Do wishes come true?
Nathan (right) and Kira on the set of The Thundermans: Undercover. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BROXTON FAMILY
Ask Nathaniel Pierce Broxton, who wrote down on his 2022 Christmas wish list that he wanted to become an actor, animator and an engineer. Now, the determined teen with deep family ties in Gifford is making that vision a reality as he is set to star in the upcoming Nickelodeon series “The Thundermans: Undercover,” a spinoff of the original show that ran from 2013 to 2018.
“I’m so excited to be part of the Thundermans universe! The Thundermans was one of my favorite shows as a really little kid,” said Nathaniel, 13, of Orange County, California, whose teenage ambitions landed him on The Today Show. “Acting was just a Christmas wish I added to my list, and I could not have imagined how far sharing my passion for theatre and wishing big could take me. I can’t wait to share this new adventure with everyone who has supported me.”
Nathaniel is the nephew of the local and revered musician James Broxton Jr., who is the lead saxophonist for the Essence of Sound Band. The Broxton family in Gifford goes back at least four generations, family members said.
The elder Broxton said he is excited to see his nephew make his upcoming small screen debut. The new twist on The Thudermans is set to premiere Jan. 22, 2025 on Nickelodeon.
“I am absolutely proud of my nephew Nathan Broxton and his accomplishments thus far in life,” said James Broxton, whose band held a holiday concert Saturday at the Heritage Center where attendees enjoyed euphonious sounds of Christmas tunes. “My youngest brother William Kevin and his wife Samantha have poured extensively into their children, and their loving family environment has inspired each of them to be all they can be. I expect great things from all of my family as we continue to reap the seeds we have sown.”
After a rigorous audition process, Nathaniel landed the season-regular role on the family-fun show this fall.
Nathaniel on the set of The Thundermans: Undercover. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BROXTON FAMILY
The Thundermans, action-comedy-crime series, follows the story of superhero twins Phoebe and Max, along with their younger sister Chloe. The family, who must keep their superhero identities a secret, frequently venture off to investigate new threats in the seaside town of Secret Shores.
Nathaniel will be playing the character of “Jinx,” one of Chloe’s classmates and close friends. Jinx is an enthusiastic, technology whiz who follows Chloe into one of her missions, according to TheThundermans.Fandom.com.
The Broxton family moved to Vancouver, Canada, in August to support Nathaniel while he filmed the show. Production finished two weeks ago and the family returned to Los Angeles on Dec. 15, according to a news release.
“I feel blessed we got to do that together,” said Samantha Broxton, Nathaniel’s mother. “We made adjustments so the family can be together.”
Nathaniel filmed 26 episodes in 13 weeks. The young actor’s father, William Kevin Broxton, said he is proud of his son and that he’s still awestruck from the good news.
“This is nothing but God’s favor. Everyone’s really excited,” said William Kevin Broxton, who was born and raised in Gifford and graduated from Vero Beach High School in 2003. “(Nathaniel) has been acting out skits since he was two years old. This is a good piece of news to hold on to.”
Nathaniel (left) with his stand-in and stunt double on the set of The Thundermans: Undercover. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BROXTON FAMILY
Samantha Broxton said her son having a starring role on the Nickelodeon show is exciting and a blessing. The mother said Jinx is a good character fit for Nathaniel.
“Nathaniel landed the role of his dreams. It’s a positive experience for him overall,” said Samantha Broxton, who noted the entire family has a passion for musical theatre. “It’s a great environment for a kid to explore acting and grow into their skill sets. I get to see (Nathaniel’s talent) through the eyes of writers, directors and producers.”
Nathaniel’s grandparents, James Broxton Sr. and Vinnie Broxton, said they look forward to watching the show and witnessing their grandson reach full success.
“To our precious grandson Nathan, we are so happy and proud of you for your accomplishments. We love you so very much. May God be with you always,” the grandparents said. “We are so thankful to everyone that had a part in helping you to achieve your goal.”
The Broxton household occasionally visits their family in Gifford. When back home in Orange County, California, the family of five hosts constant Zoom sessions and video chats with relatives.
“We have those multiple times a week,” William Kevin Broxton said.
Viral TikTok video
Nathaniel went viral in January 2023 after a TikTok video showed him singing the song “Naughty” from the 2022 Netflix movie “Matilda the Musical.” The footage gained national attention, was seen by millions of viewers and captured the attention of Broadway thespians such as Tony-Award winning Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr.
Delta Airlines then flew Nathaniel out to New York City where he saw his first Broadway plays including M.J.: the Musical, The Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked and Hamilton. Nathaniel even got to meet some of the cast members.
“The theatre world is so welcoming,” Samantha Broxton said. “Having young people passionate about theatre and performing arts is such a good medium.”
The Today Show interviewed Nathaniel and his parents while they were in New York about his journey into the limelight.
Nathaniel Broxton with his parents Samantha and William Kevin Broxton on The Today Show. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BROXTON FAMILY
After returning from New York, Nathaniel’s parents, set on a mission to support their son’s dreams, said they hired a singing and acting coach for him. William Kevin Broxton also got Nathaniel vocal coaching.
Samantha Broxton said Nathaniel was passionate about becoming an actor and was present in the process. The parents hired an acting agent and manager for their son.
“The opportunity presented itself and he seemed ready. He invested in himself by showing up and doing it,” Samantha Broxton said. “As soon as he got the first audition, we started preparing. A lot of this is very intentional. He has a supportive family and community.”
Nathaniel on the set of The Thundermans: Undercover. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BROXTON FAMILY
Samantha Broxton works in a financial technology program and product management, and is also a content creator. William Kevin Broxton is a pastor and a software engineer.
Nathaniel landed his first acting job in July 2023 for a Target commercial and did more video advertisements soon after. Three months later, the young actor made his professional theatre debut as the character “Travis Young” in Lorraine Hansberry’s acclaimed play “A Raisin in the Sun” in the Tony-Award winning South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California, according to the family.
“He’s a theatre kid. Much of it stemmed from his love of musical theatre,” Samantha Broxton said. “We love that happy balance of great storytelling with great music.”
Nathaniel’s drive inspired William Kevin Broxton to delve into acting. William Kevin Broxton landed a role last year as Martin Luther King, Jr. in the musical MLK and the Music of the March after Nathan encouraged his father to audition, the family said.
Both Nathaniel and William Kevin Broxton sung in the gospel choir at the Arts & Learning Conservatory, a nonprofit organization that provides lessons in music and theatre.
“Supporting Nathaniel creatively brought us even closer together as a family,” Samantha Broxton said.
Family values
Samantha and William Kevin Broxton said they want their children to understand world events. The two said they take parental responsibility as guides for their children very seriously.
“We have respect for a child’s autonomy and growth. There are big personalities in our household,” said the parents, who also participate in social justice initiatives. “We teach our kids boundaries, personal space, respect and kindness. We teach them the value of human life.”
Nathaniel has an older sister, 14-year-old Sophie, and a younger brother, 3-year-old Kai. Sophie is a writer, loves technology and has coded since she was 6 years old, the family said.
Support the arts
Samantha Broxton said she hopes Nathaniel attends a college with a great arts program like those found at Howard University or New York University. The mother said Nathaniel also loves math, science and reading.
One of Nathaniel’s favorite books is “When Stars Are Scattered” by authors Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson. The novel is about the struggles two young boys face while growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya.
Nathaniel has had other interviews, including with People Magazine, ABC News Live Brightly and Inside Edition. The young, promising actor also starred in “The Little Mermaid Jr.” play and was featured in a variety of web series.
Samantha Broxton said communities should continue to support the arts, which can inspire kids like Nathaniel as they think about their wishes for the future.
“Something like the arts we should continue to appreciate and understand the value of,” Samantha Broxton said.
