Temuera Morrison

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Temuera Morrison

Temuera Morrison (born December 26 1960) is an actor (of Māori Descent) from Ohinemutu, Rotorua, New Zealand, known for his lead role as Jake the Muss in Once Were Warriors (1994) and as Dr Ropata in the first season of TV soap opera Shortland Street. Morrison's Shortland Street character, Dr Ropata, has been imortalised in the infamous line "You're not in Guatemala now, Dr Ropata!". Trained in drama under the New Zealand Special Performing Arts Training Scheme, one of his earliest roles was in the film Never Say Die (1990) opposite Lisa Eilbacher. He has appeared in a supporting role in Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997).

In recent years, he has received much popularity from his role as Jango Fett in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002). As his character Jango was the source for the clone army in Episode II, Temuera supplies the voices for the clones in both that film and in Revenge of the Sith, where he also appeared as a number of clone pilots and Commander Cody. Due to his being known as the voice of the clone army, he has lent his voice to a number of LucasArts games, such as playing the commando "Boss" in the game Star Wars: Republic Commando and as all the Clone troopers in Star Wars: Battlefront, a role he reprised in its sequel, Battlefront II.

In 2005, Morrison became the host of The Tem Show on New Zealand television.

Morrison is the nephew of legendary Māori entertainer Sir Howard Morrison. His secondary education took place at Wesley College, Auckland where he was Head Prefect in 1977.