Jay Laga'aia

Jay Laga'aia (born 10 September 1963) is a New Zealand and Australian actor and musician. 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 was a regular feature on Australian kids program Play School.

Life and career Laga'aia was born and raised in Otara, South Auckland, New Zealand.

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 that year.

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. In New Zealand, he was the lead of the action series Street Legal. 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 Jay's 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 One of his younger brothers, Frank Laga'aia, was a member of the ARIA award-winning band Ilanda. In the early 2000s, he spent six months in Australia and six months in New Zealand, when Street Legal was in production. Their second-youngest child and daughter Catherine is a teen actress who was cast in June 2024 as the titular character in the 2026 live-action film Moana. Their second-eldest child and son Iosefa is an actor who has starred in many musical theatre productions, including the original Australian casts of Anastasia, Hamilton and Hadestown.

He is also a member of the international costuming group the 501st Legion as a member of the Terror Australis Garrison (Australia).

Discography Albums + List of albums, with Australian chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions 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 Notes1988 Jay 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 Makazie One Narrator (voice) Short Daybreakers Senator Wes Turner 2012 Morgan Stevens (voice) 2013 Jay the Elf Video 2015 Ivan Short 2020 George 2024 KingsLand Bouncer 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 Demo Worker Episode "1.2" 1992 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 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 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" Fighting Season Siaosi Ulalei TV miniseries 2019 Hardball Mr. Butte Episode: "Impossible Mission" 2021 Doctor Doctor Graeme 1 episode

Other appearances Year Title Role Notes 1987 Spot On! Host TV series 2000 Russell Gilbert Live Himself Episode: "1.13" Surprise Surprise Host Episode: "1.2" 2000–2014 Play School Himself TV series 2001 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 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" 2022 Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Captain Typho Video game

Theatre Laga'aia has appeared in numerous theatre productions. Laga'aia appeared in the musical Grease. In 2025, Laga'aia appeared in the Hayes Theatre version of The Pirates of Penance.