Biography
Who is Cliff Curtis?
Early life and real name
Cliff Curtis: Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis was born on July 27, 1968, in Rotorua, New Zealand. He grew up as one of eight children in a large family of Māori descent, with tribal affiliations to Te Arawa and Ngāti Hauiti. His uncle was the well-known Māori leader and educator Toby Curtis. During his childhood, he studied mau rākau, which is a traditional Māori martial art involving taiaha combat, under elder Mita Mohi on Mokoia Island. This early training heavily influenced his initial stage performances in kapa haka. In addition to martial arts training, he actively competed in breakdancing and rock and roll dance competitions, eventually securing national titles during the late 1980s.
Career highlights
Cliff started his professional feature film career with a small appearance in Jane Campion's critically acclaimed and Oscar-winning film The Piano in 1993. He achieved a major career breakthrough shortly afterward with a powerful supporting role in the intense drama Once Were Warriors in 1994, which stands as one of the most successful cinematic releases in New Zealand history. His memorable character dialogue quickly became a celebrated part of local culture. He later starred as a devoted family man in the drama Jubilee in 2000 and portrayed the loving father of the lead character in the international box office hit Whale Rider in 2002.
International film and television roles
Cliff has built a productive international film career by appearing in a wide variety of Hollywood productions. His late nineties and early 2000s credits include Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out the Dead, Three Kings, the drug drama Blow starring Johnny Depp, Training Day, and Collateral Damage alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. He continued expanding his portfolio with roles in Live Free or Die Hard, Sunshine, Push, Colombiana, and M. Night Shyamalan's fantasy adventure The Last Airbender, where he played the primary antagonist Fire Lord Ozai. He also portrayed historical and fictional figures in films such as Last Knights and Risen.
Personal life
Cliff married in late 2009 during a quiet private ceremony held at his own home. He and his spouse have raised four children together. He practices the Catholic faith and has frequently spoken about his identity as an ethnic actor in the global film industry, embracing the distinct opportunities and realities of his profession. In September 2026, Cliff was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Auckland after colliding with the rear of a parked taxi. He was subsequently hospitalized for internal injuries alongside three other individuals, and he faced charges related to reckless driving and driving with excess blood alcohol while awaiting court proceedings.
Birthday and age
Cliff Curtis was born on July 27, 1968, which makes Cliff 58 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Cliff shares the date with 47 other famous people.
Explore more
