Avatar: The Last Airbender is more than an animated show; it’s a cultural institution. Some 20 years after its debut, the 2005-2008 Nickelodeon classic, now streaming on Paramount+, is still inspiring new fans – and new adventures. With new projects on the way — from Avatar: Seven Havens, the latest animated show in the Avatarverse, to the animated film The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, set to debut this year on Paramount+ — it’s time to explore the heroes and villains that make the original show so iconic.
Read on for our guide to the major characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender, plus get the names of the actors who help bring them to life. Whether you’re here to refresh your memory, or finally learn who voiced your favorite bender, we’ve got you. If life happens wherever you are, as Uncle Iroh suggests, then right here is the place to be.
What is Avatar: The Last Airbender about?
Avatar: The Last Airbender is about a world split into four nations, each tied to one of the elements: the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. Some people within these nations can bend their element through skill and discipline, but only the Avatar can master all four. After the Fire Nation wages war on the rest of the world, a young Air Nomad named Aang is discovered frozen in ice, and revealed to be the long-lost Avatar. Alongside his friends Katara, Sokka, and Toph, Aang sets out on a journey to restore balance, and end the Fire Nation’s reign.
Who is in the Avatar: The Last Airbender cast?
The Avatar: The Last Airbender cast features veteran voice-over actors, such as Zachary Tyler Eisen (Little Bill, The Backyardigans), a familiar primetime face (Parenthood‘s Mae Whitman), and just a couple of icons (namely, Mako and Mark Hamill). Together, the cast helps build a world that feels lived in – and alive.
Main characters and voice actors
Here’s a character-by-character rundown of the major players of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Find out who voices each character, too.
Aang voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen
About the character: Aang is the last surviving Air Nomad and the current Avatar, an individual capable of bending all four elements, and destined to bring balance to a world at war. Beneath his cheerful spirit sits the weight of a vanished people — and a responsibility he never asked for, but refuses to run from.
FYI: You can hear Eisen as Aang in a series of Avatar: The Last Airbender video games, including Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno.
Katara voiced by Mae Whitman
About the character: Katara is a skilled waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe who becomes the heart of Team Avatar. She balances fierce determination with compassion, guiding her friends through challenges while fighting for justice.
FYI: In addition to the 2010s TV version of Parenthood, Whitman has appeared in Good Girls, The DUFF, and Arrested Development.
Sokka voiced by Jack De Sena
About the character: Sokka is Katara’s older brother, and the strategist of Team Avatar. Rather than element bending, he relies on wit and ingenuity. Sokka brings humor and practicality to the group, often finding clever solutions when strength alone won’t work.
Zuko voiced by Dante Basco
About the character: Zuko is the exiled prince of the Fire Nation – a teen driven by a desire to regain his honor. His journey takes him from enemy to ally, shaped by struggle, reflection, and the search for his true self.
Toph voiced by Jessie Flower
About the character: Toph is a blind earthbender who turns her disability into her greatest strength, mastering metalbending and redefining what it means to fight. She is fiercely independent, sharp-tongued, and unafraid to challenge anyone who underestimates her.
Uncle Iroh voiced by Mako (Seasons 1-2) and Greg Baldwin (Season 3)
About the character: Uncle Iroh is a retired Fire Nation general whose wisdom and kindness guide those around him. He balances humor, patience, and insight. He helps Zuko and others find their path while offering lessons that linger long after their journey ends.
FYI: Mako’s considerable list of credits include the Steve McQueen film The Sand Pebbles, for which Mako received an Oscar® nomination and a Golden Globes® nomination, and the Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical Pacific Overtures, for which he rated a Tony® nomination. Mako passed away in 2006 at the age of 72. Greg Baldwin (Samurai Jack) subsequently took over the role. Baldwin is also heard as Uncle Iroh in a handful of episodes from Nickelodeon’s animated sequel series to Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra.
Supporting characters and cast
Fire Nation villains
Azula voiced by Grey Griffin
About the character: Azula is Zuko’s younger sister, a prodigy firebender feared for her skill and cunning. She thrives on control and manipulation, leaving chaos in her wake while chasing perfection and power.
Ozai voiced by Mark Hamill
About the character: Ozai is the ruthless Fire Lord determined to conquer the world and crush anyone who stands in his way. His thirst for power drives his nation into war.
FYI: Yes, you read that right. Mark Hamill – that Mark Hamill, the Star Wars saga’s original Luke Skywalker. Hamill is also a noted voice actor; most famously, perhaps, he’s been the animated voice of the Joker in numerous shows dating back to Batman: The Animated Series in the 1990s.
Mai voiced by Cricket Leigh
About the character: Mai is a skilled and stoic fighter who rarely shows emotion, but speaks volumes through her actions. She moves through the world with quiet precision, loyal to those she chooses to follow.
Ty Lee voiced by Olivia Hack
About the character: Ty Lee is an acrobat and martial artist who can disable opponents with a single touch. Her bubbly personality hides a fierce loyalty, and a talent for turning battles in her team’s favor.
Other allies
Suki voiced by Jennie Kwan
About the character: Suki is the fearless leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, skilled in combat and strategy. She brings courage and determination to every fight, inspiring those around her with her strength and resolve.
King Bumi voiced by André Sogliuzzo
About the character: King Bumi is the eccentric and unpredictable ruler of Omashu, whose wisdom hides beneath a playful exterior. He challenges Aang and his friends in ways that teach lessons about strength, creativity, and perspective.
Avatar Roku voiced by James Garrett
About the character: Before Aang, there was Avatar Roku. He serves as a mentor from beyond, guiding Aang with lessons from his own successes and failures.
Where can I watch Avatar: The Last Airbender?
You can watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Paramount+. All episodes are now streaming. You can also watch all episodes from all four seasons of The Legend of Korra on Paramount+.
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