You probably remember the scene. It’s hot. The sun is beating down on a dry lake bed. A young boy with a shovel stands over a hole, his face caked in dust and sweat, looking both incredibly vulnerable and remarkably tough. That boy was Hector "Zero" Zeroni. If you’re sitting there wondering who plays Zero in the movie Holes, the answer is Khleo Thomas.
He was just a kid back then.
Khleo Thomas didn't just play a role; he basically became the heart of the 2003 Disney adaptation of Louis Sachar’s classic novel. While Shia LaBeouf was the big name as Stanley Yelnats IV, it was the quiet, misunderstood Zero who provided the emotional gut-punch that made the movie a cult classic.
Honestly, finding an actor who can convey "genius-level intelligence hidden behind a wall of silence" isn't easy for a casting director. They needed someone who could look like they hadn't eaten in three days but still had the fire to hit Mr. Pendanski over the head with a shovel. Khleo nailed it.
The Casting of Khleo Thomas: Why He Was the Only Choice
When director Andrew Davis started looking for his Hector Zeroni, he wasn't just looking for a child actor with a resume. He needed a certain vibe. Zero is the fastest digger at Camp Green Lake, but he’s also the one everyone underestimates because he doesn't talk much.
Khleo Thomas was only 13 years old when Holes hit theaters. Before he landed the role of Zero, he had a few small credits to his name, like a brief appearance in Friday After Next. But Holes changed everything. He brought a stillness to the character. You've probably noticed that in a lot of kids' movies, the acting is... well, loud. Khleo went the other direction. He used his eyes.
The chemistry between Khleo and Shia LaBeouf was real, too. They weren't just acting like friends who were suffering in the desert; they actually bonded on set. That friendship is what makes the "Mountain" sequence so believable. When Zero is too weak to walk and Stanley carries him up God's Thumb, you feel that. It doesn't feel like a movie set in California; it feels like survival.
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Interestingly, Khleo has mentioned in various interviews and on his social media that he actually had to audition multiple times. It wasn't a "show up and get the job" situation. He had to prove he could handle the physicality of the role and the heavy emotional lifting required for Zero’s backstory—a kid who was abandoned by his mother in a park and ended up living on the streets before being sent to a juvenile detention camp for stealing a pair of sneakers.
Life After Camp Green Lake: What Happened to Khleo?
If you haven't kept up with him, you might think Khleo Thomas vanished after the credits rolled. Not even close.
He stayed in the acting game for a while, appearing in Roll Bounce (2005) alongside Bow Wow and Nick Cannon. He also did guest spots on big shows like House, ER, and Sons of Anarchy. But here’s the thing: Khleo is a true multi-hyphenate.
He’s a rapper. He’s a fashion entrepreneur. But most notably these days? He’s a massive figure in the gaming community.
If you head over to Twitch or YouTube, you’ll find him under his own name or "Slick Living." He’s a legitimate pro-level gamer and a huge fan of the Power Rangers and Mortal Kombat franchises. In fact, he’s become a bit of a legend in the gaming world for his "Disney Prince" energy mixed with high-level competitive play.
It’s kind of a full-circle moment. In Holes, Zero was the kid who was smarter than everyone gave him credit for. In real life, Khleo Thomas is the actor who took a child-star trajectory and turned it into a diverse, modern career that spans music, acting, and tech. He didn't get stuck in the "where are they now" trap. He just evolved.
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The Cultural Impact of Hector Zeroni
Why does everyone still care about who plays Zero in the movie Holes over twenty years later?
It's because Zero represents the underdog. In the film, the adults—played by legends like Jon Voight (Mr. Sir) and Sigourney Weaver (The Warden)—treat the kids like garbage. They specifically target Zero because they think he’s "stupid" just because he can't read.
When Stanley starts teaching Zero how to read, it’s one of the most rewarding subplots in cinema history. We aren't just watching a kid learn his ABCs; we're watching a person reclaim their dignity.
Let's look at the stats of the film's success:
- Box Office: It pulled in about $71 million worldwide. That was huge for a live-action Disney movie based on a book in the early 2000s.
- Critical Reception: It holds a high "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics specifically pointed to the young cast's performances as the reason it worked.
- Cultural Longevity: The "Dig It" music video (which Khleo Thomas actually rapped in!) still gets millions of views. If you grew up in that era, that song is burned into your brain.
Khleo actually wrote his verses for "Dig It." That was his first real introduction to the music industry. He wasn't just a kid actor being told what to do; he was a creator from the jump.
Fun Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Khleo and the Set
Production was brutal. They filmed in the Mojave Desert. It was hot. Like, "don't touch the metal shovel" hot.
- The "onions" they ate on top of the mountain? They weren't real onions. Thank God. They were actually wrapped apples or some sort of water-chestnut concoction treated to look like onions. Khleo and Shia had to bite into them like they were the greatest meal on Earth.
- Khleo was actually younger than most of the other boys in "D-Tent." This added to the natural dynamic of him being the "runt" of the group, even though he was the most capable.
- The yellow-spotted lizards were real... sort of. While they used CGI for the dangerous bits, they had bearded dragons on set that were painted with spots (using non-toxic paint, obviously) to give the actors something to interact with.
Why Zero Still Matters Today
The story of Holes is a bit dark for a Disney movie. It deals with homelessness, systemic racism (the backstory of Sam the Onion Man and Katherine Barlow), and the failures of the juvenile justice system.
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Zero is at the center of all those themes. He’s a victim of a system that didn't care about him. When Khleo Thomas played him, he didn't play him as a victim. He played him as a survivor. That’s why the performance resonates. When Zero tells Stanley, "I'm not stupid, I know everyone thinks I am. I just don't like answering their questions," it hits different.
It’s a lesson in perception. People saw a "delinquent." We saw a kid who just needed a friend and a chance.
How to Follow Khleo Thomas Now
If you want to see what Zero looks like as a grown man, it’s pretty easy. He’s incredibly active on social media. He frequently acknowledges his Holes roots, often posting "Throwback Thursday" content or reacting to fans who are just discovering the movie for the first time.
He also runs a lifestyle brand called Slick Living. It’s all about the grind, the hustle, and staying true to yourself—values that Hector Zeroni would definitely approve of.
Actionable Steps for Fans of Holes:
- Watch the "Dig It" music video on YouTube: It’s a time capsule of 2003 fashion and a great showcase of Khleo's early rap skills.
- Follow Khleo on Twitch: If you're into gaming, his community is one of the most positive ones out there.
- Re-read the book by Louis Sachar: It’s one of those rare cases where the movie is almost a perfect 1:1 match with the book, but the extra internal dialogue for Zero adds even more depth.
- Check out Khleo's discography: He has released several mixtapes and singles over the years that are worth a listen if you like early 2010s R&B and Hip-Hop.
Khleo Thomas managed to do something very few child actors do: he stayed grounded. He took a character that could have been a footnote and made him the soul of a generation's favorite movie. So, the next time you're watching Holes and you see that kid digging a hole in the middle of a dry lake, you know exactly who he is. He’s a gamer, a rapper, an entrepreneur, and the actor who gave us one of the best performances in Disney history.
Basically, he’s still the fastest digger around. Just in different fields now.
Next Steps for Your Holes Deep Dive
- Watch the 20th Anniversary Reunion: Many of the cast members, including Khleo and Shia, have done various interviews reflecting on the film's legacy.
- Explore the "Holes" Soundtrack: Beyond "Dig It," the soundtrack features artists like Moby and Eels, which set the unique tone of the film.
- Research the filming locations: Most of the "Lake" scenes were filmed at Ridgecrest and Red Rock Canyon in California, which you can actually visit if you're ever on a West Coast road trip.