Jay Laga’aia
One of New Zealand’s most recognisable performers
Best known for his role as Captain Typho in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Jay Laga’aia continues to build on his reputation as one of New Zealand’s most prolific and recognisable faces in entertainment. A natural entertainer, Jay supplements his extensive acting career with an equally impressive discography spanning several ARIA-nominated albums with ABC Kids.
Jay was raised in a musical household in South Auckland, where he spent his teenage years touring in bands with his friends. Soon after, he was hired by his local council to be a music teacher for street kids, where he helped his students develop healthy and productive creative outlets.
Jay made his screen debut when he was featured on a short TV documentary as a music teacher. Shortly after, he was offered his first acting gig as a wannabe pop star in the 1984 series Heroes. Originally wanting to be an athlete, Jay realised he loved the performing arts and quickly pivoted his attention to acting. He has gone on to build an incredible list of acting credits, including on Xena: Warrior Princess, Home And Away, The New Adventures of the Black Stallion, as well as Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.
With this natural talent for performing on-screen, Jay has also hosted and appeared on a range of TV programs, including on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, Spicks and Specks, Play School, and as the host of Spot On!
Jay has recorded several ARIA-nominated children’s albums with ABC Kids and has also performed alongside the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras. He is passionate about sharing his love of music with audiences, touring his albums live across Australia and New Zealand.
Wanting to give back to his community, Jay was the ambassador for The Touched by Olivia Foundation for eight years. He worked closely with the non-profit organisation to build inclusive play spaces for children of all ages and abilities.
Jay is a popular MC and host thanks to his charismatic presenting skills. He is a natural performer, having worked as a musician and actor, and knows how to engage with audiences of all ages to create an event you won't forget.