We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Profile image for Cliff Curtis

Cliff Curtis

Actor, Producer [Ngāti Hauiti, Te Arawa]

Cliff Curtis alternates a busy diet of acting in the United States (where he's forged a reputation as the actor to call on, for roles of varied ethnicity) with smaller scale New Zealand projects — including co-producing Taika Waititi smash Boy. His CV of Kiwi classics includes playing Pai's father in Whale Rider, Uncle Bully on Once Were Warriors, and bipolar chess champion Genesis Potini in The Dark Horse

I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with as much dignity and integrity as I can muster … I don’t want to make a fool of that cultural heritage. I represent them as I would represent my own. Cliff Curtis, in a 20 May 2014 interview with Slate website

Thumbnail image for Cliff Curtis: On his classic NZ movie roles...
Interview

Cliff Curtis: On his classic NZ movie roles...

Interview, 2014

Thumbnail image for ScreenTalk Short: Cliff Curtis
Interview

ScreenTalk Short: Cliff Curtis

Interview, 2018

Thumbnail image for Muru

Muru

2022, As: Sergeant Tuffy Tawharau, Executive Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for Herbs - Songs of Freedom

Herbs - Songs of Freedom

2019, Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen

Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen

2018, Executive Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for NZ Film Commission turns 40 - Past Memories

NZ Film Commission turns 40 - Past Memories

2018, Subject - Web

Thumbnail image for Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema

Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema

2016, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for 2016 Matariki Awards

2016 Matariki Awards

2016, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for This is Piki  - First Episode

This is Piki - First Episode

2016, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Once Were Warriors - Where Are They Now?

Once Were Warriors - Where Are They Now?

2014, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse

2014, As: Genesis Potini, Executive Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for Boy

Boy

2010, Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for Taua - War Party

Taua - War Party

2007, Executive Producer - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Coffee & Allah

Coffee & Allah

2007, Executive Producer - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Eagle vs Shark

Eagle vs Shark

2007, Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for Fat Freddy's Drop - Based on a True Story

Fat Freddy's Drop - Based on a True Story

2006, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for Frontseat - Series Two, Episode 10

Frontseat - Series Two, Episode 10

2006, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for Frontseat - Who Can Play Māori

Frontseat - Who Can Play Māori

2006, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for The Speaker

The Speaker

2005, Executive Producer - Short Film

Thumbnail image for The Tem Show

The Tem Show

2005, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for River Queen

River Queen

2005, As: Wiremu - Film

Thumbnail image for bro'Town

bro'Town

2004, 2007, As: Cliff Curtis - Television

Thumbnail image for Fracture

Fracture

2004, As: Detective Franklin - Film

Thumbnail image for Heinous Crime

Heinous Crime

2004, As: Pizza delivery man - Short Film

Thumbnail image for One Network News - 2004 Cannes Film Festival

One Network News - 2004 Cannes Film Festival

2004, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for Spooked

Spooked

2004, As: Mort Whitman - Film

Thumbnail image for Tama Tū

Tama Tū

2004, Producer - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Aroha - Irikura

Aroha - Irikura

2002, As: Tapu - Television

Thumbnail image for Whale Rider

Whale Rider

2002, As: Porourangi - Film

Thumbnail image for Mataku

Mataku

2002, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The Truth about Māori

The Truth about Māori

2000, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for Jubilee

Jubilee

2000, As: Billy Williams - Film

Thumbnail image for Beth's World

Beth's World

1997, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for The Game of Our Lives

The Game of Our Lives

1996, Readings - Television

Thumbnail image for City Life

City Life

1996 - 1998, As: Daniel Freeman - Television

Thumbnail image for Chicken

Chicken

1996, As: Zeke - Film

Thumbnail image for City Life - First Episode

City Life - First Episode

1996, As: Daniel Freeman - Television

Thumbnail image for The Game of Our Lives - Home and Away

The Game of Our Lives - Home and Away

1996, Readings - Television

Thumbnail image for Mananui

Mananui

1995, As: Mana - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Overnight

Overnight

1995, As: Jim - Television

Thumbnail image for Greenstone

Greenstone

1994, Actor - Music video

Thumbnail image for Once Were Warriors

Once Were Warriors

1994, As: Bully - Film

Thumbnail image for Desperate Remedies

Desperate Remedies

1993, As: Fraser - Film

Thumbnail image for The Piano

The Piano

1993, As: Mana - Film

Thumbnail image for Undercover

Undercover

1991, As: Zip - Television