Who is Erik von Detten? | Biography
Erik von Detten is an American actor and former child star best known for his memorable roles in Disney productions. He was born on October 3, 1982, in San Diego, California. He began acting as a child and quickly built a successful career in television and film.
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Von Detten gained early recognition through Days of Our Lives, where he appeared as Nicholas Alamain. He later became widely known after voicing Sid Phillips in Pixar’s Toy Story. His performance introduced him to a global audience during his teenage years.
His career expanded through several popular Disney projects. He starred as Andy “Brink” Brinker in ** Brink! ** and played Clu Bell in So Weird. He also voiced Erwin Lawson in Recess and appeared in The Princess Diaries as Josh Bryant. Additionally, he featured in Leave It to Beaver, Dinotopia, and Complete Savages.
However, von Detten gradually stepped away from Hollywood after his appearance in ** Toy Story 3 in 2010**. He later pursued a career outside acting and worked in the precious-metals industry. In 2024, he briefly returned to television with My Acting Coach Nightmare.
Today, Erik von Detten is also known for his family life with his wife, Angela, whom he married in 2018. The couple has three children, including daughter Claire and sons Thomas and Nicholas.
In 2026, his name returned to headlines after an elderly couple filed a lawsuit involving von Detten and Rosland Capital. The lawsuit alleges financial misconduct involving gold investments. The allegations remain claims in litigation, not established facts.
Erik von Detten Age | How Old is Erik Von Detten?
Erik von Detten is 44 years old as of October 2026. He was born on October 3, 1982, in San Diego, California. He celebrated his 44th birthday earlier this month. Von Detten began his acting career as a child and gained recognition through television and Disney productions. His early roles included Days of Our Lives, So Weird, and Brink! He later became widely recognized for playing Josh Bryant in The Princess Diaries and voicing Sid Phillips in Toy Story. His age in 2026 places him among the former child stars who built their careers during the 1990s. He later stepped away from regular acting and focused on his family and other professional interests.
Erik von Detten Height | How Tall is Erik von Detten?
Erik von Detten stands 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall. His height gave him a noticeably tall appearance during his acting career. He maintained a lean build while appearing in several television shows and films. Moreover, his height complemented his youthful screen presence during his Disney years. Erik became widely recognized through roles in Brink!, The Princess Diaries, and Toy Story. His role as Sid Phillips in Toy Story remains one of his most recognizable performances. At 6 feet 1 inch, Erik von Detten has a tall stature that stands out among former child actors. His height remains a notable detail in his biography and entertainment profile.
Erik von Detten Ethnicity
Erik von Detten has German, English, and Russian Jewish ancestry. He was born in San Diego, California, and holds American nationality. His father, Volker von Detten, was born in Munich, Germany, giving Erik his German heritage. Meanwhile, his mother, Susan Farber, was born in America and has English and Russian Jewish ancestry. Erik grew up in Southern California alongside his siblings. His diverse family background forms an important part of his ethnicity and heritage. Moreover, his German roots connect him to his father’s European origins. His maternal ancestry adds both English and Russian Jewish heritage to his family history. Erik von Detten’s ethnicity reflects a multicultural American family background.
Erik von Detten Education
Erik von Detten attended public elementary school in El Segundo, California, where he spent his early childhood. He grew up in Southern California alongside his siblings and developed an interest in acting at a young age. Moreover, his entertainment career began around age nine after he accompanied his sister to a talent agency. This opportunity helped him enter Hollywood while continuing his childhood education. Erik von Detten became a successful child actor before establishing a widely documented college education. His early acting roles included Days of Our Lives, Brink!, and Toy Story. His professional journey focused heavily on television and film rather than publicly documented higher education.
Erik von Detten Wife | Is Erik von Detten married?
Erik von Detten is married to Angela Chen, now known as Angela von Detten. The couple married in 2018 and have built a family together. Angela works as a real estate agent and maintains a relatively private life outside her professional activities. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Claire Elizabeth, in May 2019. They later welcomed two sons, Thomas Henry in March 2021 and Nicholas in 2022. Moreover, Erik has embraced family life after stepping away from regular Hollywood acting. His marriage to Angela marks an important part of his personal life beyond his memorable roles in The Princess Diaries and Toy Story.
Erik von Detten Children | How many children does Erik von Detten have?
Erik von Detten has three children with his wife, Angela Chen. The couple has one daughter, Claire Elizabeth von Detten, and two sons, Thomas Henry von Detten and Nicholas von Detten. Their daughter, Claire Elizabeth, was born in May 2019, marking the couple’s first experience as parents. They welcomed their second child, Thomas Henry, in March 2021. Later, their family grew again with the arrival of Nicholas in December 2022. Erik values his family life after stepping away from regular Hollywood acting. Moreover, his wife occasionally shares family milestones publicly. Despite his former child-star fame, the couple generally keeps their children’s lives private.
Erik von Detten Family | Parents and Siblings
Erik von Detten comes from a close-knit family with German, English, and Russian Jewish roots. His father, Volker von Detten, immigrated to the United States from Munich, Germany. Meanwhile, his mother, Susan Farber, is an American photographer with English and Russian Jewish ancestry. Erik grew up in Southern California alongside his four siblings. His sisters are Dolly, Britta, and Andrea von Detten, while his brother is Timothy von Detten. Moreover, his family played an important role in his early acting journey. At nine, Erik accompanied his sister to a talent agency meeting, which launched his entertainment career. Today, he has his own family with his wife, Angela, and their three children.
Erik von Detten Sued for Elder Abuse and Fraud | $2.1 Million Gold Lawsuit
Erik von Detten is facing a lawsuit alleging elder financial abuse and fraud over gold investments involving an elderly California couple. Sheila Greenberg, 85, and her husband, Norman Greenberg, 97, filed the lawsuit against von Detten and precious metals company Rosland Capital in May 2026. The actor, known for The Princess Diaries and Toy Story, worked as an account representative for the company.
The couple claims von Detten advised them to invest approximately $2.1 million in gold coins between 2020 and 2021. However, they allege the coins were worth roughly $1.3 million, leaving them with losses exceeding $900,000. They also claim the coins went into third-party storage instead of reaching them directly. The lawsuit seeks financial compensation and additional damages.
The Erik von Detten lawsuit remains a set of allegations, not proof of wrongdoing. The case also names Rosland Capital, which filed for bankruptcy in July 2026. As of October 2026, news reports had not confirmed a public response from von Detten or a court ruling on the claims.
Erik von Detten Movies and TV Shows | Complete Filmography
Erik von Detten is an American actor best known for his roles in Disney movies, family television shows, and animated productions. He began acting as a child and became popular during the 1990s. His memorable performances include Sid Phillips in Toy Story, Andy Brinker in Brink!, and Josh Bryant in The Princess Diaries.
Throughout his career, Erik von Detten appeared in several movies and television series. He also voiced characters in animated productions, including Recess and Tarzan. Additionally, he played Clu Bell in So Weird and Chris Savage in Complete Savages. These roles helped establish his reputation as a familiar face in family entertainment.
Erik von Detten Movies
Some of Erik von Detten’s most notable movies and television films include:
- Toy Story (1995) – Voiced Sid Phillips, the boy who mistreats toys.
- Escape to Witch Mountain (1995) – Played Danny in Disney’s television remake.
- Leave It to Beaver (1997) – Portrayed Wally Cleaver.
- Brink! (1998) – Starred as Andy “Brink” Brinker, a talented inline skater.
- The Princess Diaries (2001) – Played Josh Bryant, Mia’s school crush.
- Tarzan (1999) – Voiced Flynt in Disney’s animated film.
- Recess: School’s Out (2001) – Voiced Erwin Lawson and Captain Brad.
- National Lampoon’s Barely Legal (2003) – Played Deacon Lewis.
- Smile (2005) – Played Chris.
- Toy Story 3 (2010) – Reprised his voice role as Sid Phillips.
- My Acting Coach Nightmare (2024) – Played Mark in this television movie.
Erik von Detten TV Shows
His television career includes sitcoms, dramas, animated series, and television movies. Notable credits include:
- Days of Our Lives (1992–1993) – Played Nicholas Alamain.
- So Weird (1999–2001) – Portrayed Clu Bell.
- Odd Man Out (1999–2000) – Played Andrew Whitney.
- Dinotopia (2002–2003) – Starred as Karl Scott.
- Complete Savages (2004–2005) – Played Chris Savage.
- ER (1995) – Appeared as Ben Larkin.
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2003) – Played Drew Lamerly.
- 8 Simple Rules (2004) – Appeared as Erik.
- Malcolm in the Middle (2005) – Played Brad.
- Bones (2008) – Appeared as Ed Dekker.
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005) – Voiced Chan.
- The Legend of Tarzan (2001) – Voiced Flynt.
- Family Guy (2009) – Contributed voice work.
Erik von Detten’s best-known performances remain Brink!, The Princess Diaries, So Weird, and Toy Story. After stepping back from regular acting, he returned in My Acting Coach Nightmare in 2024.
Erik von Detten Career | From Disney Star to His Return to Acting
Erik von Detten began his acting career as a child, earning his first major television role as Nicholas Alamain on Days of Our Lives in 1992. He later gained recognition through family entertainment and Disney productions. His early film credits included Escape to Witch Mountain and Toy Story (1995), where he voiced Sid Phillips.
During the late 1990s, Erik strengthened his reputation with Brink!, playing inline skater Andy Brinker. He also starred in Odd Man Out and So Weird. In 2001, he appeared as Josh Bryant in The Princess Diaries, one of his most recognizable movie roles. Additionally, he voiced Erwin Lawson in Disney’s animated series Recess.
After appearing in Complete Savages and several guest roles, Erik stepped away from regular acting around 2010. However, he returned in My Acting Coach Nightmare (2024). Alongside entertainment, he pursued a career in financial services and management.
Erik von Detten Net Worth 2026
Erik von Detten has an estimated net worth of $2 million. The American actor built his wealth through television roles, Disney movies, and voice acting. His popular projects include Toy Story, Brink!, and The Princess Diaries. These productions helped establish his Hollywood career. After reducing his acting commitments, Erik pursued a career in financial services. He joined Rosland Capital in 2018, working in sales before moving into management. However, in 2026, an elderly couple sued Erik and Rosland Capital over allegations of financial abuse and fraud. These allegations remain unresolved and do not establish his personal net worth. His exact assets, investments, and current earnings have not been publicly verified.
Biography Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Erik von Detten |
| Date of Birth | October 3, 1982 |
| Age | 44 years old (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | German, English, and Russian Jewish ancestry |
| Profession | Actor, voice actor, former child star |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) |
| Father | Volker von Detten |
| Mother | Susan Farber |
| Siblings | Three sisters: Dolly, Britta, and Andrea; one brother, Timothy |
| Wife | Angela Chen |
| Marriage Year | 2018 |
| Children | Three: Claire Elizabeth, Thomas Henry, and Nicholas |
| Education | Attended public elementary school in El Segundo, California |
| Acting Debut | Days of Our Lives (1992) |
| Famous Role | Sid Phillips in Toy Story |
| Popular Movies | Toy Story, Brink!, The Princess Diaries, Leave It to Beaver |
| Notable TV Shows | So Weird, Odd Man Out, Complete Savages, Dinotopia |
| Music Appearance | Appeared in Krystal Harris’s “SuperGirl!” music video |
| Recent Acting Credit | My Acting Coach Nightmare (2024) |
| Other Career | Financial services and precious metals |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $2 million; not independently verified |



