Bret McKenzie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bret McKenzie ONZM
McKenzie at the Muppets Most Wanted premiere on March 11, 2014.
Background information
Birth name	Bret Peter Tarrant McKenzie
Also known as	Rhymenoceros
Born	(1976-06-29) 29 June 1976 (age 49) Wellington, New Zealand
Genres	Comedy Folk Acoustic
Occupation(s)	Musician Songwriter Comedian Actor Music supervisor
Instruments	Guitar Keyboard Bass guitar Drums Vocals Ukulele
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Sub Pop
Associated acts	Jemaine Clement Flight of the Conchords Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra The Black Seeds So You're a Man Video Kid The Muppets
Relatives	Deirdre Tarrant (mother) Peter McKenzie (father)

Bret Peter Tarrant McKenzie (born June 29, 1976) is a musician, comedian, and actor from New Zealand. He is famous for being one half of the musical comedy group Flight of the Conchords, along with his partner Jemaine Clement. Their funny songs and comedy led to a popular BBC radio show and a TV series on HBO in the United States.

Besides comedy, McKenzie is a talented musician. He has worked as a songwriter and music supervisor (someone who chooses music for movies and TV shows). He worked on two Muppet movies, The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014). He even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for his song "Man or Muppet" from the first film.

As an actor, you might recognize him from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. He played an elf named Figwit in The Lord of the Rings. The character was just an extra at first, but fans loved him so much that he was given a line in the third movie. He later played another elf, Lindir, in The Hobbit.

Bret McKenzie (left) with his partner Jemaine Clement performing as Flight of the Conchords in 2007.

Early Life and School

Bret McKenzie was born in Wellington, New Zealand. His father, Peter McKenzie, was an actor, and his mother, Deirdre Tarrant, was a dance teacher. He grew up in the suburb of Kelburn with his two brothers.

He attended Wellington College, where he was a student leader known as a prefect. During his school years, he was part of a jazz and funk band called The Blue Samanthas. The band won a regional music competition called the Smokefreerockquest.

Career Highlights

Flight of the Conchords

McKenzie met Jemaine Clement at Victoria University of Wellington, where they were both studying film and theater. They became friends, lived together, and started the comedy duo Flight of the Conchords.

The duo became very successful. They toured around the world and released four albums. In 2007, their album The Distant Future won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. They also had their own TV show on HBO called Flight of the Conchords, which ran for two seasons. The show was about two shepherds from New Zealand trying to become famous musicians in New York City.

Acting Roles

McKenzie has appeared in several movies and TV shows. His most famous roles are the elves he played in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. Interestingly, his father, Peter McKenzie, also had a role in The Lord of the Rings as the character Elendil.

In 2011, McKenzie was officially cast as the elf Lindir in The Hobbit. He also starred in the New Zealand movie Two Little Boys and had a role in the 2013 film Austenland. He has also been a guest star on the TV show The Simpsons.

Music and Songwriting

McKenzie is a skilled songwriter and has worked on music for many movies. He was the music supervisor for The Muppets, where he wrote four of the five original songs. His song "Man or Muppet" won an Academy Award, which is a huge honor for a songwriter.

He also wrote songs for the sequel, Muppets Most Wanted, and for other kids' movies like Dora and the Lost City of Gold. In 2022, he released his first solo album, called Songs Without Jokes. The album was inspired by musicians like Steely Dan and Randy Newman.

Before his solo work, McKenzie was part of other bands. He was in a reggae group called The Black Seeds and the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra in 2008. McKenzie is on the far left.

Personal Life

McKenzie is married to Hannah Clarke, a publicist from New Zealand. They have three children and live mostly in Wellington, but also have homes in Los Angeles and New York City.

In 2012, he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his work in music and film. This is a special honor given by the government of New Zealand.

Filmography

Flight of the Conchords

As Actor

As Composer and Music Director

Discography

Solo Albums

• Prototype (2004) (as The Video Kid)
• Songs Without Jokes (2022)

With The Black Seeds

• Keep On Pushing (2001)
• On the Sun (2004)
• Into the Dojo (2006)

With Flight of the Conchords

• Folk the World Tour (2002)
• The Distant Future (2007)
• Flight of the Conchords (2008)
• I Told You I Was Freaky (2009)
• Live in London (2019)

With Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra

• The Heartache EP (2007)
• I Love You... EP (2010)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Bret McKenzie para niños