KJ Apa

Last updated

Savae
KJ Apa
K.J. Apa (44563642331) (cropped 2).jpg
Apa at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
Keneti James(KJ) Fitzgerald Apa

(1997-06-17) 17 June 1997 (age 27)
Auckland, New Zealand
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • musician
Years active2013–present
Children1
Relatives Michael Jones (uncle)
Awards Full list
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
LabelsIndependent

Keneti James Fitzgerald Apa (born 17 June 1997), better known by his stage name KJ Apa, is a New Zealand actor, singer, painter, model, and musician. He has received various accolades, including a Saturn Award and nominations for an MTV Movie & TV Award, two People's Choice Awards and two Teen Choice Awards, and was appointed the matai title of Savae chief of his village Moata'a in September 2022.

Contents

He gained notice playing Kane Jenkins in the New Zealand prime time soap opera Shortland Street from 2013 to 2015. In 2017, Apa was cast in the lead role of Archie Andrews in the CW drama series Riverdale . [1] In film, Apa has starred in A Dog's Purpose (2017), The Hate U Give (2018) and I Still Believe (2020). In 2021, he released his debut solo album, the indie folk-rock album Clocks, which received some attention on Spotify and TikTok.

Early life

Apa was born on 17 June 1997 at Waitakere Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, [2] the son of Tupa'i and Tessa Apa (née Callander). His father is Samoan and a matai (chief) of his village in Samoa; [3] his mother is a European New Zealander. [4] His father is known as Keneti Apa, with Keneti being a Samon rendering of "Kennedy": Apa and his father are named after John F. Kennedy. [5] [6] He has two older sisters and is the nephew of former rugby union player and coach Michael Jones. [7] He attended high school at King's College in Auckland before beginning his acting career. [8]

Career

Early work and breakthrough (2013–2017)

From 2013 to 2015, Apa starred as Kane Jenkins in the New Zealand prime-time soap opera Shortland Street . In 2016, he was cast as Archie Andrews in the CW drama series Riverdale , after a four-month worldwide talent search. [1]

In 2017, he starred as Ethan Montgomery in the comedy-drama film A Dog's Purpose , which was released on the same day as Riverdale premiered on television. [9]

Apa, like his mother, creates visual art. As of July 2024, a selection of his paintings are on display at the Spring/Break gallery in Los Angeles.

Further films and critical fluctuations (2018–2020)

His next film role was replacing Kian Lawley in the 2018 drama film The Hate U Give . [10] He starred as Griffin in the Netflix film The Last Summer , which was released on 3 May 2019. [11] He also starred as singer Jeremy Camp in the biographical romantic drama film I Still Believe , which was released in March 2020. [12]

Apa starred in Adam Mason's critically panned 2020 thriller film Songbird , produced by Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes. [13] The film was accused of using the COVID-19 pandemic to create a thrill plot. In May 2021, Lionsgate Films announced he would appear in a military based drama West Pointer. [14]

Music ventures (2021–present)

In 2021, he independently released his debut album, Clocks, which explores the folk rock and indie genres. It gained some attention on Spotify and TikTok. [15]

Personal life

Apa at San Diego Comic-Con with Riverdale costar Camila Mendes KJ Apa & Camila Mendes (43096312834).jpg
Apa at San Diego Comic-Con with Riverdale costar Camila Mendes

Apa was involved in a minor car accident in Vancouver in September 2017, but was uninjured when the passenger side of his car hit a light pole. The late-night crash was reportedly the result of him falling asleep at the wheel after a long day of filming. [16]

In May 2021, Apa announced that he and French model Clara Berry were expecting their first child, [17] who was born in September 2021. [18]

Apa was raised in a Christian family and has stated that he is a Christian. [4] In April 2018, he publicly criticised Australian rugby player Israel Folau for claiming that it was God's plan to send gay people to Hell, describing Folau's comments as "disappointing". [19]

Moata'a rule

In September 2022, he was awarded the matai title of Savae by his native village Moata'a in Samoa. [20]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017 A Dog's Purpose Teenage Ethan Montgomery
2018 The Hate U Give Chris
2019 The Last Summer Griffin Hourigan
2020 I Still Believe Jeremy Camp
2020 Dead Reckoning Niko
2020 Songbird Nico Price
2024 One Fast Move Wes Neal

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013–2015 Shortland Street Kane Jenkins Recurring role (season 23-24), 46 episodes
2016The Cul de SacJack6 episodes
2017–2023 Riverdale Archie Andrews / Teen Fred Andrews / Archibald Andrews / Artie AndrewsLead role, 134 episodes

Discography

In addition to soundtrack work on Shortland Street, Riverdale and I Still Believe, Apa has released independent music.

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2017 Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television Series Riverdale Nominated [22]
Breakthrough Performance Won [23]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout TV StarNominated [24]
2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Kiss (with Camila Mendes)Nominated [25]
People's Choice Awards Drama TV Star of 2018Nominated [26]
Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television SeriesNominated [27]
2019 People's Choice Awards Male TV Star of 2019Nominated [28]
Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television SeriesNominated [29]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Drama TV Actor Nominated [30]

Note

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    References

    1. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (24 February 2016). "Riverdale Finds Its Archie & Josie: KJ Apa To Topline CW Pilot". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
    2. ↑ "Get to know KJ Apa". Television New Zealand . Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
    3. ↑ Jung, E. Alex. "Riverdale's K.J. Apa on His Dye Job, Becoming a Sex Object, and Why He Ships Archie and Betty". New York . Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
    4. 1 2 Morris, Jessica (10 November 2017). "KJ's key to success". Salvos Warcry Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
    5. ↑ WIRED (11 December 2019). Riverdale's KJ Apa Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED . Retrieved 24 June 2024– via YouTube.
    6. ↑ Edmonds, Lauren. "'Riverdale' star KJ Apa becomes a Samoan chief in his village during a traditional ceremony". Business Insider. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
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    10. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (3 April 2018). "Riverdale's K.J. Apa Set For The Hate U Give As Fox 2000 Reshoots Kian Lawley Scenes". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
    11. ↑ Osifo, Ehis. "The Trailer For Netflix's Newest Summer Romance Is Here And This Gal Is Excited". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
    12. ↑ Piña, Christy (14 January 2020). "K.J. Apa Encounters Love and Loss in 'I Still Believe' Trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
    13. ↑ Kit, Borys (13 July 2020). "KJ Apa, Sofia Carson to Star in Michael Bay-Produced Pandemic Thriller 'Songbird'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
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    15. ↑ Levine, Nick (21 October 2021). "KJ Apa: "My early twenties were a huge learning curve"". NME. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
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    19. ↑ McNamara, Brittney (11 April 2018). "KJ Apa Clapped Back at an Athlete Who Said Gay People Go to "Hell"". Teen Vogue . Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
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    29. ↑ Mancuso, Vinnie (16 July 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame', 'Game of Thrones' Lead the 2019 Saturn Awards Nominations". Collider. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
    30. ↑ Moreau, Jordan (19 June 2019). "Avengers: Endgame, Riverdale, Aladdin Top 2019 Teen Choice Award Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
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