MGMT Entertainment - US Management
David Fane ONZM
- Locations
- Auckland
- Ethnicity
- Pacific Islander, Samoan
- Age Range
- 52 - 64
- Height
- 188cm / 6ft 2in
- Bust/Chest
- 129cm / 51in
- Waist
- 113cm / 44in
- Hips
- 122cm / 48in
Bio
David Fane ONZM
A proud Samoan-New Zealander, David Fane is one of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s most versatile actors, well known for the eclectic characters he has created across his prolific career on stage and screen.
After training at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, David first appeared in the early 90s on various local sketch comedy shows, before going on to become a regular on large and small screens in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Pretty quickly, David realised it's always best to work with the people you like, so he teamed up with some of his best mates to found theatre company, The Naked Samoans. Their particular brand of cutting-edge satire found an instant audience and has endured over 25 years to produce numerous sell out stage shows, 2 feature films- Sione’s Wedding 1 and 2 (released in the U.S. as Samoan Wedding 1 and 2), and the award winning animated series, Bro’town, for which David co- wrote, and voiced multiple iconic characters over 5 seasons.
Some of David’s film roles include Tongan Ninja, The Tattooist, Love Birds, Paper Champions, and Yesterday Island, as well as the Taika Waititi comedies, Eagle vs Shark, and Next Goal Wins.
In 2024, David voiced the reluctant seafarer Kele in Disney’s hugely successful Moana 2.
David's TV roles include two seasons of the HBO Max run-away piratical hit, Our Flag Means Death. In Australia and NZ his TV work includes The Strip, Wellington Paranormal, Outrageous Fortune, The Brokenwood Mysteries, 800 Words, Fresh Eggs, and The Messenger.
In 2016, David received Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Senior Artist award, and in 2023 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the performing arts. In 2024 David held the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency at the University of Hawai’i.
Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Klara and the Sun | Rebel Robot Arnold | Sony Pictures Ltd, 3000 Films, Dir. Taika Waititi | Feature Film |
| 2025 | Zootopia 2 | Truffler (Voice) | Walt Disney Animation, dir: Jared Bush & Bryon Howard | Feature Film |
| 2025 | Yesterday Island | Lucien | Peking Pictures, dir: Sam Voutas | Feature Film |
| 2024 | Moana 2 - Disney Animation | Kele (Voice) | Walt Disney Animation Canada, dir: David G. Derrick Jr. | Jason Hand | Dana Ledoux Miller | Feature Film |
| 2023 | Next Goal Wins | Ace | Archer's Mark, dir: Taika Waititi | Feature Film |
| 2020 | Paper Champions | Kenife | Paper Chamions SPV PTY LTD Australia | Feature Film |
| 2017 | Gary of the Pacific | Dad | The Downlow Concept | Feature Film |
| 2013 | Edwin: My Life as Koont | Harold Malolo | Edwin Films, dir: Jason Stutter | Feature Film |
| 2012 | Sione's 2 | Bolo (core cast) | South Pacific Pictures | Feature Film |
| 2011 | Love Birds | Kanga | General Film Corp, dir. Paul Murphy | Feature Film |
| 2007 | Eagle vs. Shark | Eric Elisi | Sad Animals Ltd, dir. Taika Waititi | Feature Film |
| 2007 | The Tattooist | Mr Va'a | Eyeworks Touchdown Films Ltd, Dir. Peter Burger | Feature Film |
| 2006 | Sione's Wedding | Bolo (core cast) | South Pacific Pictures, dir. Chris Graham | Feature Film |
| 2002 | The Legend of Johnny Lingo | Rata | Turtles Crossing LLC, dir: Steven Ramirez | Feature Film |
| 2001 | Tongan Ninja | Henchman | Dir. Jason Stutter | Feature Film |
Television
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Our Flag Means Death Season Two | Fang - Core Cast | Retro Inc, HBO | Drama |
| 2023 | The Messenger | Sal | ABC | Drama |
| 2022 | Duckrockers | Sonny | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2022 | Our Flag Means Death Season One | Fang - Core Cast | Retro Inc, HBO | Drama |
| 2022 | The Poo Files | Actor | Rude Girls Productions | Drama |
| 2019 | Fresh Eggs | Pig | Warner Brothers, dir. Various | Drama |
| 2019 | The Great NZ Bake-off | Self | Warner Brothers | Other |
| 2018 | Westside S4 | Falani's Father | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2018 | Wellington Paranormal | Raymond | New Zealand Documentary Board, dir. Jemaine Clement, Jackie Van Beek, Taika Waititi | Comedy |
| 2017 | 800 Words S3 | Smiler | Weld Productions Ltd | Drama |
| 2016 | The Brokenwood Mysteries S3 | Olsen | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2016 | 800 Words S2 | Smiler | SPP/ Weld Productions Ltd | Drama |
| 2015 | 800 Words | Smiler | SPP/ Weld Productions Ltd | Drama |
| 2015 | Word Up! | South Pacific Pictures | Other | |
| 2015 | DNA Detectives | Presenter | Jam TV Ltd | Other |
| 2014 | Westside S1 | Ofisa | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2013 | My Kitchen Ruined | Whitebait Prod | Drama | |
| 2010 | Trails of Napier (comedy) | Mongolian Prince | Great South TV, dir. Jonathan Brough | Drama |
| 2010 | Cheers to 50 Years (docu) | Team Member | TVNZ | Drama |
| 2009 | Radiradirah (comedy) | Judas - Roimata | Firehorse Films Ltd | Comedy |
| 2009 | Island Wars | Co Presenter | Eyeworks Touchdown Ltd | Drama |
| 2008 | Diplomatic Immunity | Jonah | South Pacific Pictures | Comedy |
| 2007-2009 | Outrageous Fortune (Series 3-6) | Falani | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2004-09 | Bro'town | Actor & Writer - Mac, brother, Ken, Jeff, Agnes, Tapili, Pepelo Pepelo | Firehorse Films | Comedy |
| 2002 | What Now | Various | Drama | |
| 2001-2003 | The Strip (Series 1-2) | Jack | Gibson Group | Drama |
| 1997 | The Semisis | Pisupo/Minister | Gibson Group | Comedy |
| 1995-1996 | Telly Laughs | Various | Gibson Group | Comedy |
| 1993-1996 | Skitz (comedy) | Various | Gibson Group | Comedy |
| 1992 | Typhon's People | Terry | Gibson Group | Drama |
Web Series
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Baby Mama's Club | Iosefa | BMC Productions, dir. Hanelle Harris, Roseanne Liang |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Last Temptation of the Naked Samoans | Self | Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre | |
| 2023 | The Worm | Old Worm | Nightsong Theatre Productions | |
| 2022 | The Heartbreak Choir | Peter | Auckland Theatre Company, dir. Lara Macgregor | |
| 2022 | The Worm | Old Horatio | Nightsong Theatre Productions | |
| 2019 | Naked Samoans Do Magic | Sinonidini | Dir. Nina Nawalowalo | |
| 2019 | Peter Pan | Captain Hook | Dir. Dan Pengally, Centrepoint | |
| 2018 | The Mountaintop | Martin Luther King | Dir. Fasitoa Amosa, FCC | |
| 2018-19 | The Taming of the Shrew | Richard III | Pop up Globe | |
| 2015 | Sons | Auckland Theatre Company | ||
| 2012 | A Frigate Bird Sings | Kapili | Auckland Theatre Company, dir. Alison Quigan | |
| 2011 | The Twits | Mrs Twits | Auckland Theatre Company | |
| 2011 | Bare | ChCh Earthquake Appal, Civic Theatre | ||
| 2010 | Naked Samoans Go Home | Oxfam Tsunami Charity Show | ||
| 2009 | Gods of Carnage | Dir. Colin McColl, ATC | ||
| 2008 | Where We Once Belonged | ATC | ||
| 2007 | Niu Sila | Tauranga Festival | ||
| 2006 | Naked Samoans Go Home | Naked Samoans | ||
| 2004 | Niu Sila | Downstage Theatre | ||
| 2003 | Ladies Night | Wes | Auckland Theatre Company | |
| 2002 | Naked Samoans-The Trilogy | Edinburgh Festival | ||
| 2001 | Vicks Boy | Circa Theatre, dir. Danny Mulheron | ||
| 2001 | Paradise | Takirua Productions / Circa Theatre, dir. Tina Cook | ||
| 2000 | Naked Samoans Go To Hollywood | |||
| 2000 | Serial Killers | Circa Theatre, dir. Cathy McRae | ||
| 1999 | Naked Samoans | |||
| 1998 | Sons | Downstage Theatre, dir. Christian Penny | ||
| 1998 | Naked Samoans Talk About Their Knives | |||
| 1997 | Mojo | Circa Theatre, dir. Stephen Bain | ||
| 1997 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Downstage Theatre / Northland Festival, dir. Jean Betts | ||
| 1996 | Eulogy | Downstage Theatre, dir. Andrew Foster | ||
| 1994-1995 | Fresh off the Boat | Dir. Nathaniel Lees | ||
| 1993 | Voices on the Wind | Barton National Tour, dir. Justine Simae Barton |
Short Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Proof | Len | Heimlich Manoeuvre | Short Film |
Commercial
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Air NZ 'Christmas' | Santa | Reel Factory | |
| 2021 | Travalyst - How Would Your Holiday Rate You? | Augusto, Prod: Simon Goulding | ||
| 2020 | Partners Life | Narrator | The Hood & Co | |
| 2018-2019 | Keep New Zealand Beautiful | Mama Nature | FCB | |
| 2017 | Ducktails | Himself | The Walt Disney Company (Australia) Pty Ltd |
Training
| Year | Description | Institution / Presenter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Bachelor of Acting | Toi Whakaari/NZ Drama School | ||
| 1992 | Diploma in Acting | Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School |
Languages
Advanced: Samoan
Accents
Advanced: Samoan
Sports
Intermediate: Fencing
Singing Styles
Advanced: General
Musical Instruments
Intermediate: Trombone