Jay Laga'aia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay Laga'aia
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Laga'aia in Florida, June 2009
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| Born | 10 September 1963 |
| Nationality | New Zealand, Australian |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Sandie Jane Laga'aia
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 8 |
Jay Laga'aia was born on September 10, 1963. He is a talented actor and singer from New Zealand and Australia. Many people around the world know him for playing Captain Typho in the Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith movies.
Jay Laga'aia has also been in many TV shows. He played Senior Constable Tommy Tavita in the Australian police show Water Rats. He was also David Silesi in the New Zealand legal show Street Legal. Later, he joined the cast of the popular Australian soap opera Home and Away as Elijah Johnson.
He even had his own children's TV show called Jay's Jungle, which aired from 2015 to 2018. Kids in Australia also know him well from the long-running children's program Play School.
Contents
What is Jay Laga'aia's Career Like?
Jay Laga'aia started his music career in 1982. He was part of a group called the Consorts. They released a song called "Maoris on 45". This song was one of the best-selling songs in New Zealand that year.
He is very famous for his work on the Australian children's TV show Play School. He is also known for his role as Captain Typho in the Star Wars movies. Jay Laga'aia also appeared in three episodes of the TV series Xena: Warrior Princess as a character named Draco.
Jay Laga'aia has been a regular on many Australian TV shows. These include Water Rats and Play School. He was also a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. He had a guest role as Gabriel in McLeod's Daughters.
He has also performed in many stage shows. One of his well-known roles was in The Lion King. In 1994, he played Judas in a New Zealand show of Jesus Christ Superstar.
On October 9, 2007, Jay Laga'aia released a children's music album. It was called Come Dance and Sing. He also performed at Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve in 2008. From 2008, he narrated all the characters in the children's show Larry the Lawnmower for two seasons.
In November 2009, Jay Laga'aia joined the cast of Home and Away. He played Reverend Elijah Johnson until February 2012. He released his second children's CD, I Can Play Anything, in August 2010.
In 2009, Jay Laga'aia became an Ambassador for the Touched by Olivia Foundation. This foundation helps create safe play spaces for children. In 2012, he became an Ambassador for kindergartens in Queensland, Australia.
He released two more albums in 2012. One was a Christmas album called Christmas at Jays Place. The other was a nursery rhyme album called 10 in the Bed. He also created music for a picture book called 'Baby Elephant Walk'.
Jay Laga'aia returned to the stage in 2013 and 2014. He played the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This was for the New Zealand and Australia tour of the musical Wicked. In 2019, he was part of the Australian tour of Peter Pan Goes Wrong.
What is Jay Laga'aia's Personal Life Like?
Jay Laga'aia was born and grew up in Māngere, South Auckland, New Zealand. His younger brother, Frank Laga'aia, was a member of the band Ilanda. This band won an ARIA Music Award.
Jay is also a member of the 501st Legion. This is a group of people who dress up as characters from Star Wars. He is part of the Terror Australis Garrison in Australia.
Since 1990, Jay Laga'aia has been married to Sandra Jane Laga'aia. She is a deputy principal at Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus. They have eight children together. Their daughter Catherine is also a child actress. In June 2024, she was chosen to play the main character in the 2026 live-action movie Moana.
Jay Laga'aia's Music Albums
Jay Laga'aia has released several albums, mostly for children.
- Come Dance and Sing (2007)
- Carnival of the Animals (2009) - with Justine Clarke & Georgie Parker
- I Can Play Anything (2010)
- Ten in the Bed (2013)
- Christmas at Jay's Place (2013)
- Family Time (2014)
- Rumble, Rumble! Songs From the Jungle (2015)
Jay Laga'aia in Movies and TV Shows
Jay Laga'aia has acted in many movies and TV shows.
Movies
- The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey (1988) as Jay
- Never Say Die (1988) as Bruce
- Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) as Gregar Typho
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) as Gregar Typho
- Solo (2006) as Vincent
- Crooked Business (2008) as Pickaxe
- Daybreakers (2009) as Senator Wes Turner
- The Wiggles: Go Santa Go! (2013) as Jay the Elf
- The Legend of Baron To'a (2020) as George
- KingsLand (2024) as Bouncer
Television Shows
- Heroes (1984–1986) as Ron Ualesi
- Gloss (1987) as Simon
- Xena: Warrior Princess (1995, 1997, 2000) as Draco
- Water Rats (1996–2001) as Senior Const. Tommy Tavita
- Street Legal (2000–2003) as David Silesi
- All Saints (2005–2006) as Michael Stevenson
- McLeod's Daughters (2007) as Gabriel
- Larry the Lawnmower (2008–2010) as Narrator
- Legend of the Seeker (2008–2009) as Chase Brandstone
- Bed of Roses (2008–2011) as Nick Pickering
- Home and Away (2010–2012) as Elijah Johnson
- Jay's Jungle (2015–2018) as Jay
- Drop Dead Weird (2017) as Announcer
- Black Comedy (2018) as Guest
- Fighting Season (2018) as Siaosi Ulalei
- Hardball (2019) as Mr. Butte
- Doctor Doctor (2021) as Graeme
- Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (2022) as Captain Typho (video game)
Other TV Appearances
- Spot On! (1987) as Host
- Surprise Surprise (2000) as Host
- Play School (2000–2014) as Himself
- StarStruck (2001–2002) as Host
- Celebrity Big Brother (2002) as Himself
- Spicks and Specks (2007) as Himself
- Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation (2011) as Himself
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2017) as Himself (Series 3)
Jay Laga'aia's Theatre Roles
Jay Laga'aia has performed in many theatre productions.
- Wicked (2013) as Ensemble
- Shrek the Musical (2018) as Shrek
- Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2019)
- Come Dance and Sing W/Jay Laga'aia (2020) as Self
- Once (2021)
- Grease (2023-2024) as Vince Fontaine
- The Pirates of Penzance (2025) as Pirate King
See also
In Spanish: Jay Laga'aia para niños
