David Rodney Fane (born 28 December 1966) is a New Zealand actor of
Samoan descent.
Early life and education
Fane was educated at
St. Pauls College in
Grey Lynn.
Career
Fane got into acting quite late and trained at the New Zealand Drama School Toi Whakaari, graduating with a Diploma in Acting in 1992, which he upgraded to a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) in 2003.
He first appeared on television in a sketch comedy show called
SKITZ alongside future
Naked Samoans Oscar Kightley and
Robbie Magasiva. He then did the sitcom spinoff "The Semisis" in which he played the father and the minister. In 2004 he performed in a play written by
Oscar Kightley and Dave Andrews called ''Niu Sila''. The play won the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Outstanding New Zealand Play of the Year.
Fane was a founding member of
Naked Samoans. He played a leading role in
Sione's Wedding
''Sione's Wedding'' (also marketed outside New Zealand as ''Samoan Wedding'') is a 2006 New Zealand comedic film directed by Chris Graham and written by James Griffin and Oscar Kightley, and produced by South Pacific Pictures.
Plot
Set in Au ...
. Other roles include parts in
The Tattooist
''The Tattooist'' is a 2007 New Zealand horror film directed by Peter Burger and starring Jason Behr, Nathaniel Lees, Michael Hurst and Robbie Magasiva among others. The film is the first in a series of official co-productions between New Zealan ...
,
bro'Town,
Outrageous Fortune and the lead role in
Diplomatic Immunity.
Fane is part host on the TV2 series "Island Wars" and morning host for the New Zealand radio station
Flava 95.8 for 10 years.
In 2016, Fane was awarded the Emerging Pacific Artist award with
Oscar Kightley at the Creative New Zealand
Arts Pasifka Awards. In the
2023 New Year Honours
The 2023 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebration ...
, Fane was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the performing arts.
Controversy
In 2010, at the inaugural Radio Roast Fane pushed insult comedy boundaries when roasting advertising executives in front of a celebrity audience. He said that "Hitler had a right", people living with HIV deserved to be "roasted", and "Jews were expendable". The media, taking the incident out of context, suggested it was a drunken tirade when in fact it was in line with the theme of the night, a risque comedy Roast and Fane was explicitly instructed on what line to take. Fane abjectly apologised to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) and New Zealand Jewish Council. Both organisations accepted his apology on behalf of their communities.
[http://www.throng.co.nz/radiradirah/dave-fane-gets-roasted]
Filmography
Film
Television
References
External links
Dave Fane at tvnz.co.nz*
David Fane profile on NZ On Screen
1966 births
New Zealand people of Samoan descent
Actors of Samoan descent
New Zealand male film actors
New Zealand male television actors
People educated at St Paul's College, Auckland
Living people
Toi Whakaari alumni
Indigenous actors
Actors from Auckland
Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit
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