Jay Laga'aia - SideReel

Laga'aia was born in South Auckland, New Zealand and is of Samoan descent. The area was seen in the hard hitting New Zealand film, Once were Warriors. He is best known for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. He played the role of Draco in several episodes of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess.

Laga'aia was a regular in Australian television shows Water Rats, Play School, Surprise Surprise (on the Nine Network), and a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2002 and had a guest role as Gabriel in McLeod's Daughters. He is also known for his stage productions such as The Lion King. Jay played the role of Judas in a 1994 production of Jesus Christ Superstar in New Zealand.

In 2003 Laga'aia appeared in the first ever episode of New Zealand sports comedy television show Pulp Sport. Unfortunately during the basketball sketch, Laga'aia busted his knee cap in two places ending up in hostpital for two days. This mishap delayed the filming of Star Wars, which Laga'aia was to film later that month.[citation needed]

Laga'aia has been cast as Dell Brandstone (aka Chase) in Legend of the Seeker, a TV syndicated series funded by ABC/Disney and produced by Sam Raimi, based on the Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. The series is in production with a premiere date of November 1, 2008.

On December 24, 2008, Laga'aia performed on Carols by Candlelight.

TRIVIA

Appears in Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith with James Earl Jones, who preceded him in the role of Mufasa in The Lion King.

At his wedding, his Best Man was his Star Wars cast mate, Temuera Morrison.

Has four children with his wife, Sandie, named Matthew, Josefa, Nathaniel, Jessica and one baby.

Was the host of the big Star Wars convention - Celebration III.

Because his character in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), wears an eye patch, he often had difficulty hitting his marks due to poor depth perception.

He has six children, Jeremy (boy) 21, ( is from a previous relationship). Matthew (boy) 13, Iosefa (boy) 7, Jessica (girl) 5, Nathaniel (boy, his nick name is Tana, after the NZ All Black Rugby Captain and his fathers cousin, and Georgia Rose (girl) 8mths. His wife is a secondary school teacher and was born in Romford, England. When he proposed to her in 1989, it was in the shadow of Big Ben, by the river Thames. Afterwards they said a prayer in Westminster Abby and are still together living and working out of Sydney, Australia