Cliff Curtis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cliff Curtis
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Curtis in 2018
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Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis
July 27, 1968 Rotorua, New Zealand
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| Alma mater | Toi Whakaari (1989) |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Toby Curtis (uncle) |
Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis (born July 27, 1968) is a talented actor and film producer from New Zealand. He is well-known for his many roles in both New Zealand and international movies and TV shows. Cliff Curtis has won several awards for his acting, including four New Zealand Film Awards.
Some of his most famous roles include playing Tonowari in Avatar: The Way of Water and the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, James "Mac" Mackreides in The Meg and Meg 2: The Trench, and Travis Manawa in the TV series Fear the Walking Dead. He also appeared in big Hollywood films like Training Day, Live Free or Die Hard, and Doctor Sleep.
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Early Life and Background
Cliff Curtis was born on July 27, 1968, in Rotorua, New Zealand. He grew up in a big family with seven brothers and sisters. Cliff is of Māori descent, which means he comes from the native people of New Zealand. His family tribes are Te Arawa and Ngāti Hauiti.
When he was a boy, Cliff learned mau rākau, a traditional Māori fighting style using a long staff called a taiaha. He learned this from a respected Māori elder named Mita Mohi on Mokoia Island. This training helped him become a good performer in kapa haka, which are traditional Māori performing arts. Later, he also enjoyed breakdancing and competing in rock 'n' roll dance contests. He studied acting at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and graduated in 1989.
Acting Career Highlights
Cliff Curtis has had a long and successful career, starting in New Zealand and then moving on to international films and television.
Starting in New Zealand Films
Cliff began his acting journey in plays and musicals. His first movie role was a small part in the Oscar-winning film The Piano (1993). He then gained a lot of attention for his role in Once Were Warriors (1994), which became one of the most popular films in New Zealand. He also starred in the internationally loved movie Whale Rider (2002), playing the father of the main character.
In 2014, Cliff Curtis played the main role in a film called The Dark Horse. Many people in New Zealand called it one of the best films ever made there. He played a real-life chess player and coach named Genesis Potini. For this role, Cliff learned chess and even gained weight to look more like the character.
Producing Films in New Zealand
Cliff Curtis is not just an actor; he's also a producer! In 2004, he started his own film production company called Whenua Films with a producer named Ainsley Gardiner. Their main goal is to help grow the film industry in New Zealand, especially for movies made by Māori filmmakers. They have produced several short films, including Two Cars, One Night, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005. They also produced Boy, which became the highest-earning New Zealand film ever.
International Film and TV Roles
Cliff Curtis has appeared in many well-known international movies. Some of these include Three Kings (1999), Training Day (2001), and Collateral Damage (2002) with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also played the main villain, Fire Lord Ozai, in The Last Airbender (2010).
On television, Cliff starred as Travis Manawa in the popular horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead from 2015 to 2017. He also had roles in shows like Trauma and Missing.
More recently, he joined the world of James Cameron's Avatar movies. He plays Tonowari, a leader of the Metkayina clan, in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and will appear in future Avatar films. He also played James "Mac" Mackreides in the action-packed shark movies The Meg (2018) and Meg 2: The Trench (2023). In 2019, he played Jonah Hobbs, the brother of Dwayne Johnson's character, in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.
In 2023, Cliff starred in the Netflix movie True Spirit, which tells the true story of Jessica Watson, a 16-year-old Australian sailor who sailed solo around the world. In 2024, he played the Greek god Poseidon in the Netflix series Kaos.
Personal Life
Cliff Curtis is married and has four children. He is a Roman Catholic. He has often spoken about how being an "ethnic" actor (meaning he can play characters from many different backgrounds) has been a great advantage in his career, giving him many wonderful opportunities.
Images for kids
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Cliff Curtis at the 2011 MIPCOM event in Cannes, France.
See also
In Spanish: Cliff Curtis para niños
