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Robbie Magasiva

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Robbie Magasiva
Magasiva in 2013
Born
Robbie Joseph Magasiva

(1972-05-21) 21 May 1972 (age 52)
Wellington, New Zealand
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present
Spouse
Anna Magasiva
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2011)​
Partner(s)Alice Gordon
Natalie Medlock (2011–2022)
Children2
RelativesPua Magasiva (brother, deceased) and 4 siblings

Robbie Joseph Magasiva (born 21 May 1972) is a Samoan-New Zealander actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and in theatre, and was the co-presenter of New Zealand's Tagata Pasifika with famed athlete, Beatrice Faumuina. Magasiva is also known for his role on Shortland Street as Dr. Maxwell Avia, which he played from June 2009 to July 2012, and for his role as Will Jackson on the prison drama series, Wentworth (an adaptation of the women's prison drama Prisoner). Magasiva is the only male actor to appear in all 8 seasons; he appeared in all 100 episodes of the show.

Biography

Magasiva, born in Wellington, New Zealand, was raised in a small community west of Apia, Samoa called Tanumapua. His family moved back to New Zealand permanently when he was 10 years old.[1]

After leaving school, he tried his hand at theatre sports and acted in commercials while working as a receptionist at an advertising agency.[2]

Magasiva had his start on television during the 1990s, beginning with comedy. In 1999, he portrayed Mason Keeler in Jackson's Wharf. In 2001 he starred in his first major film, Stickmen, and joined the Naked Samoans. In 2002, he played Mauhúr in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He returned to television in the show The Strip, continued his work with the Naked Samoans, and made a minor appearance in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm, also starring his brother Pua as the brother of Pua's character of Shane Clarke. In 2006, Magasiva co-starred in Sione's Wedding, a comedy film that achieved commercial success in New Zealand. In 2007 he co-starred in the horror film The Tattooist.

Shortland Street

He joined the cast of Shortland Street as Dr. Maxwell Avia in 2009.[3] The character was originally called Maxwell Novak but changed to Avia to relate his Samoan descent.[4] He left the series in 2012; he later reprised his role for a one-off appearance in September 2015.

Wentworth

In October 2012, Magasiva was cast in the new Australian drama series Wentworth, a re-imaging of the classic show Prisoner. He plays Officer Will Jackson. The character's background was also changed when he was cast (originally meant to be an Australian officer).[5] In 2016, he guest starred in TVNZ's Dirty Laundry.[6]

In 2021, Magasiva stars on the Paramount+ Australia original series, Spreadsheet.[7]

Robbie in 2022 appeared alongside several members of the Wentworth cast at WentworthCon Melbourne.[8]

In 2023 Magasiva gave an extensive interview about his acting career with podcast series MandateNZ[9] where he revealed he almost quit acting to become a firefighter after he finished filming Wentworth.

Magasiva was named in the upcoming cast of NZ drama Madam [10]..

Personal life

Magasiva is the first son of Salafa and Taufaiula Ropati Magasiva. He has four brothers, Stevan, Miki, twins Pua and Tanu, and adopted sister Trina Magasiva. He inspired his younger brother (Pua) to become an actor, landing him an audition for an alcohol awareness commercial.[11] Brother Miki is an award-winning director who has worked in London and Australia and primarily directs commercials in New Zealand.[12]

Pua died aged 38 on 11 May 2019. As a result, Robbie Magasiva flew to Wellington to be with his family.[13] Later he opened up about the devastating loss of his brother and raised mental health awareness.[14]

He has two children, born in 1996 and 2000. Both reside in Auckland, and he looks after the kids week-on, week-off with their mother, Alice Gordon.[15]

In 2011, Magasiva began dating Shortland Street co-star, Natalie Medlock. They first met in 2009 while performing in a play called "Christ Almighty!".[16] Medlock recalls it was her costume that earned Magasiva's heart.[17] In 2015, the pair went on stage again with Christ Almighty with the Wentworth cast[18] to raise money for the homeless. The couple attributes love and therapy for their long-term relationship.[19]

Previously he was married to Anna Magasiva, whom he met while he was a receptionist.[20]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Tiger Country Television film
2001 Stickmen Jack
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Mauhúr
2006 Sione's Wedding Michael
In Her Line of Fire Petelo
2007 The Ferryman Craig (Man in Club)
The Tattooist Alipati
Perfect Creature Frank
2011 Tea Party Sanjay Short film
2012 Sione's 2: Unfinished Business Michael
Tatau Old Siaki Short film
Milk & Honey Constable Salevao Short film
2015 Now Add Honey Chef Sebastian Tasi
2021 Going Going Tim
2023 A Mistake Michael Gavin
Bad Behaviour Lawrence

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990–1991 Shark in the Park Uninformed branch 14 episodes
1993 Skitzo Various Characters
1996 Telly Laughs Various Characters
1998 The Semisis Lagi
1999 Jackson's Wharf Mason Keeler 9 episodes
2002–2003 The Strip Adam Lima 32 episodes
2003 Power Rangers: Ninja Storm Porter Clarke Episode: "Eye of the Storm"
2006 Doves of War Xavier Collins Episode: "Episode #1.6"
2008 Burying Brian Tony 2 episodes
2009 Diplomatic Immunity Prince To'omai 2 episodes
2009–2015 Shortland Street Maxwell Avia
2012 Auckland Daze Robbie 3 episodes
2013 Offspring Ugly Pete Episode: "Numbing the Pain"
2013–2021 Wentworth Will Jackson 8 seasons (100 episodes)
2016 Black Comedy Guest Cast Episode: "Episode #2.6"
Dirty Laundry Jackson 7 episodes
2019 Wentworth: Behind the Bars Self TV Special
2020 Wentworth: Behind the Bars 2
2021 Wentworth: Unlocked
Spreadsheet Jake Main character
2021-23 Under the Vines [21] Robert The Builder 3 Episodes
2022 My Life is Murder [22] Hamish 1 Episode
Duckrockers Ropati 4 Episodes
2023 MandateNZ[23] Self Podcast series 1 episode
2024 Madam [24]
202? Dark City-The Cleaner DI Carl Schroder

See also

References

  1. ^ "Robbie Magasiva heads for Hollywood". Stuff. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Watch Shortland Street On Demand". TVNZ. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Robbie is coming! « SHORTLAND STREET « tvnz.co.nz". Archived from the original on 23 May 2009.
  4. ^ "The Name Game". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017.
  5. ^ Morrell, McKenzie (14 September 2015). "'Wentworth' star Robbie Magasiva talks Season 3, Will/Bea relationship and pilot season in America". NoWhiteNoise. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Robbie Magasiva & Polly talk about Dirty Laundry". www.thehits.co.nz. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. ^ Molk, Steve (11 July 2021). "Spreadsheet commissioned as first Aussie production for Paramount+". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ ""The Wentworth community is very strong"". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  9. ^ Robbie Magasiva | Talking to a legend in NZ TV and film | Ep.51, retrieved 1 October 2023
  10. ^ "Rachel Griffiths to lead NZ dramedy 'Madam'". 29 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Pua Magasiva plays Santa in Shortland St special". Stuff. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  12. ^ says, H. P. (28 November 2022). "Eight director Miki Magasiva wins Best Director at the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand TV awards". Campaign Brief NZ. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  13. ^ Herald, N. Z. (11 May 2019). "Former Shortland Street star Pua Magasiva dead at 38". News.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  14. ^ "Robbie Magasiva Opens up About the Devastating Loss of His Beloved Brother Pua".
  15. ^ "New Zealand Woman's Weekly". Now To Love. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  16. ^ "The Basement Presents Christ Almighty | Scoop News".
  17. ^ "SnapChat: Natalie Medlock won Robbie Magasiva's heart by 'flashing her merkin'". 13 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Wentworth cast lend a hand for the homeless | TV Tonight". 26 November 2015.
  19. ^ "Depression, Anxiety and Devotion: Robbie Magasiva and Natalie Medlock on How Love and Therapy Saved Them".
  20. ^ "Doctor of comedy". Stuff. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  21. ^ "New Zealand Television: Under the Vines". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Australian Television: My Life is Murder: series 3 cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  23. ^ Robbie Magasiva | Talking to a legend in NZ TV and film | Ep.51, retrieved 29 May 2023
  24. ^ "Rachel Griffiths leads NZ dramedy Madam | TV Tonight". 29 September 2023.
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