28. Web site: We spent a day with Chelsea Handler on the set of her Netflix talk show — here's your behind-the-scenes look. Jethro. Nededog. Insider. September 29, 2016. March 18, 2024.
  29. Sony's Crackle Greenlights Shows From 50 Cent, Smosh's Ian Hecox; Renews 'Snatch,' 'SuperMansion'. Todd. Spangler. Variety. April 19, 2017. March 10, 2024.
  30. Web site: Angela Kinsey, Ian Hecox to Star in New Facebook Watch Shows for Tastemade. Matt. Lopez. TheWrap. August 7, 2019. March 10, 2024.
  31. Web site: Gutelle . Sam . April 16, 2015 . 'Smosh: The Movie' To Arrive On July 23rd At VidCon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150422051741/http://www.tubefilter.com/2015/04/16/smosh-the-movie-july-23-vidcon/ . 22 April 2015 . 23 April 2015 . . en-US.
  32. McNary . Dave . Dave McNary . October 1, 2014 . 'Angry Birds' Movie Casts Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Maya Rudolph . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820005634/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/angry-birds-movie-jason-sudeikis-josh-gad-peter-dinklage-bill-hader-1201318330/ . August 20, 2016 . October 1, 2014 . Variety.
  33. Web site: Angry Birds . May 12, 2016 . The Angry Birds Movie - Hal and Bubbles . July 10, 2023 . YouTube.
  34. Web site: Weiss . Geoff . December 18, 2017 . Anthony Padilla, Jenn McAllister Lend Voices To Lionsgate's 'Hedgehogs' Film . July 10, 2023 . Tubefilter.
  35. Web site: Solsman . Joan . December 4, 2016 . Smosh's 'Ghostmates' is dead serious about storytelling . July 10, 2023 . CNET.
  36. Web site: Ian Hecox. https://web.archive.org/web/20240319054057/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ian-hecox/credits/3030817503/. March 19, 2024. TV Guide. March 18, 2024. live.
  37. Web site: Crackle Greenlights Series Starring Smosh's Ian Hecox, Dramas From 50 Cent. Geoff. Weiss. Tubefilter. April 19, 2017. June 10, 2024.
  38. Web site: Cohen . Joshua . January 16, 2013 . #1, #2 YouTubers Smosh, Ray William Johnson Collab In Funny Video . March 18, 2024 . Tubefilter.
  39. Web site: Smosh, Rhett & Link, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle On Season Finale Of 'ERB'. Joshua. Cohen. Tubefilter. July 14, 2014. June 18, 2024.
  40. Spangler . Todd . November 5, 2015 . YouTube's Smosh Guys to Star in 'Part Timers' Scripted Comedy . July 11, 2023 . Variety.
  41. Web site: December 17, 2012 . SeedwellProduces "Rewind YouTube Style 2012and Star-Studded YouTube Celebrity Cast . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160228012720/http://seedwell.com/blog/2012/12/seedwell-produces-rewind-youtube-style-2012-feat-psy-wote-and-star-studded-youtube-celebrity-cast/ . February 28, 2016 . March 1, 2016 . Seedwell Blog.
  42. Web site: Griffin . Andrew . December 9, 2014 . YouTube Rewind: Vloggers team up to re-create a year of viral videos . July 11, 2023 . The Independent.