Cody Longo

Cody A. Longo (March 4, 1988 – February 8, 2023) was an American actor and musician from Denver, Colorado. He is best known for his leading role as Eddie Duran in the Nickelodeon series Hollywood Heights. In 2012, he released his first single, launching his music career as a solo artist.

Longo was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. Having musicians and artists in his family, Longo taught himself how to play the piano at a young age. He also started his acting career at a young age, performing and studying theater. Longo played Danny in Grease and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet at the Denver Performing Arts Academy.

After graduating high school, Longo moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue acting, where he also continued to study both theater and psychology.

In 2006, Longo appeared in the straight to video Hip Hop Kidz: It's a Beautiful Thing as a dancer named Eddie. In the next year, he played Dave in the movie Ball Don't Lie, also starring Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Nick Cannon. Longo made an appearance in the television show Medium before the summer release of the fifth installment of the Bring It On franchise, Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, playing Evan. That fall, Longo was in the highly anticipated movie Fame, a loosely based remake of the 1980 film of the same name.

In December 2009, Longo began his six episode guest appearance on the ABC Family television show Make It or Break It as gymnast Nicky Russo. Longo became friends with co-stars Nico Tortorella and Johnny Pacar, and, within the next year, he and Pacar started a band named Forever The Day. Their first EP Under The Afterglow was released on August 16, 2010 and they later played shows in and around the Los Angeles area.

In 2010, Longo replaced Joe Jonas as Young Tommy Walker in television show Brothers & Sisters, alongside his Fame co-star Kay Panabaker. TV Guide announced Longo's character as one of the best flashback acting jobs on television. Longo also appeared in the independent movie High School, alongside Colin Hanks, Adrien Brody, and Michael Chiklis. The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010. He also appeared in the film Piranha 3D, based on the original movie.

In 2011, Longo starred in a TV movie called Lovelives as Aaron. He appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, followed by a couple of appearances on CSI: NY as Tyler Josephson. He was also in eight episodes of the soap opera Days of Our Lives, playing Nicholas Almain.

In 2012, Forever The Day released their second EP titled Letters of Letting Go on February 13. Longo starred alongside Toby Hemingway and Frances Fisher in the psychological thriller The Silent Thief, playing Mike Henderson. Next, Longo played Young Izek in For The Love of Money. That summer, Longo starred in the Nick at Nite drama series Hollywood Heights as superstar Eddie Duran. The show had one season of 80 episodes.

Longo parted ways with Forever The Day and signed with Mirrorball Entertainment. His debut single "Atmosphere" was released on August 22, 2012, reaching third position on the iTunes Pop Charts and entering the Top 100 Billboard Emerging Artist charts in 2013. He released his next single "Falling Into You" on December 4, 2012.

"She Said" was released on February 26, 2013, charting number three on iTunes Top 100. The same month, Longo traveled to his home state of Colorado to promote his next movie, Not Today, ahead of its release in theaters that spring. He starred as Caden Welles. Longo then continued to focus on his music, releasing "Electric" and later appearing on Kit Fysto's single "I'm Not Playing Games".

Longo moved to Nashville to continue to work on his music. He released a remix of his song "Falling Into You", featuring B-Nice, in 2014 and his single "What Up Tho" on June 23, 2015. Longo played Alex Francis in Promoted.

In 2016, Longo played Jack Rivers in Drop It. He also appeared in two episodes of the ABC/CMT television show Nashville as Quentin. Next, he appeared on the ABC show The Catch as Todd Walker, then as Charlie Peterson on ABC's Secrets and Lies. Longo starred opposite James Maslow in 48 Hours to Live, formerly called Wild for the Night, as Liam. The movie Wildflower was released, in which Longo plays Josh. He wrote the song, "Change", that Christian artist Shane Selby performed on the film's soundtrack. Longo also released two singles, "Scream" and "'Til Tomorrow" in 2016.

In 2017, Rich Boy, Rich Girl was released. Longo plays Andy Palazzo. Co-star C. Thomas Howell said that "Cody and I had a real chemistry that translates on film. It's light and fun yet poignant. The same energy the movie holds". Longo also starred opposite Burt Reynolds, Chevy Chase, Ariel Winter, and Nikki Blonsky in The Last Movie Star, playing Ted.

B. Harrison Smith's Death House was released in select theaters in March 2018. Longo stars as Agent Jae Novak. On May 11, Longo released his single "Loud," which surpassed 60,000 streams on Spotify.

Longo worked with charities and campaigned to keep art programs in schools domestically, and to continue to help build housings that provide schooling for children around the world. He headed his own non-profit, LiveAlive, and was heavily involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Pencils of Promise.

Longo was found dead in Austin, Texas, on February 8, 2023. He was 34.

Film

Television