Erik von Detten

Erik Thomas von Detten (born October 3, 1982 in San Diego, California) is an American actor and singer whose career spans more than three decades, beginning as a child performer and evolving into a recognizable voice talent and occasional stage actor. He was born to Susan von Detten, a photographer, and Volker von Detten, and grew up with three sisters—Dolly, Britta and Andrea—and a brother Timothy, drawing on a mixed heritage of German, English and Russian‑Jewish ancestry that informed his versatile on‑screen presence. Von Detten’s first major break came at age nine when he was cast as Nicholas Alamain on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives, appearing in 55 episodes and becoming a central figure in a high‑profile storyline that showcased his early dramatic abilities. At thirteen he entered the world of animation by providing the memorable voice of the mischievous bully Sid Phillips in Pixar’s groundbreaking film Toy Story, a role he would reprise in Toy Story 3 a decade later, cementing his status as a beloved voice actor for a generation of Disney fans. Throughout the mid‑1990s he alternated between live‑action projects such as Escape to Witch Mountain and Christmas Every Day, and television work including the Disney Channel original movie Brink! where he played the title character, and the teen mystery series So Weird as Clu Bell. His later film credits include a supporting turn as Josh Bryant in The Princess Diaries (2001) and guest spots on series like Malcolm in the Middle and Dinotopia. After a brief cameo in 2010, he announced a hiatus from acting, during which he worked for the precious‑metals firm Rosland Capital and appeared in a music video for Jessie James. In 2024 he announced a return to the industry, signaling a new phase of his professional journey. Off‑screen, Erik married Taiwanese‑American real‑estate agent Angela von Detten in 2018, and the couple are parents to three children: daughter Claire Elizabeth (born 2019) and sons Thomas Henry (born 2021) and Nicholas (born 2022). His enduring appeal lies in the blend of youthful charisma, vocal talent, and a willingness to reinvent himself across multiple entertainment platforms.