Jay Laga'aia#Personal life

{{Infobox person

| image = Jay Lagaaia SWW.JPG

| caption = Laga'aia in Florida, June 2009

| imagesize =

| name = Jay Laga'aia

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|9|10|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| nationality = New Zealand, Australian

| yearsactive = 1981–present

| occupation = Actor, singer

| spouse = {{marriage|Sandie Jane Laga'aia|1990}}

| children = 8

}}

Jay Laga'aia (born 10 September 1963) is a New Zealand-Australian actor and singer. He is 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.

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 appeared in an Australian Children's TV Series called Jay's Jungle, which aired from 2015–2018. He was a regular feature on Australian kids program Play School.

Career

Laga'aia debuted as a musician in 1982 as a member of the Consorts, who released the Dalvanius Prime-produced single "Maoris on 45",{{cite web|first1=Murray|last1=Cammick|title=Dalvanius Profile|url=https://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/dalvanius|website=Audio Culture Iwi Waiata|accessdate=11 November 2021|date=29 May 2013}}{{cite web|first1=Moana|last1=Maniapoto|authorlink1=Moana (singer)|title=Dalvanius — no one-hit wonder|url=https://e-tangata.co.nz/arts/dalvanius-no-one-hit-wonder/|website=eTangata|accessdate=11 November 2021|date=23 July 2016 }} which was one of the top selling singles in New Zealand in 1982.{{cite web|title=Top Selling Singles of 1982|url=https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/index_chart?chart=3871|work=Official NZ Music Charts|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|accessdate=11 November 2021}}

Laga'aia is known for his part on Australian children's TV show Play School, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.girl.com.au/jay-lagaaia-come-dance-and-sing.htm|title=Jay Laga'aia Come Dance and Sing|publisher=Girl.com.au|access-date=3 February 2010}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/09/lagaaia-the-lawnmower-for-seven.html|title=Laga'aia the lawnmower for Seven|author=Knox, David|date=19 September 2008|work=tvtonight.com.au|access-date=9 June 2011}} 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,{{cite news|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&kw=ada+nicodemou&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SMH091116M46QP3BFJ8C|last=Idato|first=Michael|title=Search begins for fresh geeks|date=16 November 2009|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=26 July 2017}} until February 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3836190.html|title=A whiteout on what we watch|author=Dilan Thampapillai|date=17 February 2012|publisher=ABC Online|access-date=18 February 2012}} Laga'aia released his second CD for children, I Can Play Anything, in August 2010.

In 2009 Laga'aia took on the role of Ambassador for the Touched by Olivia Foundation. In 2012 he was appointed as an Ambassador for kindergartens in Queensland.

In 2012 Laga'aia released 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.{{cite web|author=BWW News Desk|url=http://nz.broadwayworld.com/article/Jay-Lagaaia-to-Join-WICKED-as-The-Wizard-for-Auckland-Season-September-2013-20130406|title=Jay Laga'aia to Join WICKED as 'The Wizard' for Auckland Season, September 2013|publisher=Nz.broadwayworld.com|access-date=2016-12-21}} In 2019, he was part of the Australian tour cast of Peter Pan Goes Wrong.{{Cite web|url=https://peterpangoeswrong.com.au/|title=Peter Pan Goes Wrong|last=ACMN|website=Peter Pan Goes Wrong|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-03-22}}

Personal life

Laga'aia was born and raised in Māngere, South Auckland, New Zealand. One of his younger brothers, Frank Laga'aia, was a member of the ARIA award-winning band Ilanda.

Jay is also a member of international costuming group the [http://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=10675 501st Legion] as a member of the Terror Australis Garrison (Australia).

Since 1990, Laga'aia has been married to Sandra Jane Laga'aia, one of the deputy principals at Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus, with whom he has eight children.{{cite web|title=Our staff - Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus|url=https://balmain-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/our-staff.html|website=balmain-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/}}{{additional citation needed|date=September 2022}} Their daughter Catherine is a child actress.{{Cite web|last=Murray|first=Tom|date=2024-06-13|title=Disney casts unknown 17-year-old actor as Moana in live-action movie|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/moana-cast-catherine-lagaaia-age-disney-b2562164.html|access-date=2024-06-14|website=The Independent|language=en}} In June 2024, she was cast as the titular character in the 2026 live-action film Moana.

Discography

=Albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" \|+ List of albums, with Australian chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"\| Peak chart positions
scope="col" style="text-align:center;"\| AUS
scope="row"\| Come Dance and Sing \| Released: 2007 Format: CD Label: ABC for Kids (R-301489-2) \| align="center"\| —
scope="row"\| Carnival of the Animals (with Justine Clarke & Georgie Parker) \| Released: 2009 Format: 2×CD Label: ABC Classics (ABC 476 3686) \| align="center"\| —
scope="row"\| I Can Play Anything \| Released: 2010 Format: CD Label: ABC for Kids (R-301558-2) \| align="center"\| —
scope="row"\| Ten in the Bed \| Released: 2013 Format: CD Label: ABC Music (3724803) \| align="center"\| —
scope="row"\| Christmas at Jay's Place \| Released: 2013 Format: CD Label: ABC for Kids (3752424) \| align="center"\| —
scope="row"\| Family Time \| Released: 2014 Format: CD Label: ABC for Kids (4071554) \| align="center"\| —
scope="row"\| Rumble, Rumble! Songs From the Jungle \| Released: 2015 Format: CD Label: ABC Music (4716422) \| align="center"\| —

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"

|+ List of albums, with Australian chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart
positions

scope="col" style="text-align:center;"| AUS

scope="row"| Come Dance and Sing

Released: 2007
Format: CD
Label: ABC for Kids (R-301489-2)

| align="center"| —

scope="row"| Carnival of the Animals
(with Justine Clarke & Georgie Parker)

Released: 2009
Format: 2×CD
Label: ABC Classics (ABC 476 3686)

| align="center"| —

scope="row"| I Can Play Anything

Released: 2010
Format: CD
Label: ABC for Kids (R-301558-2)

| align="center"| —

scope="row"| Ten in the Bed

Released: 2013
Format: CD
Label: ABC Music (3724803)

| align="center"| —

scope="row"| Christmas at Jay's Place

Released: 2013
Format: CD
Label: ABC for Kids (3752424)

| align="center"| —

scope="row"| Family Time

Released: 2014
Format: CD
Label: ABC for Kids (4071554)

| align="center"| —

scope="row"| Rumble, Rumble! Songs From the Jungle

Released: 2015
Format: CD
Label: ABC Music (4716422)

| align="center"| —

Filmography

File:Jay Laga'aia guitar.jpg

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"\| Notes
rowspan="2"\|1988 \| {{sortname\|The\|Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey}} \| Jay \|
Never Say Die \| Bruce \|
2002 \| Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones \| Gregar Typho \|
2005 \| Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith \| Gregar Typho \|
2006 \| Solo \| Vincent \|
2008 \| Crooked Business \| Pickaxe \|
rowspan="3"\| 2009 \| Lightswitch \| Bo \| Short
Makazie One \| Narrator (voice) \| Short
Daybreakers \| Senator Wes Turner \|
2012 \| {{sortname\|The\|Unbroken\|nolink=1}} \| Morgan Stevens (voice) \|
2013 \| {{sortname\|The\|Wiggles: Go Santa Go!\|nolink=1}} \| Jay the Elf \| Video
2015 \|{{sortname\|The\|Spa\|nolink=1}} \| Ivan \| Short
2020 \| {{sortname\|The\|Legend of Baron To'a\|nolink=1}} \| George \|
2024 \| KingsLand \| Bouncer \|
TBA \| Shadow Wars \| Dr. Keller \| Post-production

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"| Notes

rowspan="2"|1988

| {{sortname|The|Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey}}

| Jay

Never Say Die

| Bruce

2002

| Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

| Gregar Typho

2005

| Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

| Gregar Typho

2006

| Solo

| Vincent

2008

| Crooked Business

| Pickaxe

rowspan="3"| 2009

| Lightswitch

| Bo

| Short

Makazie One

| Narrator (voice)

| Short

Daybreakers

| Senator Wes Turner

2012

| {{sortname|The|Unbroken|nolink=1}}

| Morgan Stevens (voice)

2013

| {{sortname|The|Wiggles: Go Santa Go!|nolink=1}}

| Jay the Elf

| Video

2015

|{{sortname|The|Spa|nolink=1}}

| Ivan

| Short

2020

| {{sortname|The|Legend of Baron To'a|nolink=1}}

| George

2024

| KingsLand

| Bouncer

TBA

| Shadow Wars

| Dr. Keller

| Post-production

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"\| Notes
1984–1986 \| Heroes \| Ron Ualesi \| TV series
1987 \| Gloss \| Simon \| TV series
1988 \| Strangers \| Const. Campbell \| TV series
1989 \| {{sortname\|The\|Shadow Trader\|nolink=1}} \| Demo Worker \| Episode "1.2"
1992 \| {{sortname\|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 \| {{sortname\|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 \| {{sortname\|The\|Strip\|The Strip (Australian TV series)}} \| 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"
rowspan="2"\| 2018 \| Black Comedy \| Guest \| Episode: "3.4"
Fighting Season \| Siaosi Ulalei \| TV miniseries
2019 \| Hardball \| Mr. Butte \| Episode: "Impossible Mission"
2021 \| Doctor Doctor \| Graeme \| 1 episode
2022 \| Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga \| Captain Typho \| Video game

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"| Notes

1984–1986

| Heroes

| Ron Ualesi

| TV series

1987

| Gloss

| Simon

| TV series

1988

| Strangers

| Const. Campbell

| TV series

1989

| {{sortname|The|Shadow Trader|nolink=1}}

| Demo Worker

| Episode "1.2"

1992

| {{sortname|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

| {{sortname|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

| {{sortname|The|Strip|The Strip (Australian TV series)}}

| 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"

rowspan="2"| 2018

| Black Comedy

| Guest

| Episode: "3.4"

Fighting Season

| Siaosi Ulalei

| TV miniseries

2019

| Hardball

| Mr. Butte

| Episode: "Impossible Mission"

2021

| Doctor Doctor

| Graeme

| 1 episode

2022

| Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

| Captain Typho

| Video game

=Other appearances=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"\| Notes
1987 \| Spot On! \| Host \| TV series
rowspan="2"\| 2000 \| Russell Gilbert Live \| Himself \| Episode: "1.13"
Surprise Surprise \| Host \| Episode: "1.2"
2000–2014 \| Play School \| Himself \| TV series
2001 \| {{sortname\|The\|Big Time\|nolink=1}} \| Host \| TV series
2001–2002 \| StarStruck \| Host \| TV series
2002 \| Celebrity Big Brother \| Himself \| TV series
2007 \| Spicks and Specks \| Himself \| Episode: "3.34"
rowspan="2"\| 2010 \| 52 Annual TV Week Logie Awards \| Himself \| TV special
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"

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"| Notes

1987

| Spot On!

| Host

| TV series

rowspan="2"| 2000

| Russell Gilbert Live

| Himself

| Episode: "1.13"

Surprise Surprise

| Host

| Episode: "1.2"

2000–2014

| Play School

| Himself

| TV series

2001

| {{sortname|The|Big Time|nolink=1}}

| Host

| TV series

2001–2002

| StarStruck

| Host

| TV series

2002

| Celebrity Big Brother

| Himself

| TV series

2007

| Spicks and Specks

| Himself

| Episode: "3.34"

rowspan="2"| 2010

| 52 Annual TV Week Logie Awards

| Himself

| TV special

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"

Theatre

Laga'aia has appeared in numerous theatre productions. Laga'aia appeared in the musical Grease.{{Cite news|last=Snee|first=Peter J|date=2023-06-17|title=Patti Newton, Marcia Hines, Jay Laga'aia and more confirmed to star in GREASE musical|url=https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/patti-newton-marcia-hines-jay-lagaaia-and-more-confirmed-to-star-in-grease-musical/|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241204024807/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/patti-newton-marcia-hines-jay-lagaaia-and-more-confirmed-to-star-in-grease-musical|archive-date=2024-12-04|access-date=2025-05-06|work=AussieTheatre.com|language=en-US}} In 2025, Laga'aia appeared in the Hayes Theatre version of The Pirates of Penance.{{Cite web|last=Musa|first=Helen|date=2025-03-25|title=Jay leads the 'interactive' motley pirate crew|url=https://citynews.com.au/2025/jay-leads-the-interactive-motley-pirate-crew/|access-date=2025-05-06|website=Canberra CityNews|language=en-AU}}

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

!Ref

2013

|Wicked

|Ensemble

|Civic Theatre Auckland

|{{Cite news|last=James|first=Erin|date=2013-04-06|title=Wicked finds its Wizard: Jay Laga'aia confirmed for New Zealand|url=https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/wicked-finds-its-wizard-jay-lagaaia-confirmed-for-new-zealand/|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241107105229/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/wicked-finds-its-wizard-jay-lagaaia-confirmed-for-new-zealand|archive-date=2024-11-07|access-date=2025-05-06|work=AussieTheatre.com|language=en-US}}

2018

|Shrek the Musical

|Shrek

|{{Cite web|last=Bergman|first=Gabi|date=9 February 2018|title=Shrektacular chat with Jay Laga'aia|url=https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/features/shrektacular-chat-jay-lagaaia-luke-joslin/|access-date=6 May 2025|website=aussietheatre.com.au}}

2019

|Peter Pan Goes Wrong

|Lyric Theatre

|{{Cite web|last=Roe|first=Katrina|date=23 January 2019|title=Jay Laga'aia makes grown men laugh|url=https://hope1032.com.au/entertainment/ja-lagaaia-making-dads-laugh-in-hilarious-play-peter-pan-goes-wrong/|access-date=6 May 2025|website=hiope1023.com.au}}

2020

|Come Dance and Sing W/Jay Laga'aia

|Self

|Riverside Digital Theatre

2021

|Once

|Darlinghurst Theatre

|{{Cite web|last=Review|first=Arts|date=2021-05-10|title=Darlinghurst Theatre Company announces the 2021 Cast of ONCE|url=https://artsreview.com.au/darlinghurst-theatre-company-announces-the-2021-cast-of-once/|access-date=2025-05-06|website=Australian Arts Review|language=en-AU}}

2023-24

|Grease

|Vince Fontaine

|Adelaide Season

|{{Cite news|last=Theatre|first=Aussie|date=2024-06-17|title=Patti Newton, Jay Laga'aia and Paulini to perform in Adelaide season of GREASE|url=https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/patti-newton-jay-lagaaia-and-paulini-to-perform-in-adelaide-season-of-grease/|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240713215538/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/patti-newton-jay-lagaaia-and-paulini-to-perform-in-adelaide-season-of-grease|archive-date=2024-07-13|access-date=2025-05-06|work=AussieTheatre.com|language=en-US}}

2025

|The Pirates of Penzance

|Pirate King

|Hayes Theatre

|{{Cite web|last=Shand|first=John|date=2025-02-10|title=In this 'impossible' musical the cast has to do the lot|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/musicals/in-this-impossible-musical-the-cast-has-to-do-the-lot-20250202-p5l8wc.html|access-date=2025-05-06|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20130317001150/http://www.jaylagaaia.com.au/ Official website]
{{IMDb name|0481092|Jay Laga'aia}}

Category:1963 births

Category:Australian male film actors

Category:Australian people of Samoan descent

Category:Australian male television actors

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand male film actors

Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent

Category:New Zealand male television actors

Category:Naturalised citizens of Australia

Category:New Zealand emigrants to Australia

Category:Actors of Samoan descent

Category:Australian children's television presenters

Category:New Zealand children's television presenters

Category:People from Māngere