# David Fane

David Rodney Fane (born 28 December 1966) ONZM is a New Zealand actor.

## Early life and education

Fane was educated at St. Pauls College in Grey Lynn.

## Career

Fane got into acting quite late and trained at the New Zealand Drama School Toi Whakaari, graduating with a Diploma in Acting in 1992, which he upgraded to a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) in 2003.
He first appeared on television in a sketch comedy show called SKITZ alongside future Naked Samoans, Oscar Kightley and Robbie Magasiva. He then did the sitcom spinoff The Semisis, in which he played the father and the minister. In 2004 he performed in a play written by Oscar Kightley and Dave Andrews called Niu Sila. The play won the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Outstanding New Zealand Play of the Year. Fane was a founding member of Naked Samoans. He played a leading role in Sione's Wedding. Other roles include parts in The Tattooist, bro'Town, Outrageous Fortune and the lead role in Diplomatic Immunity.
Fane is part host on the TV2 series Island Wars and morning host for the New Zealand radio station Flava 95.8 for 10 years.
In 2016, Fane was awarded the Emerging Pacific Artist award with Oscar Kightley at the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifka Awards. In the 2023 New Year Honours, Fane was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the performing arts.

## Controversy

In 2010, at the inaugural Radio Roast, Fane pushed insult comedy boundaries when roasting advertising executives in front of a celebrity audience. He said that "Hitler had a right", people living with HIV deserved to be "roasted", and "Jews were expendable". The media, taking the incident out of context, suggested it was a drunken tirade when in fact it was in line with the theme of the night, a risque comedy Roast and Fane was explicitly instructed on what line to take. Fane abjectly apologised to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) and New Zealand Jewish Council. Both organisations accepted his apology on behalf of their communities.

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |

### Film

List of films :
| Title | Year | Role | Director | Notes |
| Tongan Ninja | 2002 | Herman the Henchman | Jason Stutter | Feature film |
| The Legend of Johnny Lingo | 2003 | Kata | Steven Ramirez | Feature film |
| Sione's Wedding | 2006 | Bolo / Paul | Chris Graham | Feature filmDouble role |
| Eagle vs Shark | 2007 | Eric Elisi | Taika Waititi | Feature film |
| The Tattooist | 2007 | Mr. Va'a | Peter Burger | Feature film |
| Love Birds | 2011 | Kanga | Paul Murphy | Feature film |
| Sione's 2: Unfinished Business | 2012 | Bolo / Paul | Simon Bennett | Feature filmDouble role |
| Gary of the Pacific | 2017 | Dad | thedownlowconcept | Feature film |
| Next Goal Wins | 2023 | Ace | Taika Waititi | Feature film |
| Moana 2 | 2024 | Kele (voice) | David Derrick Jr. Jason Hand Dana Ledoux Miller | Animated film |

### Television

List of programs television :
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Skitz | 1993—1995 | Various characters | Television series |
| Telly Laughs | 1996 | Various characters | Television series |
| The Semisis | 1998 | Dad | Television series |
| Target | 1999 | Theo | Television series |
| Revelations - The Initial Journey | 2002—2003 | Mr. Davies | 26 episodes |
| The Strip | 2002—2003 | Jack Sione | 4 episodes |
| Bro'Town | 2004—2009 | Jeff da Maori / Additional voices / Brother Ken / Pepelo Pepelo / Rodney McCorkenstein-Taifule 'Mack' / Agnes Tapili / Rodney McCorkenstein-Taifule (Mack) / Abercrombie Cornelius Smith the third / Wong Wong / Mack / Motorcycle / Boy / Rodney McCorkenstein-Taifule / Roger | 27 episodes |
| The Market | 2005 | Tu'u Lima | 10 episodes |
| Outrageous Fortune | 2005—2010 | Falani | 40 episodes |
| Diplomatic Immunity | 2005—2009 | Jonah Fa'auigaese | 10 episodes |
| Island Wars | 2009 | Co-host | |
| Radiradirah | 2010 | Judas / Roimata | 1 episodes |
| 800 Words | 2015—2018 | Smiler | 16 episodes |
| Westside | 2015—2018 | Falani's Father / Falani Sr. | 2 episodes |
| The Brokenwood Mysteries | 2016 | Olson Siola | Episode: "The Killing Machine" |
| Wellington Paranormal | 2018 | Raymond St John | Episode: "Ghost" |
| Our Flag Means Death | 2022—2023 | Fang / Kevin | 10 episodes |

### Video games

List of video game :
| Year | Title | Character | Description | Ref(s) |
| 2023 | Hi-Fi Rush | Roquefort | Based action game developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game's story follows self-proclaimed "future rock star" Chai (voiced by Robbie Daymond in English and Hiro Shimono in Japanese), whose music player is accidentally embedded in his chest during experimental cybernetic surgery, allowing him to rhythmically fight and re-perceive the world through environmental synesthesia. Labelled a "defect" and hunted by the corporation that transformed him, Chai bands together with new friends to defeat the company's executives and put a stop to their plans. | |

### Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 2022 | Peabody Awards | Entertainment | Our Flag Means Death | Nominated | |