Jay Laga'aia
| Jay Laga'aia | |
|---|---|
 Jay Laga'aia in Florida, June 2009 | |
| Born |
10 September 1963 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Partner(s) |
Sandie Jane Laga'aia (1990–present) |
| Children |
Jeremy Laga'aia Matthew Laga'aia Iosefa Laga'aia Jessica Laga'aia Nathaniel "Tana" Laga'aia Georgia Rose Laga'aia Katie Laga'aia Isabella Laga'aia |
Jay Laga'aia (born 10 September 1963) is a New Zealand-Australian actor and singer. He is best known internationally for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He currently appears in an Australian Children's TV Series called Jay's Jungle which has been broadcast since 2015.
Career
Laga'aia is known for his part on Australian children's TV show Playschool, and also for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He played a small role of Draco in three episodes of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess.
Laga'aia was a regular in Australian television shows Water Rats, Play School, Surprise Surprise, and a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2002 and had a guest role as Gabriel in McLeod's Daughters. He is also known for his stage productions such as The Lion King. Laga'aia played the role of Judas in a 1994 production of Jesus Christ Superstar in New Zealand.
On 9 October 2007, Laga'aia released a children's album, Come Dance and Sing.[1] On 24 December 2008, Laga'aia performed on Carols by Candlelight. Laga'aia narrated each of the characters on the children's show Larry the Lawnmower,[2] which ran for 2 seasons starting in 2008. In November 2009, it was confirmed that Laga'aia had joined the cast of Australian soap opera Home and Away, as Reverend Elijah Johnson,[3] until his sacking in February 2012.[4] Laga'aia released his second CD for children, I Can Play Anything, in August 2010.
In 2008 Laga'aia took on the role as Ambassador for the Touch By Olivia Foundation Charity. In 2012 he was appointed as the new Ambassador for the Queensland Kindergartens.
In 2012 Laga'aia two albums, a Christmas album entitled Christmas at Jays Place and a nursery rhyme album called 10 in the Bed. He also provided the music for Scholastic's picture book 'Baby Elephant Walk'.
He is set to return to the stage to play the lead role of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the 2013-14 New Zealand and Australia national tour of the acclaimed Broadway musical, Wicked. Performances begin 17 September 2013, where he will perform alongside Jemma Rix at the Civic Theatre in Auckland. From May 2014 the production is expected to transfer to Melbourne, where it first premiered in 2008.[5]
Personal life
Laga'aia was born and raised in Mangere, South Auckland, New Zealand he is now a dual (New Zealand) and Australian citizen. He is of Samoan descent. He has 6 brothers and sisters and 2 half brothers. One of his younger brothers, Frank Laga'aia, was a member of the ARIA award-winning band, Ilanda.
Jay is also a member of the International Costuming group the 501st Legion as a member of the Terror Australis Garrison (Australia).
Filmography
Films
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Never Say Die | Bruce (cop) |
| The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey | Jay | |
| 1992 | The Other Side of Paradise | Mana |
| 2000 | Green Sails | Maru |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones | Captain Typho |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | Captain Typho |
| 2006 | Solo | Vincent |
| 2008 | Nim's Island | Helicopter Pilot |
| Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! | Carpark Victim | |
| 2009 | Lightwswitch | Bo |
| 2010 | Daybreakers | Senator Wes Turner |
| 2012 | The Unbroken | Morgan Stevens (voice) |
TV series
| Year | Series | Role | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–1986 | Heroes | Ron | 14 |
| 1993 | Soldier Soldier | Sgt Bob Gilligan | 2 |
| 1994 | High Tide | Buck Walton | 1 |
| 1995 | Mysterious Island | Tenape | 3 |
| 1998 | Tales of the South Seas | Unknown | 1 |
| 1995–2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Draco | 3 |
| 1996–2001 | Water Rats | Senior Constable Tommy Tavita | 149 |
| 2000–2003 | Street Legal | David Silesi | 52 |
| 2005–2006 | All Saints | Micheal Stevenson | 2 |
| 2007 | McLeod's Daughters | Gabriel | 1 |
| 2008 | Bed of Roses | Nick Pickering | 6 |
| 2008 | The Strip | Frogman | 1 |
| 2008–2009 | Legend of the Seeker | Chase | 14 |
| 2008–2009 | Larry the Lawnmower | Narrator | 65 |
| 2010–2012 | Home and Away | Elijah Johnson | Series regular |
Mini-Series
| Year | Mini-Series | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Violent Earth | Jean-Christian |
As himself
| Year | Show |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Spot On! |
| 1999 | Look Who's Famous Now |
| 2000 | Russell Gilbert Live |
| 2000– | Play School |
| 2000 | Starstruck |
| 2000– | The Big Time |
| 2002 | Celebrity Big Brother for Charity Live |
| 2003 | Pulp Sport |
| 2006 | 20 to 1 -Hoaxes, Cheats and Liars |
| 2007 | Spicks and Specks -Children's Special |
| 2010 | The Circle 30 August[6] |
| 2010 | Good News Week |
| 2011 | Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation |
| 2015 | "Carols in the Domain" |
| 2015 | Sally and Possum |
| 2017 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (second evictee, 19 February, day 24) |
References
- ↑ "Jay Laga'aia Come Dance and Sing". Girl.com.au. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ↑ Knox, David (19 September 2008). "Laga’aia the lawnmower for Seven". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ↑ Idato, Michael (16 November 2009). "Search begins for fresh geeks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- ↑ Dilan Thampapillai (17 February 2012). "A whiteout on what we watch". ABC Online. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ↑ BWW News Desk. "Jay Laga'aia to Join WICKED as 'The Wizard' for Auckland Season, September 2013". Nz.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ↑ "Monday 30 August 2010". The Circle website. Network Ten Pty Limited. 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
External links
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