Temuera Morrison

Biography

Temuera Derek Morrison (born 26 December 1960 in Rotorua, on New Zealand's North Island) is a New Zealand actor of Māori descent. He first became known at home through the soap opera Shortland Street, and gained international fame through the Star Wars saga, where he played Jango Fett, the clone troopers and Jango's clone son Boba Fett. His career spans local drama and large Hollywood productions.

Morrison made his film debut in 1973 with Rangi's Catch and trained in drama through a performing arts scheme founded by his uncle, the musician Sir Howard Morrison. His breakthrough came in 1994 with Once Were Warriors, directed by Lee Tamahori, in which he played a violent husband. The film was a major success in New Zealand and brought him international attention, along with a top acting award at the New Zealand film and television awards. He returned to the character in the sequel What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? and later admitted that the role had weighed on him for years.

Outside New Zealand, his name became tied to Star Wars with Attack of the Clones (2002), where he played Jango Fett and voiced the clone army. He returned in Revenge of the Sith and later voiced Boba Fett in home video re-releases of the original trilogy and in several games. In 2020 he played Boba Fett on screen for the first time in The Mandalorian, an aged version of the character that led to the spin-off The Book of Boba Fett. His work in the DC universe includes Green Lantern (2011) and Aquaman (2018), where he plays the hero's father, a role he reprised in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).

Morrison has moved between film, television, music and animation. He voiced Chief Tui in Moana (2016) and hosted a talk show on New Zealand television. He remains one of the most recognisable New Zealand actors working internationally, and his Star Wars roles have made him a familiar face to fans of the franchise.

Key films

• Once Were Warriors (1994), directed by Lee Tamahori, as Jake Heke, his best-known role.
• Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), as Jango Fett.
• Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), as Commander Cody and other clones.
• Green Lantern (2011), as Abin Sur.
• Aquaman (2018), as Tom Curry, the hero's father.
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), as Tom Curry.