Robbie Magasiva

Biography

Although Magasiva was born in New Zealand (Wellington), his family moved to Samoa. He grew up in a small community west of Apia called Tanumapua. His family moved back to New Zealand permanently when he was 10 years old. His brother Pua is the only active Samoan actor in Shortland Street as of 2017 as Nurse Vinne Kruse.

After leaving school, he gave theatre sports a go and acted in some commercials while working as a receptionist at an advertising agency.

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 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 new 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). He resides in Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia (where he films Wentworth). In 2016 he guest starred in TVNZ's Dirty Laundry

Personal life

Magasiva is the first son of Salafa and Taufaiula Ropati Magasiva, he has four brothers, Stevan, Miki, twins Pua, and Tanu, and one sister Trina Magasiva. He inspired his younger brother (Pua) to become an actor; Robbie landed him an audition for alcohol awareness commercial.

He has two children, Austin (born 1996) and Sophie (born 2000) both reside in Auckland, he looks after the kids week-on, week-off with their mother, Alice Gordon.

In 2015 Medlock wrote acted and directed the play "Christ Almighty!" (to raise money for the homeless) alongside boyfriend Robbie Magasiva and his fellow Wentworth co stars Danielle Cormack, Nicole da Silva and Bernard Curry.

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