Jay Laga'aia

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.

• Name — Jay Laga'aia • Born — 10 September 1963 • Birthplace — Auckland, New Zealand • Years Active — 1981–present • Occupation — Actor • Children — 8; including Catherine

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.

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. Laga'aia has a son named Jeremy from a previous relationship. Additionally, since 1990, he has been married to Sandra Jane Laga'aia, one of the deputy principals at Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus, with whom he has seven children. 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).

List of albums, with Australian chart positions • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • 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) — —

• Illustration — Jay Laga'aia performing

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1984–1986 — Heroes — Ron Ualesi — TV series • 1987 — Gloss — Simon — TV series • 1988 — Strangers — Const. Campbell — TV series • 1989 — The — Demo Worker — Episode "1.2" • 1992 — The — 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 — The — 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 — The — 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

• 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 — The — 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

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. • Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref • 2013 — Wicked — Ensemble — Civic Theatre Auckland • 2018 — Shrek the Musical — Shrek • 2019 — Peter Pan Goes Wrong — Lyric Theatre • 2020 — Come Dance and Sing W/Jay Laga'aia — Self — Riverside Digital Theatre • 2021 — Once — Darlinghurst Theatre • 2022 — The Deb — Mayor Jase — The Rebel Theatre • 2023-24 — Grease — Vince Fontaine — Adelaide season • 2025 — The Pirates of Penzance — Pirate King — Hayes Theatre

The following is established of the heading itself.

The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. It is also recorded that jay Laga'aia is recorded with the occupation actor. Recorded with the occupation film actor. It is also recorded that jay Laga'aia is recorded with the occupation singer. Recorded with the occupation television actor. It is also recorded that jay Laga'aia is recorded as a citizen of Australia. Institutional cataloguing adds that jay Laga'aia is recorded with the gender male. Born on 10 September 1963.