Jay 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.

Jay Laga'aia
Laga'aia in Florida, June 2009
Born (1963-09-10) 10 September 1963
Auckland, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand Australian
OccupationActor, singer
Years active1981–present
Spouse(s)Sandie Jane Laga'aia
(1990–present)
Children8

Laga'aia is noted for his television roles, including Senior Constable Tommy Tavita in the Australian police drama Water Rats, lawyer David Silesi in the New Zealand legal drama Street Legal and Elijah Johnson in the long running Australian soap opera Home and Away.

He currently appears in an Australian Children's TV Series called Jay's Jungle, which has been broadcast since 2015. He is a regular feature on Australian kids program Play School.

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 the recurring 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 returned to the stage to play the role of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the 2013-14 New Zealand and Australia national tour of the acclaimed Broadway musical, Wicked.[5] In 2019, he was part of the Australian tour cast of Peter Pan Goes Wrong.[6]

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 six brothers and sisters and two 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).

Since 1990, Laga'ia has been married to Sandie Jane Laga'aia, with whom he has eight children: Jeremy, Matthew, Iosefa, Jessica, Nathaniel "Tana", Georgia Rose, Katie, and Isabella.

Filmography
Jay Laga'aia performing

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey Jay
1988 Never Say Die Bruce
2002 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones Capt. Typho
2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Capt. Typho
2006 Solo Vincent
2008 Crooked Business Pickaxe
2009 Lightswitch Bo Short
2009 Makazie One Narrator (voice) Short
2009 Daybreakers Senator Wes Turner
2012 The Unbroken Morgan Stevens (voice)
2013 The Wiggles: Go Santa Go! Jay the Elf Video
2015 The Spa Ivan Short
2020 The Legend of Baron To'a George
20?? Shadow Wars Dr. Keller Post-production

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1984–1986 Heroes Ron Ualesi TV series
1988 Strangers Const. Campbell TV series
1989 The Shadow Trader Demo Worker Episode "1.2"
1992 The Other Side of Paradise Mana TV miniseries
1993 Soldier Soldier Sgt. Bob Gilligan Episodes: "Shifting Sands", "Live Fire"
1994 High Tide Buck Walton (voice) Episode: "Hot Rocks"
1995 Mysterious Island Tenape Episodes: "No One Rules Me", "He's Not Heavy", "Make Yourselves a Home"
1995, 1997, 2000 Xena: Warrior Princess Draco Episodes: "Sins of the Past", "A Comedy of Eros", "Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire"
1996–2001 Water Rats Senior Const. Tommy Tavita Supporting role (series 1–5)
1998 The Violent Earth Jean-Christian TV miniseries
2000 Green Sails Maru TV film
2000–2003 Street Legal David Silesi Main role
2005–2006 All Saints Michael Stevenson Episodes: "In Sickness and in Health", "Till Death Do Us Part"
2007 McLeod's Daughters Gabriel Episode: "A Spark from Heaven"
2008 The Strip Joe Tahore / Frogman Episode: "1.3"
2008–2010 Larry the Lawnmower Narrator TV series
2008–2009 Legend of the Seeker Chase Brandstone Episodes: "Prophecy", "Destiny", "Hartland", "Conversion"
2008–2011 Bed of Roses Nick Pickering Main role
2010–2012 Home and Away Elijah Johnson Regular role
2015–2018 Jay's Jungle Jay Main role
2017 Drop Dead Weird Announcer Episode: "The Zombie Spectacular"
2018 Black Comedy Guest Episode: "3.4"
2018 Fighting Season Siaosi Ulalei TV miniseries
2019 Hardball Mr. Butte Episode: "Impossible Mission"

As himself
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Spot On! Host TV series
2000 Russell Gilbert Live Himself Episode: "1.13"
2000 Surprise Surprise Host Episode: "1.2"
2000–2005, 2012–2014 Play School Himself TV series
2001 The Big Time Host TV series
2001–2002 StarStruck Host TV series
2002 Celebrity Big Brother for Charity Live Himself TV series
2007 Spicks and Specks Himself Episode: "3.34"
2010 52 Annual TV Week Logie Awards Himself TV special
2010 Sleek Geeks Himself Episode: "Weeing"
2011 Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation Himself Episode: "3.12"
2017 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Himself Series 3
2020 The Living Room Himself — Guest Episode: "9.10"

References
  1. "Jay Laga'aia Come Dance and Sing". Girl.com.au. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  2. Knox, David (19 September 2008). "Laga'aia the lawnmower for Seven". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  3. Idato, Michael (16 November 2009). "Search begins for fresh geeks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  4. Dilan Thampapillai (17 February 2012). "A whiteout on what we watch". ABC Online. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  5. BWW News Desk. "Jay Laga'aia to Join WICKED as 'The Wizard' for Auckland Season, September 2013". Nz.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  6. ACMN. "Peter Pan Goes Wrong". Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
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