Aaron Fa'aoso

Fa'aoso was born into the Kheodal (Crocodile) and Samu (Emu) clans of Torres Strait Islanders people, his family having moved from Saibai Island to the mainland of Australia in 1947.{{cite web | title=Aaron Fa'aoso | website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories | date=27 April 2012 | url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A140639 | access-date=21 June 2022}} He is also of Samoan and Tongan descent.{{cite interview |last=Fa'Aoso|first=Aaron|interviewer=Karen Dorante|title=Aaron Fa'Aoso|url=http://www.abc.net.au/speakingout/stories/s1624725.htm|publisher=ABC Local Radio|location=Australia|date=30 April 2006|work=Speaking Out|access-date=27 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/more-than-just-a-tough-guy/2943419/|title=Aaron Fa'aoso is more than just TV's tough guy|publisher=qt.com.au|date= 27 February 2016|access-date=20 April 2017}} He grew up in "a big Torres Strait Islander community"{{cite web | title=Aaron Fa'Aoso: footy, producing and Indigenous stories | website=Screen Australia | date=27 August 2018 | url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/screen-news/2018/08-27-aaron-faaoso-footy-producing-indigenous | access-date=21 June 2022}} in Bamaga on the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.

He graduated high school, and worked as a sexual health worker in Bamaga, and played rugby league football in the Australian Rugby League and Super League competitions. He moved from Cairns to Sydney to pursue a rugby career, joining the Canterbury Bulldogs rugby league club.

Fa'aoso began his acting television career in 2006, where he played Eddie Gaibui on RAN, a six-part drama which aired on SBS One. In late 2007 to early 2008 he appeared in the first series another SBS drama series, East West 101, playing Detective Sonny Koa. Later that year he had a guest role in Sea Patrol, which aired on Network Nine.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

In 2009 he appeared in season two of East West 101 and starred in the film Subdivision. In 2011, he returned to star in the third and final season of East West 101 on SBS.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

In 2012, he appeared the last four episodes of the Australian drama TV series Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Also in 2012, he wrote, produced and starred in ABC Television's's 10-part drama series The Straits, about a north Queensland crime family. The series was highly praised by critics, with one calling it The Sopranos of the Top End.

Fa'aoso has appeared as a recurring character in the ABC sketch comedy series, Black Comedy (2014–2020).{{IMDb title|tt3697996|Black Comedy}}

In 2022 Fa’aoso published his memoir with Michelle Scott Tucker. So Far, So Good was the first memoir to be published commercially by a Torres Strait Islander.{{Cite web |last=Tucker |first=Michelle Scott |date=2021-01-14 |title=Aaron Fa'Aoso |url=https://michellescotttucker.com/aaron-faaoso/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Michelle Scott Tucker |language=en-AU}}

Fa'aso's main interest is in telling Indigenous stories. To that end, he created Lonestar Productions in 2013.{{cite web | title=About us | website=Lonestar Productions | url=https://lonestargroup.com.au/about-us | access-date=21 June 2022}} The company makes films in the Torres Strait and Cape York regions, and has produced documentary series such as Blue Water Empire (about the history of the Torres Strait Islander people) and Strait to the Plate (food in the islands), in which Fa'aoso features.{{cite interview| first=Aaron| last=Fa'aoso | title=First Nations & Torres Strait Islander spotlight: Aaron Fa'Aoso Q and A | website=Ausfilm | date=27 February 2022 | url=https://www.ausfilm.com.au/news/first-nations-spotlight-aaron-faaoso-q-and-a/ | access-date=21 June 2022}}

Since at least 2018 and {{as of|lc=yes|June 2022}} Fa'aoso is on the board of Screen Queensland.{{cite web | title=Our Board | website=Screen Queensland | url=https://screenqueensland.com.au/about-sq/meet-the-board/ | access-date=21 June 2022}}

• 2006: Nominated at the AFI Awards for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in Television Drama for RAN
• 2007: Nominated at the Logies for Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent for RAN
• 2011: Finalist in the Deadly Awards, for Male Actor of the Year
• 2012: Winner, Deadly Awards, Television Show of the Year, for The Straits
• 2012: Winner, AWGIE Award, Television Mini-Series – Original, for The Straits<

In February 2024, Fa'aoso was announced as one of six recipients of the Talent Gateway program, a joint initiative of Screen Australia and Australians in Film. The program aims to help develop their skills and creative connections necessary for Australian screenwriters and directors to succeed further in the international market.{{cite web |title=Screen Australia and Australians in Film unveil participants for industry development programs |website=IF Magazine |date=8 February 2024 |url=https://if.com.au/screen-australia-and-australians-in-film-unveil-participants-for-industry-development-programs/ |access-date=18 October 2024}}

In 2012 he pleaded guilty to wilful damage and disorderly conduct following an incident at a Cairns nightclub and was placed on a good behaviour bond for six months and ordered to pay costs plus damages. The incident happened on the anniversary of a family tragedy,{{cite web | title=TV star sentenced over nightclub incident | publisher=ABC News| location= Australia| first= Kirsty |last=Nancarrow | date=23 April 2012 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-23/tv-star-sentenced-over-nightclub-incident/3966644 | access-date=21 June 2022}} and the magistrate took into account Fa'aoso's previous good character.{{cite web | title=TV star Fa'aoso fined for breaking till | website=9News | date=23 April 2012 | url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/tv-star-fa-aoso-fined-for-breaking-till/312a8a12-044a-48b2-b763-689f775761e4 | access-date=21 June 2022}} Cairns Mayor Val Schier described Fa'aoso as "a role model who is highly regarded"

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|id=2544175|name=Aaron Fa'aoso}}
• {{official website|https://lonestargroup.com.au/| Lonestar Productions}}

{{EquityAward TVDramaCast 2010-2019}}

{{Torres Strait}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1976 births

Category:21st-century Australian male actors

Category:Actors of Samoan descent

Category:Australian male film actors

Category:Australian male television actors

Category:Australian people of Samoan descent

Category:Australian people of Tongan descent

Category:Indigenous Australian male actors

Category:Culture of the Torres Strait Islands