A 19-year-old actor from Sydney just scored a role that would make any young performer’s heart race. Joseph Zada, born Joseph Cumpston, is set to portray a young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Wikipedia). With his casting announced in April 2025, Zada has quickly become a name to watch across Australian and international screens.
Birth date: July 21, 2005 · Age (2025): 19 · Nationality: Australian · Instagram followers: 382K
Quick snapshot
- Ethnicity is not publicly disclosed
- Father’s identity is not known
- Height is not publicly known
- High school attendance is not verifiable
- Release of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping in 2026 (Wikipedia)
- Upcoming projects: East of Eden (Netflix) and more (TMDb)
Five key facts about Joseph Zada, drawn from verified sources, paint a clear picture of his background and career trajectory.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Joseph Cumpston |
| Birth Date | July 21, 2005 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known For | We Were Liars, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping |
| Instagram Followers | 382K |
Is Joseph Zada his real name?
No, Joseph Zada is a stage name. His birth name is Joseph Cumpston, as confirmed by his Wikipedia entry. He adopted the surname Zada professionally — likely as a shorter, more distinctive moniker for the entertainment industry.
What is Joseph Zada’s birth date?
- Born July 21, 2005 (Wikipedia)
- Age as of 2025: 19 years old
- His zodiac sign is Cancer
How tall is Joseph Zada?
- Height is not publicly known — no verified source lists his height.
Where does Joseph Zada live?
- Residence is not publicly known. He was born and raised in Sydney, Australia (Now To Love).
Is Joseph Zada a smoker?
- Smoking status is not publicly known — no credible source has reported on this.
The implication: his professional name signals a deliberate branding shift, not a hidden identity.
What ethnicity is Joseph Zada?
Joseph Zada is Australian by nationality. His ethnicity has not been officially confirmed, but Now To Love reported that he has Afghan-Aboriginal descent through his paternal great‑grandmother, who was of Barkandji heritage. This claim has not been corroborated by Zada himself or by other authoritative sources, so it remains unverified.
The implication: while his heritage may be diverse, the public record is too thin to draw a definitive conclusion. Fans should treat the Afghan-Aboriginal report as a single, unconfirmed lead.
Who is Joseph Zada’s dad?
Joseph Zada’s father’s identity is not publicly known. No credible source has named his father or discussed his family background in detail. The question of whether Zada is a “nepo baby” — someone who benefits from family connections in the industry — has surfaced online, but there is no evidence to support that claim. His career rise appears to be based on his own talent and early roles.
Who are Joseph Zada’s family members?
- No family members have been publicly identified by name.
- His paternal great‑grandmother is reportedly of Barkandji Aboriginal heritage, per Now To Love.
Is Joseph Zada a Nepo baby?
- No evidence of nepotism has been found. His early credits (e.g., Total Control) were small roles in Australian productions.
What this means: without a named father or known industry connections, the nepo‑baby label is speculation, not fact.
How did Joseph Zada become an actor?
Zada’s first credited role was in the 2019 short film Bilched (CBR). He then appeared in the Australian TV series Total Control (credited as a 2024 role, per TMDb). In 2023 he starred in The Speedway Murders (CBR). His big break came with the lead role in We Were Liars (2025) on Amazon Prime Video, followed by the casting as young Haymitch in the Hunger Games prequel.
Did Joseph Zada attend high school?
- High school attendance is not verifiable. No source has confirmed whether he completed secondary education.
The pattern: Zada built his career from small independent shorts to a major franchise, suggesting a gradual, organic rise rather than a sudden leap.
What is Joseph Zada known for?
Joseph Zada is best known for his starring role in We Were Liars (2025) and his upcoming appearance as a young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026) (CBR). He also appears in Invisible Boys (2025) and East of Eden (Netflix) per TMDb. On Instagram, he has amassed 382K followers, where he promotes his projects and engages with fans.
What is Joseph Zada’s role in The Hunger Games?
- He will portray a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, a District 12 resident whose name is reaped (RUSSH).
- The film is based on Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel Sunrise on the Reaping (Wikipedia).
What movies and TV shows has Joseph Zada appeared in?
- Bilched (2019) – short film
- Total Control (2024) – TV series
- The Speedway Murders (2023) – film
- We Were Liars (2025) – Amazon Prime series
- Invisible Boys (2025) – TV series
- East of Eden (upcoming) – Netflix series
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026) – film
The catch: despite his growing filmography, only three of those are feature films — the rest are shorts or TV. The Hunger Games prequel will be his biggest exposure by far.
Joseph Zada’s trajectory from an Australian short film to a global franchise like The Hunger Games signals that the industry is increasingly looking beyond Hollywood for fresh talent. For young Australian actors, Zada’s path is a tangible blueprint: start local, build credits, and wait for the right breakout role.
The pattern: his rapid ascent underscores how streaming platforms and franchise casting are leveling the playing field for international talent.
Timeline
- July 21, 2005 – Born as Joseph Cumpston in Sydney, Australia (Wikipedia)
- 2019 – First credited role in short film Bilched (CBR)
- 2023 – Stars in The Speedway Murders (CBR)
- 2024 – Appears in TV series Total Control (TMDb)
- 2025 – Stars in We Were Liars on Prime Video; cast as young Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (CBR)
- 2026 – The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping scheduled for release (Wikipedia)
Confirmed facts vs. What remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Real name: Joseph Cumpston (Wikipedia)
- Birth date: July 21, 2005 (Wikipedia)
- Nationality: Australian (Wikipedia)
- Born in Sydney (Now To Love)
- First film role: Bilched (2019) (CBR)
- Cast as young Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (CBR)
What remains unclear
- Ethnicity — unconfirmed, one report suggests Afghan-Aboriginal descent
- Father’s identity and family details
- Height
- Smoking status
- High school education
- Current residence
“Stream We Were Liars on Prime ASAP!”
— Joseph Zada, Instagram bio
Zada would portray a 16‑year‑old District 12 resident whose name is reaped for the Hunger Games.
— RUSSH (entertainment magazine)
For Australian audiences, the rise of Joseph Zada signals a new wave of homegrown talent entering the global franchise spotlight. The choice is clear: keep an eye on this Sydney-born actor, or risk missing the next big star.
Related reading: Eddie Munson: Death, Actor Joseph Quinn, Guitar Secrets · Harris Dickinson: Relationship, Ethnicity, Movies & More
hollywoodlife.com, it.wikipedia.org, thehungergames.fandom.com, ru.wikipedia.org, nl.wikipedia.org, pl.wikipedia.org, famousbirthdays.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Joseph Zada’s zodiac sign?
His birth date is July 21, 2005, making him a Cancer.
How many Instagram followers does Joseph Zada have?
As of 2025, he has 382K followers on Instagram.
What is Joseph Zada’s upcoming film project?
He is set to appear in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026) as a young Haymitch Abernathy.
Where was Joseph Zada born?
He was born in Sydney, Australia.
What is Joseph Zada’s net worth?
His net worth has not been publicly disclosed.
Is Joseph Zada active on other social media platforms?
He is most active on Instagram; no verified accounts on other platforms are publicly known.
Related stories
Jonathan Ellery is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Press Hive, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.