Jemaine Clement facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jemaine Clement
Clement in 2024
Born	Jemaine Atea Mahana Clement (1974-01-10) 10 January 1974 (age 51) Masterton, New Zealand
Other names	Hiphopopotamus, J-Dog, Mad Dog
Education	Victoria University of Wellington (BA)
Occupation	Actor comedian musician filmmaker
Years active	1994–present
Spouse(s)	Miranda Manasiadis ​ ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Comedy folk acoustic
Instruments	Bass guitar guitar percussion keyboards ukulele omnichord drums flute xylophone accordion vocals
Labels	Sub Pop
Comedy career
Medium	Stand-up film television music theatre books
Genres	Observational comedy satire black comedy self-deprecation musical comedy cringe comedy deadpan
Subject(s)	New Zealand culture race relations

Jemaine Atea Mahana Clement (born 10 January 1974) is a talented New Zealand actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker. He is well-known for being one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords with Bret McKenzie. They have released several albums and created a popular TV show called Flight of the Conchords for the BBC and HBO. This show earned him six Primetime Emmy nominations.

Jemaine has appeared in many films, including Men in Black 3 (2012) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). He has also lent his voice to animated movies like Moana (2016) and The Lego Batman Movie (2017). In 2014, he co-directed, co-wrote, and starred in the vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows with Taika Waititi. This movie later became a successful TV series.

Growing Up in New Zealand

Jemaine Clement was born on 10 January 1974 in Masterton, New Zealand. He grew up there with his mother, grandmother Maikara, and two brothers. His family was working-class. Jemaine is connected to the Ngāti Kahungunu Māori tribe through his mother. He is a direct descendant of the important leader Iraia Te Ama-o-te-rangi Te Whaiti.

His mother and grandmother greatly influenced his sense of humor. Even though he visited relatives at marae (Māori meeting grounds) and felt a strong connection to his Māori heritage, he mostly grew up speaking English. This was because the Māori language was not allowed in schools back then. Jemaine has shared his sadness about this, and how his grandmother faced difficulties for speaking te reo Māori (the Māori language) at school.

Jemaine went to Makoura College in Masterton. After school, he moved to Wellington to study drama and film at Victoria University of Wellington. There, he met Taika Waititi. They formed comedy groups like So You're a Man and The Humourbeasts. In 2004, The Humourbeasts toured New Zealand with a show called The Untold Tales of Maui, which retold traditional Māori legends. They won the Billy T Award, a top comedy honor in New Zealand. While at university, he also met Bret McKenzie, and they formed Flight of the Conchords.

Jemaine's Creative Journey

Music and Comedy

Clement in 2010

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, as Flight of the Conchords, have performed all over the world. They have released four CDs, including The Distant Future (2007), which won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 2008.

In 2005, they created a six-part comedy radio show for BBC Radio 2. They also appeared on popular American talk shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman. Their success led to their own 12-episode HBO TV series, Flight of the Conchords. The show ran for two seasons, from 2007 to 2009.

Film and TV Roles

Jemaine has acted in many movies. His first film was the kung fu comedy Tongan Ninja. He also worked with director Jason Stutter on Diagnosis: Death and Predicament. In 2009, he appeared in the American comedy Gentlemen Broncos, which earned him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.

In 2010, he voiced Jerry in Despicable Me. He also played Nigel in the animated films Rio (2011) and Rio 2 (2014). In 2012, he played the main villain, Boris the Animal, in Men in Black 3.

Jemaine co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows with Taika Waititi. This film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014. It was later turned into a successful TV series.

Clement at Fantastic Fest in 2009

Jemaine has also done voiceovers for many commercials in New Zealand. He even starred in Outback Steakhouse commercials in the US, pretending to be Australian. This was a funny nod to the friendly rivalry between New Zealand and Australia.

He has also worked on radio shows, winning awards for his writing. On television, he was a writer and cast member for New Zealand shows like Skitz and Tellylaughs. Jemaine and Bret McKenzie also guest-starred in "Elementary School Musical", an episode of The Simpsons in 2010.

In 2014, he played a prisoner in a Russian gulag in the film Muppets Most Wanted. In 2016, he voiced Tamatoa, a giant crab, in Disney's animated film Moana. He voiced the character in both English and the Māori version. He based Tamatoa's voice on the famous singer David Bowie.

In 2017, Jemaine played Oliver Bird in the FX TV series Legion. He also voiced Sauron in The Lego Batman Movie. In 2019, he appeared as a musician in the Belgian film Patrick.

Personal Life

Jemaine Clement never learned to drive because his family did not own a car when he was young. In August 2008, he married his long-time girlfriend, theatre actress and playwright Miranda Manasiadis. Their son, Sophocles Iraia, was born in October 2008 in New York City. His son is named after Miranda's Greek great-grandfather and Jemaine's ancestor, Iraia Te Ama-o-te-rangi Te Whaiti. The family lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

Film Roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2002	Ninja, TonganTongan Ninja	Fighter (Marvin), ActionAction Fighter (Marvin)	Also writer
2004	Attraction, FutileFutile Attraction	, EditorEditor
2007	vs Shark, EagleEagle vs Shark	, JarrodJarrod
2009	Broncos, GentlemenGentlemen Broncos	Chevalier, RonaldRonald Chevalier	Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
	Death, Diagnosis:Diagnosis: Death	Olyphant, GarfieldGarfield Olyphant
2010	Me, DespicableDespicable Me	the Minion, JerryJerry the Minion	Voice role
	, PredicamentPredicament	, SpookSpook
	for Schmucks, DinnerDinner for Schmucks	Vollard, KieranKieran Vollard
2011	, RioRio	, NigelNigel	Voice role; Nominated — Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production
2012	in Black 3, MenMen in Black 3	the Animal, BorisBoris the Animal	Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain
	Rhys Darby: This Way to the Spaceship	Spaceship	Recorded voice role
2014	We Do in the Shadows, WhatWhat We Do in the Shadows	, VladislavVladislav	Also director, writer and co-producer
	Most Wanted, MuppetsMuppets Most Wanted	King, PrisonPrison King	Cameo appearance
	, Rio 2Rio 2	, NigelNigel	Voice role
2015	Places Things, PeoplePeople Places Things	Henry, WillWill Henry
2016	& Clank, RatchetRatchet & Clank	Wannamaker, DallasDallas Wannamaker	Voice role
	BFG, TheThe BFG	Fleshlumpeater, TheThe Fleshlumpeater	Voice and motion capture
	, MoanaMoana	, TamatoaTamatoa	Voice role; also voiced the character in the 2017 Māori dub
2017	Lego Batman Movie, TheThe Lego Batman Movie	, SauronSauron	Voice role
	Me, HumorHumor Me	Kroll, NateNate Kroll
	Status, Brad'sBrad's Status	Wearsiter, BillyBilly Wearsiter
2018	Evening with Beverly Luff Linn, AnAn Evening with Beverly Luff Linn	Keith Threadener, ColinColin Keith Threadener
	Breaker Upperers, TheThe Breaker Upperers	Date, TinderTinder Date	Cameo appearance
	Festival, TheThe Festival	, RobinRobin
2019	, PatrickPatrick	, DustinDustin
2020	Used to Go Here, II Used to Go Here	Kirkpatrick, DavidDavid Kirkpatrick
2022	Go, Don't Make MeDon't Make Me Go	Angelo, DaleDale Angelo	Streaming film
	of Super-Pets, DC LeagueDC League of Super-Pets	, AquamanAquaman	Voice role
	The Way of Water, Avatar:Avatar: The Way of Water	Garvin, Dr. IanDr. Ian Garvin
2023	The Moon Is Upside Down	MacIntosh
2024	Thelma the Unicorn	Diamond, VicVic Diamond	Voice role; streaming film
	Harold and the Purple Crayon	, GaryGary
	Moana 2	, TamatoaTamatoa	Voice cameo; Mid-credits scene
2025	A Minecraft Movie		Post-production
	M3GAN 2.0		Post-production
	Avatar: Fire and Ash	Garvin, Dr. IanDr. Ian Garvin	Post-production
	Wildwood	Rex, OwlOwl Rex	Voice role; in production
TBA	I, Object	TBA	Post-production
	Rogue Trooper		Post-production
	Avatar 4	Garvin, Dr. IanDr. Ian Garvin	Pre-production

TV Appearances

Discography

Radio Work

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jemaine Clement para niños