KJ Apa explained
Honorific-Prefix: | Savae |
KJ Apa |
Birth Name: | Keneti James Fitzgerald Apa |
Birth Date: | 17 June 1997 |
Birth Place: | Auckland, New Zealand |
Children: | 1 |
Relatives: | Michael Jones (uncle) |
Years Active: | 2013–present |
Awards: | Full list |
Module: | Embed: | yes | Label: | Independent |
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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.
Apa gained recognition for playing Kane Jenkins in the New Zealand prime time soap opera Shortland Street (2013–2015) and Archie Andrews in the CW drama series Riverdale (2017–2023). In film, he 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,[1] the son of Tupa'i and Tessa Apa (née Callander). His father is Samoan and a matai (chief) of his village in Samoa;[2] his mother is a European New Zealander.[3] 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.[4] [5] He has two older sisters and is the nephew of former rugby union player and coach Michael Jones.[6] He attended high school at King's College in Auckland before beginning his acting career.[7]
Career
Early work and breakthrough (20132017)
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.[8]
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 (20182020)
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 (2021present)
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 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. 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
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2013–2015 | Shortland Street | Kane Jenkins | Recurring role (season 23-24), 46 episodes |
2016 | data-sort-value="Cul de Sac, The" | The Cul de Sac | Jack | 6 episodes |
2017–2023 | Riverdale | Archie Andrews / Teen Fred Andrews / Archibald Andrews / Artie Andrews | Lead role, 134 episodes |
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Discography
In addition to soundtrack work on Shortland Street, Riverdale and I Still Believe, Apa has released independent music.
- The Third Room (2012)
- Clocks (2021)[21]
Awards and nominations
Notes and References
- Get to know KJ Apa . https://web.archive.org/web/20170420081102/http://tvnz.co.nz/shortland-street/get-know-kj-apa-5774958 . 20 April 2017 . 16 January 2017 . Television New Zealand.
- News: Jung . E. Alex . Riverdales K.J. Apa on His Dye Job, Becoming a Sex Object, and Why He Ships Archie and Betty . . 16 January 2017 . 10 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170210094744/http://www.vulture.com/2017/02/riverdale-kj-apa-archie-cw-dogs-purpose.html . live .
- Web site: Morris . Jessica . 10 November 2017 . KJ's key to success . 7 July 2018 . Salvos Warcry Magazine . 8 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180708074317/http://www.warcry.org.au/single-post/2017/11/11/KJ%E2%80%99s-key-to-success . live .
- Riverdale's KJ Apa Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions WIRED . 2019-12-11 . WIRED . 2024-06-24 . YouTube.
- Web site: Edmonds . Lauren . 'Riverdale' star KJ Apa becomes a Samoan chief in his village during a traditional ceremony . 2024-06-24 . Business Insider . en-US.
- Web site: Gidlow . Steve . 9 January 2017 . Everything's Archie for Riverdale Star KJ Apa . 17 May 2018 . MediaVillage . 15 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415211124/https://www.mediavillage.com/article/everythings-archie-for-riverdale-star-kj-apa/ . live .
- Web site: Jones . Bridget . 13 November 2014 . Our little brother the Shortie star . https://web.archive.org/web/20170520182718/https://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/life/a/25505183/our-little-brother-the-shortie-star/ . 20 May 2017 . 28 April 2017 . New Idea . Yahoo! New Zealand.
- News: Andreeva . Nellie . 24 February 2016 . Riverdale Finds Its Archie & Josie: KJ Apa To Topline CW Pilot . 16 January 2017 . . 29 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190329144701/https://deadline.com/2016/02/riverdale-archie-cast-kj-apa-cw-pilot-1201708847/ . live .
- News: Kit . Borys . 5 August 2015 . Britt Robertson, Dennis Quaid join DreamWorks' A Dog's Purpose (Exclusive) . 25 October 2015 . . 24 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171733/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/britt-robertson-dennis-quaid-join-813173 . live .
- Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr. . 3 April 2018 . Riverdales K.J. Apa Set For The Hate U Give As Fox 2000 Reshoots Kian Lawley Scenes . 3 April 2018 . . 17 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190417161346/https://deadline.com/2018/04/kj-apa-the-hate-u-give-replaced-kian-lawley-fox-2000-racial-slur-controversy-1202357976/ . live .
- Web site: Osifo . Ehis . The Trailer For Netflix's Newest Summer Romance Is Here And This Gal Is Excited . 10 April 2019 . BuzzFeed . 10 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190410123013/https://www.buzzfeed.com/ehisosifo1/the-last-summer-trailer-netflix-kj-apa-maia-mitchell . live .
- Web site: Piña . Christy . 14 January 2020 . K.J. Apa Encounters Love and Loss in 'I Still Believe' Trailer . 10 March 2020 . The Hollywood Reporter . 16 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200116074331/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/i-still-believe-trailer-kj-apa-encounters-love-loss-watch-1269329 . live .
- News: KJ Apa, Sofia Carson to Star in Michael Bay-Produced Pandemic Thriller 'Songbird' . The Hollywood Reporter . Borys . Kit . 13 July 2020 . 20 August 2020 . 13 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200713235605/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/kj-apa-sofia-carson-star-michael-bay-produced-pandemic-thriller-songbird-1303019 . live .
- News: 'Riverdale's KJ Apa To Star In Rod Lurie-Directed Military Academy Drama 'West Pointer' For Lionsgate. Mike Jr.. Fleming. Deadline. 26 May 2021. 10 November 2021. 26 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210526183740/https://deadline.com/2021/05/riverdale-kj-apa-rod-lurie-military-academy-west-pointer-lionsgate-1234764397/. live.
- Web site: Levine. Nick. KJ Apa: "My early twenties were a huge learning curve". 21 October 2021. 5 July 2023. NME.
- Johnson . Scott . 21 September 2017 . Riverdale Star in Late-Night Car Crash After Working 16-Hour Day . 22 September 2017 . The Hollywood Reporter . 22 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170922011749/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/riverdale-star-late-night-car-crash-working-16-hour-day-1041899 . live .
- Web site: Chung . Gabrielle . Riverdale's KJ Apa Expecting First Baby with Model Clara Berry: 'She's Pregnant . People . 19 May 2021 . 2 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211002125025/https://people.com/parents/kj-apa-expecting-first-baby-with-clara-berry/ . live .
- News: 26 September 2021 . KJ Apa's Girlfriend Clara Berry Gives Birth, Welcomes Their 1st Child . 27 September 2021 . . en-US . 27 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210927022002/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/kj-apas-girlfriend-clara-berry-gives-birth-welcomes-1st-child/ . live .
- McNamara. Brittney. 11 April 2018. KJ Apa Clapped Back at an Athlete Who Said Gay People Go to "Hell". 10 November 2021. Teen Vogue. 23 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023083250/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/kj-apa-called-out-rugby-player-israel-folau-for-homophobic-comments. live.
- Web site: Savae title bestowed on Hollywood actor . Samoa Observer . Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T – Ah Tong . 1 September 2022 . 1 September 2022 . 1 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220901052511/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/99622 . live .
- Web site: KJ Apa – Clocks. Apple Music (NZ). 9 February 2022. 8 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220208213926/https://music.apple.com/nz/album/clocks/1587225286. live.
- Web site: McNary . Dave . 2 March 2017 . Saturn Awards Nominations 2017: 'Rogue One,' 'Walking Dead' Lead . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170303124219/http://variety.com/2017/film/awards/saturn-awards-nominations-2017-rogue-one-walking-dead-1202000833/ . 3 March 2017 . 2 March 2017 . Variety.
- Staley . Brandon . 29 June 2017 . Supergirl, Luke Cage, Doctor Strange Win at Annual Saturn Awards . 1 July 2017 . . 17 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170917230825/http://www.cbr.com/supergirl-luke-cage-doctor-strange-saturn-awards/ . live .
- Web site: Rubin . Rebecca . 13 August 2017 . Teen Choice Awards 2017: Riverdale, Fifth Harmony Shut Out Competition . 15 August 2017 . Variety . 16 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170816144937/http://variety.com/2017/tv/awards/teen-choice-awards-2017-tcas-fox-winners-list-riverdale-fifth-harmony-1202526197/ . live .
- News: Nordyke . Kimberly . 3 May 2018 . MTV Movie & TV Awards: 'Black Panther,' 'Stranger Things' Top Nominations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180503235147/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/mtv-movie-tv-awards-2018-nominations-complete-list-1108100 . 3 May 2018 . 3 May 2018 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: People's Choice Awards 2018 Winners: The Complete List . 11 November 2018 . Macke . Johnni . 10 November 2021 . E! Online . 21 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210421140553/https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/985171/people-s-choice-awards-2018-winners-the-complete-list . live .
- News: McNary . Dave . 15 March 2018 . 'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023438/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/ . 16 March 2018 . 15 March 2018 . Variety.
- Hahn . Jason Duaine . People's Choice Awards 2019: See the Complete List of Winners . 10 November 2019 . 10 November 2021 . . 9 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109165152/https://people.com/tv/peoples-choice-awards-2019-winners-list/ . live .
- Web site: Mancuso . Vinnie . 16 July 2019 . 'Avengers: Endgame', 'Game of Thrones' Lead the 2019 Saturn Awards Nominations . 16 July 2019 . Collider . 16 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190716042350/http://collider.com/saturn-awards-nominations-2019/ . live .
- Web site: Moreau . Jordan . 19 June 2019 . Avengers: Endgame, Riverdale, Aladdin Top 2019 Teen Choice Award Nominations . 19 July 2019 . Variety . 22 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200222191129/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/teen-choice-awards-nominations-avengers-endgame-riverdale-1203247410/ . live .