Robbie Magasiva

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.

After leaving school, he tried his hand at theatre sports and acted in commercials while working as a receptionist at an advertising agency.

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. The character was originally called Maxwell Novak but changed to Avia to relate to his Samoan descent. 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). In 2016, he guest starred in TVNZ's ''Dirty Laundry''.

In 2021, Magasiva starred on the Paramount+ Australia original series, ''Spreadsheet''.

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

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''.

Also in 2023, Magasiva was named in the upcoming cast of NZ drama ''Madam''.

In 2024, Magasiva was cast as Sonny Jennings in the Fox lifeguard series '' Rescue: HI-Surf''. 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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!''. Medlock recalls it was her costume that earned Magasiva's heart. In 2015, the pair went on stage again with ''Christ Almighty!'' with the ''Wentworth'' cast to raise money for the homeless. The couple attributed love and therapy for their long-term relationship.

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

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

Filmography

Film

Television

Other appearances

Theatre

See also

* List of New Zealand television personalities

References

External links

Robbie's biography
an
screenography
on NZ On Screen
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Magasiva, Robbie
1972 births
20th-century New Zealand male actors
21st-century New Zealand male actors
Actors of Samoan descent
New Zealand expatriates in Australia
New Zealand male film actors
New Zealand male television actors
New Zealand people of Samoan descent
New Zealand television presenters
Living people
People educated at St Patrick's College, Wellington
New Zealand male comedians
New Zealand sketch comedians
21st-century New Zealand comedians