Temuera Morrison

Photo of Mr. Morrison from GreenstonePictures.com

Temuera Morrison was born in December, 1961 in Rotorua, New Zealand, he is of Maori descent.  Morrison was one of eight children and is very proud of his family and his tribal affiliation to Ngati Whakaue, a sub-tribe of Te Arawa.   He can recount his line of descendants through the generations and his family still has land near the Ngati Whakaue pa on the steaming edge of Lake Rotorua.

 He is the nephew of famed Maori leader/singer Sir Howard Morrison (Howard Morrison Quartet).  

At the age of ten Morrison started to practice the native kapa haka dance he traveled around the world with Ngati Rangiwewehi (performance group).  His sister Taini Morrison is one of the female leaders of this group.  Morrison started acting at an early age, making his debut at the age of twelve.  He admits hitchhiking to auditions in New Zealand before starting to get more steady roles, he began acting professionally at the age of twenty-six.  He had a few TV roles (including Dr. Ropata on Shortland Street) under his belt and four films before he starred in Once Were Warriors, a role that garnered him much deserved attention, landing him other movie opportunities, including that of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

Around the beginning of 2004 Morrison, while riding his motorcycle, fell off/crashed and broke his leg in two places requiring two pins

Morrison has a son named James.  He currently lives at his home with his son James and his girlfriend Peata Melbourne at Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand.
 

 

 

Film

River Queen~2005 - Maori Leader, Te Kai Po

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith~2005 -  Jedi Knight/(Clone Troopers...all of them, well, just the unmasked troopers) Commanders Cody/Thire/Bly

Spooked~2004

Beautiful Country~2004  - Snakeyes

Muraya: L'expérience secrète de Mike Blueberry<Blueberry>~2004  - Runi

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones~2002 - Jango Fett

Crooked Earth~2001 - Will Bastion

Vertical Limit~2000 - Maj. Rasul

From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter~2000 (V) - The Hangman

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?~1999 - Jake Heke

Six Days Seven Nights~1998 - Jager (see Actor Connections - Film)

Speed 2: Cruise Control~1997 - Juliano

Little White Lies~1996 - Tim

Whipping Boy~1996 - Jack

Broken English~1996- Manu

Island of Dr. Moreau, The~1996 - Azazello

Barb Wire~1996 - Axel Hood

Once Were Warriors~1994 - Jake Heke (see Actor Connections - Film)

Grasscutter, The~1990 - Det. Sgt. Harris

Mauri~1988 - Young Cop

Never Say Die~1988 - Alf Winters

Other Halves~1984 - Tony

*Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 (*2004 DVD release of trilogy) - voice of Boba Fett (replacing original voice actor Jason Wingreen for continuity)

Rangi's Catch~1972 - 

 

Film Other

Piano, The~1993 (language advisor/Maori cast)

 

TV

Tem Show, The~2005 - Host

Mana Tangata~2004 - himself

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?~2003 - himself

Mataku~2002  - Host/Presenter

Angela D'Audney: A Tribute~2002  (archive footage) - Dr. Hone Ropata

Ihaka: Blunt Instrument~2000 - Tito Ihaka

Happy Birthday 2 You~2000 (archive footage) - Himself

Panel, The~1998 - Himself (# 2.23) 7/14/99

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?~1998 - Himself in Christmas Special 1998

Making of 'Speed 2: Cruise Control', The~1997  - Himself

New Zealand at War~1995  (voice) - Narrator

Shortland Street~1992  - Dr. Hone Ropata (1992-1995)

Adventurer~1987  - Maru

Gloss~1987 - Sean

 

Gold~ - 

 

Books

Ancestor and the Grandchild, The~2003 - A book about Morrison's great, great grandfather

Maori Achievers (New Zealand Social Studies book)~ - on the cover and a featured achiever

 

Live Appearances/Performances

52nd anniversary New Zealand Community Trust Mardi Gras~2006 - Compere (master of ceremonies)

An Evening with Michael Campbell and Friends in Aid of the Michael Campbell Foundation~2006 - Himself 12/4/06

 

Video Games

Star Wars: Empire at War~2006 - voice of Boba Fett

Star Wars: Battlefront II~2005 - voice of Jango Fett

Star Wars Republic Commando~2005 - Republic soldiers

Star Wars: Battlefront~2004 (voice) - Republic Infantry/Republic Officer

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter~2002  (voice) - Jango Fett

 

Awards, Honors and Nominations

GOFTA Award:

Rec'd 1986 Best Supporting Actor for Other Halves

New Zealand Film and TV Awards:

Rec'd 1999 Best Actor for What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?

Rec'd 1994 Best Performance in a Dramatic Role: Male for Once Were Warriors

Nom 1989 Best Actor for Never Say Die

Nom 1987 Best Supporting Actor for Other Halves

Rec'd 1994 New Zealand Entertainer of the Year

New Zealand Order of Merit:

Rec'd 1996 for his services to drama

 

Miscellany

2007 - Spokesperson for the Anti Piracy Campaign 'Buy Original See Original' in New Zealand

 

2004? - Was a guest reviewing officer and speaker for newly graduating basic trainees (Royal New Zealand Navy)

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