Robbie Magasiva

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Robbie Joseph Magasiva (born 26 August 1972) is a Samoan-New Zealand 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 role as Will Jackson on the prison drama series, Wentworth (an adaptation of the women's prison drama Prisoner). Magasiva is the only male actor to appear in all eight seasons; he appeared in all 100 episodes of the show.

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]

Acting career

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 to 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 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] In 2016, he guest starred in TVNZ's Dirty Laundry.[6]

In 2021, Magasiva starred on the Paramount+ Australia original series, Spreadsheet.[7]

In 2022, Magasiva appeared alongside several members of the Wentworth cast at WentworthCon Melbourne.[8]

In 2023, Magasiva gave an extensive interview about his acting career with podcast series MandateNZ, where he revealed he almost quit acting to become a firefighter after he finished filming Wentworth.[9]

Also in 2023, Magasiva was named in the upcoming cast of NZ drama Madam.[10]

In 2024, Magasiva was cast as Sonny Jennings in the Fox lifeguard series Rescue: HI-Surf.[11][12] Though he has been on American television before, this is his first series regular role in an American production. Magasiva later revealed that he had gone for a massage and put his phone on silent and when he walked out to check his phone he had 19 missed calls, one which was from his manager telling him he had landed the role of Jennings.[13]

In 2025, Magasiva reprised his role in the Naked Samoans as the comedy troupe would do their last shows.[14]

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.[15]

Pua died aged 38 on 11 May 2019. As a result, Magasiva flew to Wellington to be with his family.[16] Later he opened up about the devastating loss of his brother and raised mental health awareness.[17]

Magasiva has two children, born in 1996 and 2000. Both reside in Auckland, and he looks after the kids week-on, week-off with their mother, Alice Gordon.[18]

In 2011, Magasiva began dating his Shortland Street co-star, Natalie Medlock. They first met in 2009 while performing in a play called Christ Almighty!.[19] Medlock recalls it was her costume that earned Magasiva's heart.[20] In 2015, the pair went on stage again with Christ Almighty! with the Wentworth cast[21] to raise money for the homeless. The couple attributed love and therapy for their long-term relationship.[22]

Previously, he was married to Anna Magasiva, whom he met while he was a receptionist.[23]

In 2024, Magasiva revealed that he had moved to the U.S. and is in a relationship with producer Kelly Mackey.[24]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Stickmen Jack
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Mauhúr
2006 Sione's Wedding Michael
In Her Line of Fire Petelo
2007 The Ferryman Craig (Man in Club)
The Tattooist Alipati
Perfect Creature Frank
2012 Sione's 2: Unfinished Business Michael
2015 Now Add Honey Chef Sebastian Tasi
2020 Lowdown Dirty Criminals Semo
2023 Bad Behaviour Lawrence
2024 The Moon Is Upside Down Tim [25]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1990–1991 Shark in the Park Uninformed branch 14 episodes
1993–1995 Skitz Various characters
1996–1998 Telly Laughs Various characters
1998 The Semisis Lagi
Tiger Country Television film
1999–2000 Jackson's Wharf Mason Keeler 29 episodes
2002–2003 The Strip Adam Lima 32 episodes
2003 Power Rangers: Ninja Storm Porter Clarke Episode: "Eye of the Storm"
2005 Mataku Frank Episode: "The Wild Ones - Te Uru Takariri"
2006 Doves of War Xavier Collins 6 episodes
2008 Burying Brian Tony 2 episodes
2009 Diplomatic Immunity Prince To'omai 2 episodes
2010–2013 Shortland Street Maxwell Avia Main role
2012 Auckland Daze Robbie 3 episodes
2013 Offspring Ugly Pete Episode: "Numbing the Pain"
2013–2021 Wentworth Will Jackson 8 seasons, 100 episodes
2016 Black Comedy Guest cast Episode #2.6
Dirty Laundry Jackson 7 episodes
2021 Head High Mitch Belsham 8 episodes
Spreadsheet Jake 7 episodes
2021–2024 Under the Vines Robert The Builder 4 episodes [26]
2022 My Life Is Murder Hamish Episode: "Silent Lights" [27]
Duckrockers Ropati 4 episodes
2024 Dark City: The Cleaner DI Carl Schroder 6 episodes
Madam Lima 9 episodes [28]
2024–2025 Rescue: HI-Surf Harlan 'Sonny' Jennings TV series: 19 episodes

Other appearances

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2019 Wentworth: Behind the Bars Self TV special
2020 Wentworth: Behind the Bars 2
2021 Wentworth: Unlocked
2023 MandateNZ Podcast series, 1 episode [29]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2025 Last Temptation of the Naked Samoans Q Theatre [30]
2020 Every Brilliant Thing [31]
2019 Club Paradiso Revival Q [32]
2017 The Naked Samoans Auckland Festival [33]
2015 Club Paradiso Q Basement Theatre [34]
2007 My Name is Gary Cooper Gary Cooper [35]

See also

References

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External links

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