Taika Waititi biography
Taika Waititi is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian (born 1975), born on 16 August 1975 in Raukokore.
Taika Waititi's screen career began in 1999 with Scarfies, playing Alex.
Taika Waititi has appeared in 44 films and 24 television or streaming titles.
The most recent films are Save Your Life. Rinse Repeat (campaign film for Breast CancerFoundation NZ) (2026), Place to Be (2026), Klara and the Sun (2026).
Taika Waititi is best known for Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder.
Honours include New Zealander of the Year, Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay and Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Coming up next: Very Young Frankenstein, Charlie Vs. The Chocolate Factory (2027).
- Also known as
- Taika Cohen, Taika David Cohen, Taika David Waititi
- Born
- 16 August 1975 (age 51)
- Birthplace
- Raukokore
- Work
- Actor, Film director, Screenwriter, Director, Executive producer
- Film industries
- Hollywood and beyond
- Years active
- 1999 to present
- Known for
- Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder
- Awards
- New Zealander of the Year
- Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
- Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
- Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
- Time 100
- Wellingtonian of the Year (category award)
Taika Waititi filmography
45 films and 25 television or streaming titles, newest first.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Charlie Vs. The Chocolate Factory | Willy Wonka | Upcoming | |
| 2026 | Save Your Life. Rinse Repeat (campaign film for Breast CancerFoundation NZ) | |||
| 2026 | Place to Be | Nelson | ||
| 2026 | Klara and the Sun | Co-wrote with Dahvi Waller | ||
| 2026 | Fing! | The Viscount | ||
| 2026 | Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender | Gorillavark | Voice role | |
| 2025 | Best Christmas Ever | |||
| 2024 | The Boy & The Octopus | |||
| 2023 | Next Goal Wins | Co-wrote with Iain Morris | ||
| 2022 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Co-wrote with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson | ||
| 2022 | Lightyear | Mo Morrison | Voice role | |
| 2021 | Free Guy | Antwan Hovachelik | ||
| 2021 | The Suicide Squad | Ratcatcher I | ||
| 2021 | Deadpool and Korg React | Korg | Promotional short film | |
| 2021 | The Electrical Life of Louis Wain | Max Kase | ||
| 2021 | Save Ralph | Ralph (voice) | Short film | |
| 2019 | Jojo Rabbit | |||
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Korg | ||
| 2018 | Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss | Holy Storsh | ||
| 2018 | Team Darryl | |||
| 2018 | Shrimp | Bartender | Short film | |
| 2017 | Thor: Ragnarok | |||
| 2017 | Team Thor: Part 2 | |||
| 2016 | Hunt for the Wilderpeople | |||
| 2016 | Team Thor |
Show all 45 films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Moana | Wrote the initial screenplay | ||
| 2016 | Doctor Strange | Directed mid-credit sequence | ||
| 2014 | What We Do in the Shadows | Co-wrote with Jemaine Clement | ||
| 2014 | Vampire's Guide to Vellington | |||
| 2014 | Dating 101 with Viago | |||
| 2013 | The Captain | |||
| 2013 | Coffee Town | Cosmetology Instructor | Uncredited | |
| 2011 | Green Lantern | Thomas Kalmaku | ||
| 2010 | Boy | |||
| 2007 | Eagle vs Shark | Including story | ||
| 2005 | What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires | |||
| 2005 | Tama Tū | |||
| 2004 | Toy Boy | Jack Hammer | Short film | |
| 2004 | Heinous Crime | |||
| 2004 | Futile Attraction | Waiter | ||
| 2003 | Two Cars, One Night | |||
| 2002 | John and Pogo | |||
| 2001 | Snakeskin | Nelson | ||
| 2001 | A New Way Home | Max | Short film | |
| 1999 | Scarfies | Alex |
Television and streaming
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very Young Frankenstein | Upcoming | |||
| 2025 | It's Florida, Man | Doctor Orlando | Episode: "Crushed" | |
| 2024 | Time Bandits | Co-creator | ||
| 2024 | Interior Chinatown | Episode: "Generic Asian Man" | ||
| 2023 | History of the World, Part II | Sigmund Freud | 1 episode | |
| 2022 | Our Flag Means Death | Episode: "Pilot" | ||
| 2021 | What If...? | Korg | ||
| 2021 | Reservation Dogs | Co-creator | ||
| 2020 | Home Movie: The Princess Bride | Westley / The Man in Black | Episode: "Chapter Nine: Have Fun Storming the Castle!" | |
| 2019 | Chapter 8: Redemption | English | ||
| 2019 | Chapter 7: The Reckoning | English | ||
| 2019 | Chapter 1: The Mandalorian | English | ||
| 2019 | What We Do in the Shadows | 3 episodes | ||
| 2019 | Year of the Rabbit | Merrick's Performer | Cameo | |
| 2019 | The Mandalorian | Episode: "Chapter 8: Redemption" | ||
| 2019 | Rick and Morty | Glootie | Voice; episode: "The Old Man and the Seat" | |
| 2018 | Wellington Paranormal | Co-creator | ||
| 2012 | The Inbetweeners (US version) | 5 episodes | ||
| 2011 | Super City | 6 episodes | ||
| 2009 | The Jaquie Brown Diaries | Friendly Gypsy | Episode: "Brownward Spiral" | |
| 2007 | Flight of the Conchords | 4 episodes | ||
| 2003 | Revelations | Ali | Episode: "Mended Sole" | |
| 2003 | Freaky | Cleaner | Episode: "Fridge, Cleaner & Sister" | |
| 2002 | The Tribe | Virtual Reality Cowboy No.1 | Episode: "Episode #4.24" (uncredited) | |
| 2002 | The Strip | Mostin | 13 Episodes |