New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
actor and TV presenter, best known as one of the members of the
Naked Samoans
The Naked Samoans is a New Zealand comedy group made up of Polynesian entertainers, most of whom are Samoan. The group performs social humour and satire that attracts a broad audience, especially among white New Zealanders, without sacrificing th ...
.
Biography
Born in
Niue
Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tong ...
, Shimpal came to New Zealand at the age of four. He began acting at an early age, taking part in school productions. Theatre was the beginning of his professional career, and among his stage appearances was with the Naked Samoans in ''Naked Samoans Talk about Their Knives''. Shimpal has since stayed with the group in later productions. The latest of the show was in December 2006 entitled ''Naked Samoans Go Home (Again)''.
In 1999, Shimpal joined the core cast of the soap opera ''
Shortland Street
''Shortland Street'' is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital, first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992. It is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously ...
'', playing the role of Nurse Louie Iosefa. However, his most successful involvement with television has been ''
bro'Town
''bro'Town'' is a New Zealand adult animated comedy television series and sitcom that ran from 2004 to 2009. It starred David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Shimpal Lelisi and Oscar Kightley.
Overview
The main characters in the series are five 14 year o ...
''. Shimpal is credited as both voice actor and writer for the animated series with the three other original Naked Samoans. In 2006, he co-starred in the comedy film ''
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 ...
''. Shimpal also works as a TV reporter for Tagata Pasifika (which co-stars
Robbie Magasiva
Robbie Joseph Magasiva (born 21 May 1972) is a Samoan-New Zealander actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and in theatre, and was the co-presenter of New Z ...
).
In 2014 he was fined $900 and banned from driving for six months for drunk-driving.
Lelisi is a castaway on the 2022 series of the New Zealand reality television show ''Celebrity Treasure Island''.
Filmography
Film
Television
See also
*
List of New Zealand television personalities
This is a list of New Zealand television personalities, including presenters and journalists. It includes those who left the profession, retired, or died.
A
* Suzy Aiken – television personality and Prime News presenter
* Peter Arnett – te ...
NZ On Screen
NZ On Screen is a state-funded online promotional showcase of New Zealand television and film. Funded by NZ On Air, it provides free worldwide access to NZ-produced television, film and music videos. Content is streamed and the webpages provide ...