Nathan Gamble

Nathan Lee Gamble (born January 12, 1998) is an American actor who made his feature film debut in Babel, for which he was nominated for a 2007 Young Artist Award. He is best known for his role as Sawyer Nelson in Dolphin Tale and the sequel Dolphin Tale 2.

Life and career Gamble was born Nathan Lee Gamble on January 12, 1998 in Tacoma, Washington, the son of theater directors, Christy (née Prestridge) and Gregory "Greg" Gamble, who also run a drama camp for children. His additional screen credits include Dry Rain (2007), Saving Sam (2007), Diggers (2007), The Mist (2007), The Dark Knight (2008), Marley & Me (2008), The Hole (2009), Dolphin Tale (2011) and Dolphin Tale 2 (2014).

On television, Gamble appeared in Runaway in 2006; crossover episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Without a Trace in 2007; and House M.D. and Ghost Whisperer in 2008. In 2009, he played the role of Henry Pryor, son of the titular character in Hank. In 2010, he played the role of Daniel in a short film called Displaced; the film was commissioned by the city of Seattle as part of the Water Calling series and aired at Seattle Channel.

Gamble has completed filming the role of Poe Malloy in Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas for Warner Bros. Television. He portrayed Lucas Thompson in the film The Hole, which was released in 2009.

His first lead role was in the 2011 film Dolphin Tale, where he plays Sawyer Nelson, a young boy who discovers a dolphin caught in a crab trap in Florida (based on the real-life story of Winter the dolphin). He reprised his role as Sawyer Nelson in the 2014 sequel, Dolphin Tale 2.

It was revealed in May 2025 that Gamble would be starring in the Chris Dowling film Bad Counselors along side Matt Cornett, Missi Pyle, Brec Bassinger and Chris Klein.

Personal life Gamble began dating his girlfriend Hannah Hammond in July 2020. They became engaged on July 23, 2025.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 2006 Babel Mike Jones 2007 Deeply Irresponsible Diggers Boy Short The Mist Billy Drayton 2008 Dry Rain Joey Short The Dark Knight James Gordon Jr. Marley & Me Patrick Grogan (Age 10) 2009 Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas Poe Malloy TV movie The Hole Lucas Thompson 2010 Displaced Daniel Short 2011 Fetch Linney Short 25 Hill Trey Caldwell Dolphin Tale Sawyer Nelson 2012 The Frontier Samuel Hale TV movie All My Presidents Franklin - Age 13 Short Dear Dracula Sam (voice) Video 2013 Beyond the Heavens Oliver Henry 2014 Dolphin Tale 2 Sawyer Nelson 2018 Swiped Daniel 2019 The Choice Son Short

Awards and nominations Year Nominated work Award Results 2007 Babel Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Actor Age Ten or Younger The Mist Fright Meter Award for Best Supporting Actor 2008 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actor Age Ten or Younger 2009 Marley & Me Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor House Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor 2012 25 Hill MovieGuide Awards for Most Inspiring Performance in Movies Dolphin Tale Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film 2015 Dolphin Tale 2 Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film