George Henare
On stage, actor George Henare has played everyone from Lenin and King Lear, to Snoopy and Dracula. On screen, his extensive resume spans 70s TV landmark The Governor, 90s classic Once Were Warriors, and an award-winning role on 2010's Kaitangata Twitch.
Jarod Rawiri
Jarod Rawiri has played everyone from a sensitive nice guy (in his first big feature role, 2007‘s Jinx Sister) to Hōne Heke — his performance as the Ngāpuhi chief in TV's Waitangi: What Really Happened was nominated for a 2011 Aotearoa TV Award. Having acted in two short films for director Michael Bennett, the Toi Whakaari acting graduate went on to join ensemble drama Matariki, Bennett’s first movie. Rawiri played a grieving brother. He has also acted in quake series Hope and Wire, and was one of the soldiers in award-winning Taika Waititi short Tama Tū. In 2015 he joined soap Shortland Street, as Dad Mo Hannah.
Rawiri Paratene
Actor, writer and director Rawiri Paratene, ONZM, first sprang into the public eye on the iconic Play School and comedy shows like Joe and Koro. In 1999 he played gangmember Mulla Rota in the sequel to Once Were Warriors, and four years later was seen around the globe as the stubborn grandfather in Whale Rider. In 2010 he won further acclaim after starring in movie The Insatiable Moon.
Grant Tilly
Actor Grant Tilly, who died in April 2012, displayed his gifts for understated comedy in movies Middle Age Spread and Carry Me Back. The versatile Tilly had done it all — from acclaimed theatre performances (often in Roger Hall plays) to screen roles that took in everything from adventure movies and landmark historical dramas (The Governor), to children's TV, sitcoms (Gliding On), and many voice-overs.