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 Zealand's Tagata Pasifika with famed athlete, Beatrice Faumuina. Magasiva is also known for his role on Shortland Street as Dr. Maxwell Avia, which he played from June 2009 to July 2012, and for his current role as Will Jackson on the prison drama series, Wentworth, an adaptation of the iconic women prison drama Prisoner. Magasiva is the only male actor to appear in all 8 seasons.

Robbie Magasiva
Magasiva in 2013
Born	Robbie Joseph Magasiva (1972-05-21) 21 May 1972 Wellington, New Zealand
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Anna Magasiva (m. 2006 div. 2011)
Partner(s)	Alice Gordon Natalie Medlock (2011–present)
Children	2
Relatives	Pua Magasiva (brother, deceased) and 4 siblings.

Biography

Magasiva, born in Wellington, New Zealand, was raised in a small community west of Apia, Samoa called Tanumapua. His family moved back to New Zealand permanently when he was 10 years old.[1]

After leaving school, he tried his hand at theatre sports and acted in commercials while working as a receptionist at an advertising agency.[2]

Magasiva had his start on television during the 1990s, beginning with comedy. In 1999, he portrayed Mason Keeler in Jackson's Wharf. In 2001 he starred in his first major film, Stickmen, and joined the Naked Samoans. In 2002, he played Mauhúr in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He returned to television in the show The Strip, continued his work with the Naked Samoans, and made a minor appearance in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm, also starring his brother Pua as the brother of Pua's character of Shane Clarke. In 2006, Magasiva co-starred in Sione's Wedding, a comedy film that achieved commercial success in New Zealand. In 2007 he co-starred in the horror film The Tattooist.

He joined the cast of Shortland Street as Dr. Maxwell Avia in 2009.[3] The character was originally called Maxwell Novak but changed to Avia to relate his Samoan descent.[4] He left the series in 2012; he later reprised his role for a one-off appearance in September 2015. In October 2012, Magasiva was cast in the new Australian drama series Wentworth, a re-imaging of the classic show Prisoner. He plays Officer Will Jackson. The character's background was also changed when he was cast (originally meant to be an Australian officer).[5] He resides in Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia (where he films Wentworth). In 2016 he guest starred in TVNZ's Dirty Laundry.[6]

Personal life

Magasiva is the first son of Salafa and Taufaiula Ropati Magasiva, he has four brothers, Stevan, Miki, twins Pua and Tanu, and adopted sister Trina Magasiva. He inspired his younger brother (Pua) to become an actor, landing him an audition for an alcohol awareness commercial.[7] Pua died aged 38 on 11 May 2019. As a result, Robbie flew to Wellington to be with his family.[8] Later he opened up about the devastating loss of his brother and raised mental health awareness.[9]

He has two children, Austin (born 1996) and Sophie (born 2000). Both reside in Auckland, and he looks after the kids week-on, week-off with their mother, Alice Gordon.[10]

In 2011 he began dating Shortland Street co-star, Natalie Medlock. They first met in 2009 while performing in a play called "Christ Almighty!".[11] Medlock recalls it was her costume that earned Magasiva's heart.[12] In 2015 the pair went on stage again with Christ Almighty with the Wentworth cast[13] to raise money for the homeless. The couple attributes love and therapy for their long-term relationship.[14]

Previously he was married to Anna Magasiva, whom he met while he was a receptionist.[15]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Tiger Country		Television film
2001	Stickmen	Jack
2002	The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers	Mauhúr
2006	Sione's Wedding	Michael
2007	The Ferryman	Craig (Man in Club)
2006	In Her Line of Fire	Petelo
2007	The Tattooist	Alipati
2007	Perfect Creature	Frank
2011	Tea Party	Sanjay	Short film
2012	Sione's 2: Unfinished Business	Michael
2012	Tatau	Old Siaki	Short film
2012	Milk & Honey	Constable Salevao	Short film
2015	Now Add Honey	Chef Sebastian Tasi

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1990–1991	Shark in the Park	Uninformed branch	14 episodes
1993	Skitzo	Various Characters
1996	Telly Laughs	Various Characters
1998	The Semisis	Lagi
1999	Jackson's Wharf	Mason Keeler	9 episodes
2002–2003	The Strip	Adam Lima	32 episodes
2003	Power Rangers: Ninja Storm	Porter Clarke	Episode: "Eye of the Storm"
2006	Doves of War	Xavier Collins	Episode: "Episode #1.6"
2008	Burying Brian	Tony	2 episodes
2009	Diplomatic Immunity	Prince To'omai	2 episodes
2009–2015	Shortland Street	Maxwell Avia
2012	Auckland Daze	Robbie	3 episopes
2013	Offspring	Ugly Pete	Episode: "Numbing the Pain"
2013–present	Wentworth	Will Jackson
2016	Black Comedy	Guest Cast	Episode: "Episode #2.6"
2016	Dirty Laundry	Jackson	7 episodes

See also

• List of New Zealand television personalities

References

1. "Robbie Magasiva heads for Hollywood". Stuff. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
2. "Watch Shortland Street On Demand". TVNZ. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
3. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/838014/2708241
4. "The Name Game". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017.
5. Morrell, McKenzie (14 September 2015). "'Wentworth' star Robbie Magasiva talks Season 3, Will/Bea relationship and pilot season in America". NoWhiteNoise. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
7. "Pua Magasiva plays Santa in Shortland St special". Stuff. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
8. "Former Shortland Street star Pua Magasiva dead at 38". NewsComAu. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
9. https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/parenting/family/robbie-magasiva-brother-pua-magasiva-death-41731
10. "New Zealand Woman's Weekly". Now To Love. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
11. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0911/S00023/the-basement-presents-christ-almighty.htm
12. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12258073
13. https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/11/wentworth-cast-lend-a-hand-for-the-homeless.html
14. https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/lifestyle/sex-relationships/robbie-magasiva-and-partner-natalie-medlock-on-depression-and-anxiety-38593
15. "Doctor of comedy". Stuff. Retrieved 12 May 2019.

External links

• Robbie's biography and screenography on NZ On Screen
• Robbie Magasiva on IMDb
• "Upfront: Robbie Magasiva". New Zealand Listener. 29 April – 5 May 2006.
• "The naked truth about heartthrob Robbie". Black Magic. 19 March 2006. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007.