Cliff Curtis

Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis was born on 27 July 1968 in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Curtis, from a Māori family, engaged in traditional Māori martial arts and dance during his youth.
After deciding to pursue an acting career, he completed his education at the prestigious New Zealand Drama School in his home country.
He then travelled to Switzerland to broaden his artistic vision, where he undertook intensive training in physical theatre at Teatro Dimitri.
The actor, whose career began on stage, made his cinematic debut with a small role in "The Piano" (1993), directed by Jane Campion and winner of three Academy Awards.
However, the production that transformed him into a recognised star in his home country and showcased his acting talent was New Zealand's cult classic "Once Were Warriors" (1994).
He further elevated his career to an international level with the role of Porourangi in the internationally acclaimed hit "Whale Rider" (2002), which carried traces of his own culture and earned him full marks from critics.

When he transitioned to Hollywood, his distinctive physical build and extraordinary acting versatility enabled him to carve out a rare career in the industry. Curtis became one of Hollywood's most successful "chameleon" character actors, convincingly portraying characters from Latin American, Arab, Indian, Chechen, and many other ethnic backgrounds over many years. He played key roles in major-budget productions such as "Three Kings" (1999), "Blow" (2001), the crime thriller "Training Day" (2001) alongside Denzel Washington, the science fiction film "Sunshine" (2007), and the action classic "Live Free or Die Hard" (2007). In addition to his consistent success in cinema, this talented actor made a significant impact in television, gaining a global fanbase through his portrayal of the lead character Travis Manawa in the popular post-apocalyptic series "Fear the Walking Dead" (2015–2017). In recent years, Curtis has frequently appeared in major studio action projects, including box-office hits such as "The Meg" (2018), "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" (2019), and "Reminiscence" (2021).

He achieved his most epic and pivotal role with master director James Cameron's box office record-breaking epic "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022). In this massive visual spectacle, Cliff Curtis brought to life Tonowari, the leader of the Metkayina ocean clan; he not only crowned his own talent but also secured roles in other upcoming sequels set for theatrical release, thereby solidifying his esteemed position within the international film industry.