Duane Evans Jr.

Duane Wichman-Evans Jr. (born 5 September 2003) is a New Zealand film and television actor. He is best known for portraying Michael Hampton-Rees, a recurring character in the TVNZ 2 prime-time soap opera and medical drama series Shortland Street (2015–2017). Evans also starred as Rotxo, a secondary character in the epic science fiction films Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025). He portrayed Royden in the 2020 action comedy feature film The Legend of Baron To'a, and Pahirua in the 2023 historical drama feature film The Convert. Evans starred as Rhino in the Netflix fantasy drama series Sweet Tooth (2021), as Michael, one of the main characters in the TVNZ+ young adult comedy miniseries Duckrockers (2022), and as Dacus, a recurring character in the Starz historical drama series Spartacus: House of Ashur.

Biography Duane Wichman-Evans Jr. is a New Zealand citizen of Māori and Cook Island descent, belonging to iwi (tribes) of Ngāti Whātua and Ngāpuhi. He grew up in Auckland, New Zealand.

Evans begun performing at the age of 3, starring in advertisements and as a child model. His first film role was Tee in a 2011 short film titled Ebony Society directed by Tammy Davis. He also starred in the 2011 documentary film Billy T: Te Movie, in which he portrayed Billy T. James as a child. In 2013, he received the award for the best male actor at the Wairoa Māori Film Festival in Nūhaka, New Zealand, for the role of Jacob in the short film I'm Going to Mum's. Evans starred as young Pi in the 2013 family drama feature film Fantail, and as Rawri in the 2014 sports drama television film The Kick. From 2015 to 2017, he portrayed Michael Hampton-Rees, a recurring character in the TVNZ 2 prime-time soap opera and medical drama series Shortland Street. Evans also appeared in the television series Tatau (2015), Power Rangers Ninja Steel (2017), and The New Legends of Monkey (2018). His scenes were filmed between 2017 and 2018.

Private life Evans lives in Auckland, New Zealand. He is fluent in English and Māori, and also speaks Cook Islands Māori. Evans is also a competitive kapa haka performer.

Filmography Films

Television series

Accolades + Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2013 Wairoa Māori Film Festival Awards Best Male Actor I'm Going to Mum's