Bret McKenzie

New Zealand actor and musicianTemplate:SHORTDESC:New Zealand actor and musician

* Comedy
* folk
* acoustic
* Musician
* songwriter
* comedian
* actor
* music supervisor
* Guitar
* keyboard
* bass guitar
* drums
* vocals
* ukulele

**Bret Peter Tarrant McKenzie** ONZM (born 29 June 1976) is a New Zealand musician, comedian, music supervisor, and actor. He is best known as one half of musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords along with Jemaine Clement. In the 2000s, the duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an oft-lauded American television series, which aired for two seasons on HBO. Active since 1998, the duo released their most recent comedy special, *Live in London*, in 2018.

Primarily a musician, McKenzie has worked as a songwriter and music supervisor for film and television since the 2010s. He served as music supervisor for two Muppet films, *The Muppets* (2011) and *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), the former of which won him an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "Man or Muppet". In the 2000s, McKenzie was part of reggae fusion band The Black Seeds and Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, and, in the 2010s, he began performing solo material. His debut album *Songs Without Jokes* was released in August 2022.

As an actor, he portrayed elves in Peter Jackson's *The Lord of the Rings* and *The Hobbit* film trilogies: in the first he remained unnamed with fans naming him Figwit, a character originally cast as an extra who gained attention thanks to the trilogy's fan community. He later appears in *The Hobbit* as Lindir, a minor character who originally appears in the book of *The Fellowship of the Ring*.

 File:Flight of the Conchords @ Gramercy, 2007.jpg

## Early life

McKenzie was born in Wellington to Peter McKenzie, a part-time actor, and Deirdre Tarrant, a contemporary dance teacher. He was raised in Kelburn with his brothers Justin and Jonny. McKenzie attended Clifton Terrace Model School between 1982 and 1987 ("model" refers to a standard school for training teachers as opposed to modelling). His classmates at the school included Antonia Prebble and Age Pryor.

McKenzie then went on to Wellington College where he was a prefect and won the Wellington regional heats of the Smokefree Rockquest with his jazz and funk band, The Blue Samanthas.

## Career

### Flight of the Conchords

While studying at Victoria University of Wellington, McKenzie met Jemaine Clement, a fellow student who was also studying film and theatre. They didn't complete their degrees but ended up living together and first were members of So You're a Man, and then later forming Flight of the Conchords.

As Flight of the Conchords they have toured internationally and released four CDs: *Folk the World Tour* in 2002,*The Distant Future* (which won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album) in 2007, the Grammy nominated *Flight of the Conchords* in 2008, and *I Told You I Was Freaky* in 2009. The Conchords produced a six-part improvisational comedy radio program for the BBC and have appeared on *Late Night with Conan O'Brien*, the *Late Show with David Letterman* and *The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson*.

After a successful appearance in 2005 on HBOs *One Night Stand*, the Conchords were offered their own 12-part HBO series *Flight of the Conchords*. Its first season ran from June to September 2007, and its second season premiered on HBO 18 January 2009. Along with Clement, McKenzie was featured as 2007 Salon "Sexiest Man Living" and 2008's "100 Sexiest People" in a special edition of the Australian magazine *Who*. More recently, the duo toured in 2012, 2016, and 2018.

### Acting

McKenzie has acted periodically since making his professional acting debut in 2000, a small role in the UK series *Dark Knight* which was filmed in Wellington. Outside the Flight of the Conchords television adaption, he is most notable for his appearances in the first and third films in Peter Jackson's *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy. His silent role in the first film as Figwit achieved some minor internet fame, which led to Jackson giving him a line in the third film. His father Peter McKenzie played the role of Elendil in *Lord of the Rings*. In April 2011, McKenzie was cast as the elf Lindir for *The Hobbit*.

McKenzie, together with Australian comedian Hamish Blake, starred in a New Zealand feature film, *Two Little Boys*, finished in late 2011 and released in New Zealand in March 2012. He had a supporting role in the 2013 film *Austenland*.

Guest starring roles include him and fellow Conchord Clement as a pair of camp counselors in "Elementary School Musical", the season premiere of the 22nd season of *The Simpsons*, which aired on 26 September 2010, and other comedies.

### Music and songwriting for screen

McKenzie has contributed to a number of projects outside of Flight of the Conchords. In the late 1990s, McKenzie joined the reggae fusion group The Black Seeds; he put out four albums with band before leaving around 2007. The Black Seeds had some minor radio hits during his tenure, and continue to be regionally successful. In the mid-2000s, he released music under the name The Video Kid, including his album *Prototype*. In 2005, he helped form the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra which was active into the 2010s.

In the late 2010s, he began writing and recording solo material again, and later toured New Zealand in 2018 with a collective that included musicians Age Pryor and Nigel Collins.

During the summer of 2010, McKenzie flew to Los Angeles to serve as the music supervisor for *The Muppets*. He went on to write four of the five original songs from the film's soundtrack including "Man or Muppet" and "Life's a Happy Song" both of which were nominated for Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards and Satellite Awards for Best Original Song. At the 84th Academy Awards in 2012 his song, "Man or Muppet", won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

McKenzie then wrote the original songs for the 2014 movie *Muppets Most Wanted,* as well as songs for other children's films like *The Pirates! Band of Misfits* and *Dora and the Lost City of Gold*. Other credits include the 2016 Sainsbury's Christmas advert featuring James Corden on vocals. He has written songs for The Simpsons on numerous occasions.

McKenzie released his debut solo album, *Songs Without Jokes*, on Sub Pop in August 2022. The release will be followed with an extensive tour in New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, and North America. The album is inspired by the songwriting of Steely Dan, Randy Newman, and Harry Nilsson.

## Personal life

He is married to New Zealand publicist Hannah Clarke and currently maintains residences in Los Angeles, New York City, and Wellington. They have three children and mainly live in Wellington.

In the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, McKenzie was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music and film.

## Discography

### Solo

* *Prototype* (2004) (as The Video Kid)
* *Songs Without Jokes* (2022) – No. 40 New Zealand

### Collaborative

**The Black Seeds**

* *Keep On Pushing* (2001)
* *On the Sun* (2004)
* *Into The Dojo* (2006)
* *Sometimes Enough* EP (2007)

**Flight of the Conchords**

 File:Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra (2008)-01.jpg
* *Folk the World Tour* (2002)
* *The Distant Future* (2007)
* *Flight of the Conchords* (2008)
* *I Told You I Was Freaky* (2009)
* *Live in London* (2019)

**Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra**

* *The Heartache* EP (2007)
* *A Little Bit Wonderful* EP (2008)
* *The Dreaming* EP (2009)
* *I Love You...* EP (2010)

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Giant leap for Bret McKenzie". Stuff. 3 March 2012.
2. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Bret's McKenzie's biggest fans". Stuff. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
3. ↑ Sexiest Man Living 2007 (en) (15 November 2007).
4. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Vernon, Polly (8 March 2008). "The accidental sex gods". The Sydney Morning Herald.
5. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Barlow, Helen. "Interview: Jemaine Clement in People, Places, Things". SBS Movies.
6. ↑ Peter McKenzie (en).
7. ↑ Flight Of The Conchords' Bret McKenzie talks his role in 'The Hobbit' | NME (7 January 2012).
8. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Catanzariti, Katelyn (9 December 2010). "Hamish Blake to star with Bret McKenzie in Sarkies' Two Little Boys". *The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)*. News Corporation. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Strachan, Alex (2 August 2010). Gleeful over Glee: Cory Monteith to appear on The Simpsons. Canada.com.
10. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"The Black Seeds". NZ On Screen. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
11. ↑ The Black Seeds: 20 years on (en-NZ).
12. ↑ Video Kid.
13. ↑ WIUO - The Orchestra.
14. ↑ Oliver, Henry (16 November 2018). Bret McKenzie on Strange Caravan, his new band that isn't a band and isn't his.
15. ↑ Conchords star flies south. *Stuff* (9 December 2010).
16. ↑ Satellite Award for Best Original Song
17. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Tailor, Leena (4 April 2014). "Bret McKenzie's most wanted". NZ Herald.
18. ↑ The Sainsbury's Christmas ad has landed and it comes with a few surprises (14 November 2016).
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie Plans Debut Solo Album (en-US) (2022-05-11).
20. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Lewis, Rebecca (22 March 2009). "Bride of the Conchord - Bret marries childhood sweetheart". *New Zealand Herald*. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
21. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Conchord has wings clipped". Fairfax New Zealand. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
22. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Smith, Jacqueline (5 November 2009). "Fatherhood keeps 'Conchords' stars busy". *New Zealand Herald*. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
23. ↑ Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee honours list 2012. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (4 June 2012).
24. ↑ Flight of the Conchords.
25. ↑ Flight of the Conchords.
26. ↑ Grammy Award Results for Bret McKenzie.
27. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Conchords miss out on awards". 31 January 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 McNary, Dave (4 April 2011). 'Conchords' star McKenzie an elf in 'The Hobbit'. *Variety*. Penske Media Corporation.
29. ↑ Vernon, Polly (9 February 2008). The accidental sex gods. *The Observer*. Guardian Media Group.
30. ↑ Sternbergh, Adam (17 November 2011). On Composing for Kermit the Frog. *The New York Times*.
31. ↑ Weintraub, Steve (5 November 2012). THE MUPPETS Sequel Update: Filming Begins in Late January at Pinewood Studios in London; Bret McKenzie Writing New Songs. *Collider*. Demand Media Entertainment.
32. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Fritz, Ben (15 January 2013). "Disney cancels 'Little Mermaid 3-D,' dates 'Pirates 5' for 2015". *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
33. ↑ Kit, Borys (8 January 2013). Tina Fey in Talks to Join Disney's 'Muppets' Sequel (Exclusive). *The Hollywood Reporter*. Prometheus Global Media.
34. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Kit, Borys (27 July 2015). "Michael Chabon to Write Disney's 'Bob the Musical' (Exclusive)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
35. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Crittenton, Anya (8 August 2016). "BRET MCKENZIE OF FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS WRITING FANTASY FILM FOR WARNER BROS. (EXCLUSIVE)". *The Tracking Board*. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
36. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Bret McKenzie to Develop New Film Adaptation of 'Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas'". *Film Music Reporter*. 21 October 2019.
37. ↑ NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ (5 September 2022).

## External links

Template:Commons

* Bret McKenzie at IMDb
* Flight of the Conchords Official Site
* What The Folk! Flight of the Conchords fan site
* BBC Radio 2
* Flight of the Conchords Official MySpace

Template:Authority control

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