# Jay Laga'aia

Jay Laga'aia (born 10 September 1963) is a New Zealand-Australian actor and singer. He is known internationally for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Laga'aia is noted for his television roles, including Senior Constable Tommy Tavita in the Australian police drama Water Rats, lawyer David Silesi in the New Zealand legal drama Street Legal and Elijah Johnson in the long running Australian soap opera Home and Away.
He appeared in an Australian Children's TV Series called Jay's Jungle, which aired from 2015–2018. He is a regular feature on Australian kids program Play School.

## Career

Laga'aia debuted as a musician in 1982 as a member of the Consorts, who released the Dalvanius Prime-produced single "Maoris on 45", which was one of the top selling singles in New Zealand in 1982.
Laga'aia is known for his part on Australian children's TV show Play School, and also for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He played the recurring role of Draco in three episodes of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess.
Laga'aia was a regular in Australian television shows Water Rats, Play School, Surprise Surprise, and a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2002 and had a guest role as Gabriel in McLeod's Daughters. He is also known for his stage productions such as The Lion King. Laga'aia played the role of Judas in a 1994 production of Jesus Christ Superstar in New Zealand.
On 9 October 2007, Laga'aia released a children's album, Come Dance and Sing. On 24 December 2008, Laga'aia performed on Carols by Candlelight. Laga'aia narrated each of the characters on the children's show Larry the Lawnmower, which ran for 2 seasons starting in 2008. In November 2009, it was confirmed that Laga'aia had joined the cast of Australian soap opera Home and Away, as Reverend Elijah Johnson, until February 2012. Laga'aia released his second CD for children, I Can Play Anything, in August 2010.
In 2009 Laga'aia took on the role of Ambassador for the Touched by Olivia Foundation. In 2012 he was appointed as an Ambassador for kindergartens in Queensland.
In 2012 Laga'aia released two albums, a Christmas album entitled Christmas at Jays Place and a nursery rhyme album called 10 in the Bed. He also provided the music for Scholastic's picture book 'Baby Elephant Walk'.
He returned to the stage to play the role of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the 2013-14 New Zealand and Australia national tour of the acclaimed Broadway musical, Wicked. In 2019, he was part of the Australian tour cast of Peter Pan Goes Wrong.

## Personal life

Laga'aia was born and raised in Māngere, South Auckland, New Zealand. One of his younger brothers, Frank Laga'aia, was a member of the ARIA award-winning band Ilanda.
Jay is also a member of international costuming group the 501st Legion as a member of the Terror Australis Garrison (Australia).
Since 1990, Laga'aia has been married to Sandra Jane Laga'aia, one of the deputy principals at Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus, with whom he has eight children. Their daughter Catherine is a child actress. In June 2024, she was cast as the titular character in the 2026 live-action film Moana.

## Discography
### Albums

List of albums, with Australian chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | AUS |
| Come Dance and Sing | Released: 2007 Format: CD Label: ABC for Kids (R-301489-2) | — |
| Carnival of the Animals (with Justine Clarke & Georgie Parker) | Released: 2009 Format: 2×CD Label: ABC Classics (ABC 476 3686) | — |
| I Can Play Anything | Released: 2010 Format: CD Label: ABC for Kids (R-301558-2) | — |
| Ten in the Bed | Released: 2013 Format: CD Label: ABC Music (3724803) | — |
| Christmas at Jay's Place | Released: 2013 Format: CD Label: ABC for Kids (3752424) | — |
| Family Time | Released: 2014 Format: CD Label: ABC for Kids (4071554) | — |
| Rumble, Rumble! Songs From the Jungle | Released: 2015 Format: CD Label: ABC Music (4716422) | — |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey | Jay | |
| 1988 | Never Say Die | Bruce | |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones | Gregar Typho | |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | Gregar Typho | |
| 2006 | Solo | Vincent | |
| 2008 | Crooked Business | Pickaxe | |
| 2009 | Lightswitch | Bo | Short |
| 2009 | Makazie One | Narrator (voice) | Short |
| 2009 | Daybreakers | Senator Wes Turner | |
| 2012 | The Unbroken | Morgan Stevens (voice) | |
| 2013 | The Wiggles: Go Santa Go! | Jay the Elf | Video |
| 2015 | The Spa | Ivan | Short |
| 2020 | The Legend of Baron To'a | George | |
| TBA | Shadow Wars | Dr. Keller | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984–1986 | Heroes | Ron Ualesi | TV series |
| 1987 | Gloss | Simon | TV series |
| 1988 | Strangers | Const. Campbell | TV series |
| 1989 | The Shadow Trader | Demo Worker | Episode "1.2" |
| 1992 | The Other Side of Paradise | Mana | TV miniseries |
| 1993 | Soldier Soldier | Sgt. Bob Gilligan | Episodes: "Shifting Sands", "Live Fire" |
| 1994 | High Tide | Buck Walton (voice) | Episode: "Hot Rocks" |
| 1995 | Mysterious Island | Tenape | Episodes: "No One Rules Me", "He's Not Heavy", "Make Yourselves a Home" |
| 1995, 1997, 2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Draco | Episodes: "Sins of the Past", "A Comedy of Eros", "Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire" |
| 1996–2001 | Water Rats | Senior Const. Tommy Tavita | Supporting role (series 1–5) |
| 1998 | The Violent Earth | Jean-Christian | TV miniseries |
| 2000 | Green Sails | Maru | TV film |
| 2000–2003 | Street Legal | David Silesi | Main role |
| 2005–2006 | All Saints | Michael Stevenson | Episodes: "In Sickness and in Health", "Till Death Do Us Part" |
| 2007 | McLeod's Daughters | Gabriel | Episode: "A Spark from Heaven" |
| 2008 | The Strip | Joe Tahore / Frogman | Episode: "1.3" |
| 2008–2010 | Larry the Lawnmower | Narrator | TV series |
| 2008–2009 | Legend of the Seeker | Chase Brandstone | Episodes: "Prophecy", "Destiny", "Hartland", "Conversion" |
| 2008–2011 | Bed of Roses | Nick Pickering | Main role |
| 2010–2012 | Home and Away | Elijah Johnson | Regular role |
| 2015–2018 | Jay's Jungle | Jay | Main role |
| 2017 | Drop Dead Weird | Announcer | Episode: "The Zombie Spectacular" |
| 2018 | Black Comedy | Guest | Episode: "3.4" |
| 2018 | Fighting Season | Siaosi Ulalei | TV miniseries |
| 2019 | Hardball | Mr. Butte | Episode: "Impossible Mission" |

### As himself

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Spot On! | Host | TV series |
| 2000 | Russell Gilbert Live | Himself | Episode: "1.13" |
| 2000 | Surprise Surprise | Host | Episode: "1.2" |
| 2000–2014 | Play School | Himself | TV series |
| 2001 | The Big Time | Host | TV series |
| 2001–2002 | StarStruck | Host | TV series |
| 2002 | Celebrity Big Brother | Himself | TV series |
| 2007 | Spicks and Specks | Himself | Episode: "3.34" |
| 2010 | 52 Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Himself | TV special |
| 2010 | Sleek Geeks | Himself | Episode: "Weeing" |
| 2011 | Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation | Himself | Episode: "3.12" |
| 2017 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | Himself | Series 3 |
| 2020 | The Living Room | Himself — Guest | Episode: "9.10" |