Lani Tupu (born

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

, New Zealand), billed variously as Larney Tupu, John Tupu and Lani John Tupu, is a

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 coun ...

-born actor of Samoan and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

descent. Also known as Lani Tupu Jr.

Biography

Tupu was born in 1955 to an English mother and a Samoan father. Tupu was named after his father Lani Tupu. Tupu started acting in church plays. Tupu was educated at

Rongotai College Rongotai College is a state single-sex boys' secondary school in the southeastern suburb of Rongotai, Wellington, New Zealand. Serving Years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 18), the school has 622 students as of July 2015. About 40 per cent of the studen ...

and Wellington Teachers' Training College. He was awarded a

Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council The Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa (Creative New Zealand) is the national arts development agency of the New Zealand government, investing in artists and arts organisations, offering capability building programmes and developing markets ...

Bursary A bursary is a monetary award made by any educational institution or funding authority to individuals or groups. It is usually awarded to enable a student to attend school, university or college when they might not be able to, otherwise. Some awa ...

in 1977 to enter

New Zealand Drama School New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

. Tupu's father was also called Lani and was also an actor. When Tupu graduated drama school in 1979 he was the first Samoan to do so. He then moved to Auckland and was in the Theatre Corporate company for three years, and then two years at the

Mercury Theatre The Mercury Theatre was an independent repertory theatre company founded in New York City in 1937 by Orson Welles and producer John Houseman. The company produced theatrical presentations, radio programs and motion pictures. The Mercury als ...

. He got a lead role in TV series ''Country GP'' where he played a

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

doctor. Tupu moved to Australia to pursue other acting opportunities. Tupu's TV appearances include '' Impossible'' (1988), ''

Time Trax ''Time Trax'' is a science fiction television series that first aired in 1993. A police officer, sent two centuries into the past to a parallel Universe, must apprehend and return convicted criminals who have escaped prison in the future. This ...

'' (1993), ''

The New Adventures of Flipper ''Flipper'' (also known as ''Flipper – The New Adventures'') is an American revival television series of the original 1964 ''Flipper'' television series. The first two seasons aired in first-run syndication; Seasons 3 and 4 aired on the PAX netw ...

'' (1996), ''

Farscape ''Farscape'' is an Australian-American science fiction television series, produced originally for the Nine Network. It premiered in the US on Sci-Fi Channel's SciFi Friday, 19 March 1999, at 8:00 pm EST as their anchor series. The series was ...

'' (1999–2003), '' Stingers'' (2002/2004) and '' Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars'' (2004). His movie appearances include ''Send a Gorilla'' (1988), '' The Punisher'' (1989), ''

Marlin Bay ''Marlin Bay'' was a New Zealand one-hour drama television series which ran for 39 episodes from 1992 to 1994. The series was set in a fictional resort and casino in the picturesque far north of New Zealand. The series dealt with issues regarding ...

'' (1992), '' Heart of Fire'' (1997),''

Lantana ''Lantana'' () is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in ...

'' (2001), ''

Liquid Bridge ''Liquid Bridge'' is a 2003 Australian film starring Ryan Kwanten. The film concerns aspiring pro surfer Nick McCallum (Kwanten), who is held back from achieving fame by his disabled father. However, after being framed for smuggling drugs and j ...

'' (2003), and ''

Robotropolis ''Robotropolis'' is a science-fiction action adventure film written and directed by Christopher Hatton and starring Zoe Naylor, Graham Sibley and Edward Foy. Synopsis A group of reporters are covering the unveiling of a new facility that is compl ...

'' (2011). Tupu participated in the foundation of an Australian theatre group called ''The Walkers and Talkers'' along with other New Zealanders. Part of his work has involved as an acting coach and teaching in Australia and New Zealand. He also does voice work including on SBS. In 1993 he was in the premiere of John Kneubuhl's play ''Think of a Garden'' in Auckland directed by

Nathaniel Lees Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealand theatre actor and director and film actor of Samoan descent, best known for film roles in ''The Matrix Reloaded'', ''The Matrix Revolutions'' and '' The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' and for starring in ''You ...

, which reviewers compared to Bruce Mason's ''

The End of the Golden Weather ''The End of the Golden Weather'' is a play by Bruce Mason about a boy's loss of innocence in Depression-era New Zealand. It was written for solo performance by the author but can be performed by an ensemble and was made into an award-winning ...

'' as being iconic for New Zealand. His debut screen directing role was in New Zealand on ''Tala Pasifika'' in 1996, eight short films written by

Lisa Taouma Lisa-Jane Taouma is a Samoan New Zealand writer, film and television director, and producer. Background Taouma grew up Faleasiu and Tulaele in Samoa and migrated to Auckland, New Zealand. She has an MA (1st Hons) from the University of Auck ...

Mario Gaoa Mario Gaoa (born 1971) is a New Zealand actor, writer and director, best known as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy group. He is of Samoan descent. As part of the group he has appeared in the film Sione's Wedding; provided the voices of ...

Niu FM The Pacific Media Network is a New Zealand radio network and pan-Pasifika national broadcasting network, currently owned and operated by the National Pacific Radio Trust and partly funded by the Government. It includes the PMN 531 radio network, ...

radio host and star 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 ...

theatre company describes Tupu as one of one of three godfathers of Pacific theatre along with

Jay Laga'aia Jay Laga'aia (born 10 September 1963) is a New Zealand-Australian actor and singer. He is known internationally for his role as Captain Typho in the films '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'' and '' Star Wars: Episode III – Rev ...

and

Awards

1986 Listener Film and Television Awards – Nominated for Best Supporting Actor: for ''Send a Gorilla'' 1984 Feltex Awards – Best New Talent: for ''Country GP''

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tupu, Lani 1955 births Living people New Zealand male television actors New Zealand male film actors New Zealand male stage actors Australian male television actors Australian male film actors Australian male stage actors Toi Whakaari alumni People educated at Rongotai College Actors of Samoan descent New Zealand emigrants to Australia New Zealand people of Samoan descent New Zealand people of English descent