---
name: "Cliff Curtis"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/cliff-curtis"
fi1m_id: "cliff-curtis"
imdb_id: "nm0193295"
tmdb_id: 7248
wikidata_id: "Q359325"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 July 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 18
average_fi1m_score: 66
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 17
updated: "2026-10-05T14:55:25.836309+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Cliff Curtis

## Identity

Cliff Curtis

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/cliff-curtis
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** cliff-curtis
- **IMDb ID:** nm0193295
- **TMDB ID:** 7248
- **Wikidata ID:** Q359325
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Curtis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q359325, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193295/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7248

Actor. Born 27 July 1968 in Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 July 1968, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand
- **Active:** 1993–present
- **Also known as:** Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 18: 17 acting, 1 producing
- **Frequently works with:** [Jason Statham](https://film.one/person/jason-statham.md), [Amanda Silver](https://film.one/person/amanda-silver.md), [Belle Avery](https://film.one/person/belle-avery.md), [Dean Georgaris](https://film.one/person/dean-georgaris.md), [Erich Hoeber](https://film.one/person/erich-hoeber.md), [James Cameron](https://film.one/person/james-cameron.md), [Jon Hoeber](https://film.one/person/jon-hoeber.md), [Jon Landau](https://film.one/person/jon-landau.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 17 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 85 (4), 2000s 65 (5), 2010s 49 (4), 2020s 63 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 63 across 17 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 5 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 16 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 9, Drama 8, Adventure 6, Science Fiction 6, Thriller 4, Fantasy 3
- **Screen time:** 33 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $6,878m across 16 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Curtis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q359325, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193295/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7248

## Coming up

- *Avatar 4* (2029-12-19), as Tonowari
- *Avatar 5* (2031-12-17), as Tonowari

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Once Were Warriors*](https://film.one/film/once-were-warriors.md) (82), [*INVINCIBLE*](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md) (74), [*10,000 BC*](https://film.one/film/10-000-bc.md) (40)
- **Disney+:** [*Avatar: The Way of Water*](https://film.one/film/avatar-the-way-of-water.md) (68), [*Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw*](https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious-presents-hobbs-and-shaw.md) (65), [*Avatar: Fire and Ash*](https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash.md) (58)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Meg*](https://film.one/film/the-meg.md) (49), [*Meg 2: The Trench*](https://film.one/film/meg-2-the-trench.md) (48)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Training Day*](https://film.one/film/training-day.md) (80)
- **Peacock:** [*Last Breath*](https://film.one/film/last-breath-2025.md) (66)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Last Airbender*](https://film.one/film/the-last-airbender.md) (24)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Cliff Curtis

> Cliff Curtis can make a small supporting part matter to the story. We rate him more highly than several of his blockbusters suggest, and his New Zealand dramas offer a better place to start.

In *Meg 2: The Trench* (2023), Cliff Curtis returns as Mac while a mining conspiracy keeps the giant-shark fun waiting. Ben Wheatley gives Page Kennedy the early laughs and saves the cheerful silliness for the last half hour. It is the sort of supporting assignment Curtis frequently gets in action films and science fiction. We value his ability to make a small role matter to the story, but there is a limit to what that can repair. This is a poor place to start with him.

His first film role was Mana in Jane Campion's *The Piano* (1993), followed by his breakthrough as Bully in *Once Were Warriors* (1994). We found the domestic violence in Lee Tamahori's family drama hard to watch. Rena Owen is the chief reason we recommend it, and Tamahori sometimes piles on more misery than he needs. Curtis's breakthrough is worth seeing, but not simply to complete a list of his early appearances.

From the late 1990s, Curtis took Hollywood supporting roles while returning regularly to New Zealand films. Early in his career, he also turned down stereotypical parts, including terrorists, to avoid being typecast. His Smiley in *Training Day* (2001) offers a better use of a supporting actor: a smaller role that matters to the story. Niki Caro's *Whale Rider* (2002), with Curtis as Porourangi, continued the work at home, while *The Dark Horse* (2014) gave him the lead as chess coach Genesis Potini. We prefer the New Zealand work, where complicated characters give him more to do.

James Cameron cast him as Tonowari in *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022), and he returns in *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025). We found the latter beautifully built but repetitive, despite Oona Chaplin's forceful villain Varang. Our interest in Curtis is no reason to excuse Cameron repeating himself for well over three hours. Nor should those sequels become the only measure of an actor who has carried a New Zealand drama. Try *The Dark Horse* before another trip to Pandora.

## Biography

Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis, also credited as Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis, is a New Zealand actor born on 27 July 1968 in Rotorua. Of Māori descent with Te Arawa and Ngāti Hauiti affiliations, he trained at Toi Whakaari and the Teatro Dimitri Scuola in Switzerland. He began in theatre before making his film debut in *The Piano* (1993) and gaining early recognition in *Once Were Warriors* (1994).

Curtis has appeared in international films including *Training Day* (2001), *Whale Rider* (2002), *Live Free or Die Hard* (2007), *The Meg* (2018), *Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw* (2019), *Doctor Sleep* (2019) and *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022). He portrays Tonowari in the *Avatar* series, including *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025), and reprises the role of Mac in *Meg 2: The Trench* (2023). On television he played Travis Manawa in *Fear the Walking Dead* (2015–2017).

He is co-owner of the New Zealand production company Whenua Films. Curtis has won four New Zealand Film Awards and the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor for *The Dark Horse* (2014).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (18)

### Performed in (17) — the average rests on these

- *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025), Fi1m 58, as Tonowari — [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash.md)
- *Last Breath* (2025), Fi1m 66, as Andre Jenson (Captain) — [page](https://film.one/film/last-breath-2025.md)
- *Meg 2: The Trench* (2023), Fi1m 48, as Mac — [page](https://film.one/film/meg-2-the-trench.md)
- *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022), Fi1m 68, as Tonowari — [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-the-way-of-water.md)
- *INVINCIBLE* (2021), Fi1m 74, as Paul (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md)
- *Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw* (2019), Fi1m 65, as Jonah Hobbs — [page](https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious-presents-hobbs-and-shaw.md)
- *The Meg* (2018), Fi1m 49, as James 'Mac' Mackreides — [page](https://film.one/film/the-meg.md)
- *The Last Airbender* (2010), Fi1m 24, as Fire Lord Ozai — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-airbender.md)
- *10,000 BC* (2008), Fi1m 40, as Tic-Tic — [page](https://film.one/film/10-000-bc.md)
- *Live Free or Die Hard* (2007), Fi1m 65, as Deputy Director Miguel Bowman — [page](https://film.one/film/live-free-or-die-hard.md)
- *Sunshine* (2007), Fi1m 74, as Searle — [page](https://film.one/film/sunshine-2007.md)
- *The Fountain* (2006), Fi1m 66, as Captain Ariel — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fountain.md)
- *Training Day* (2001), Fi1m 80, as Smiley — [page](https://film.one/film/training-day.md)
- *The Insider* (1999), Fi1m 89, as Sheikh Fadlallah — [page](https://film.one/film/the-insider.md)
- *Three Kings* (1999), Fi1m 80, as Amir Abdullah — [page](https://film.one/film/three-kings.md)
- *Once Were Warriors* (1994), Fi1m 82, as Bully — [page](https://film.one/film/once-were-warriors.md)
- *The Piano* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Mana — [page](https://film.one/film/the-piano.md)

### Produced (1)

- *Great Expectations* (2012), Fi1m 57, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/great-expectations-2012.md)

## Complete filmography (72)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Avatar 5* (2031), as Tonowari
- *Avatar 4* (2029), as Tonowari
- *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025), as Tonowari — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash.md)
- *Chief of War* (2025), series, as Keoua · Co-Producer
- *Last Breath* (2025), as Andre Jenson (Captain) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/last-breath-2025.md)
- *KAOS* (2024), series, as Poseidon — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/kaos.md)
- *In the Fire of War* (2024), as Wi Toka
- *Swift Street* (2024), series, as Robert
- *Monarch: Legacy of Monsters* (2023), series, as Jason Trissop
- *Meg 2: The Trench* (2023), as Mac — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/meg-2-the-trench.md)
- *True Spirit* (2023), as Ben Bryant
- *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022), as Tonowari — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-the-way-of-water.md)
- *The Raid* (2022), as Tāwharau ‘Taffy’ · Executive Producer
- *Murina* (2022), as Javier
- *Reminiscence* (2021), as Cyrus Booth
- *INVINCIBLE* (2021), series, as Paul (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md)
- *Doctor Sleep* (2019), as Billy Freeman
- *Herbs: Songs of Freedom* (2019), Producer
- *Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw* (2019), as Jonah Hobbs — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious-presents-hobbs-and-shaw.md)
- *Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen* (2019), Executive Producer
- *The Meg* (2018), as James 'Mac' Mackreides — Fi1m 49, [page](https://film.one/film/the-meg.md)
- *Risen* (2016), as Yeshua
- *Fear the Walking Dead* (2015), series, as Travis Manawa
- *Last Knights* (2015), as Lt. Cortez
- *The Dark Horse* (2014), as Genesis · Executive Producer
- *Gang Related* (2014), series, as Javier Acosta
- *Great Expectations* (2012), Executive Producer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/great-expectations-2012.md)
- *Missing* (2012), series, as Dax Miller
- *A Thousand Words* (2012), as Dr. Sinja
- *Saving Grace - Te Whakarauora Tangata* (2011), Co-Producer
- *Colombiana* (2011), as Emilio
- *Body of Proof* (2011), series, as FBI Special Agent Derek Ames
- *The Last Airbender* (2010), as Fire Lord Ozai — Fi1m 24, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-airbender.md)
- *Boy* (2010), Producer
- *Trauma* (2009), series, as Reuben 'Rabbit' Palchuck
- *Crossing Over* (2009), as Hamid Baraheri
- *Push* (2009), as Hook Waters
- *10,000 BC* (2008), as Tic-Tic — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/10-000-bc.md)
- *Coffee and Allah* (2007), Executive Producer
- *Live Free or Die Hard* (2007), as Deputy Director Miguel Bowman — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/live-free-or-die-hard.md)
- *Eagle vs Shark* (2007), Producer
- *Fracture* (2007), as Detective Flores
- *Sunshine* (2007), as Searle — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/sunshine-2007.md)
- *The Fountain* (2006), as Captain Ariel — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fountain.md)
- *River Queen* (2005), as Wiremu
- *Spooked* (2004), as Mort Whitman
- *Tama Tū* (2004), Producer
- *Fracture* (2004), as Inspector Franklin
- *Heinous Crime* (2004), as Pizza Delivery Man
- *Traffic* (2004), series, as Adam Kadyrov
- *Runaway Jury* (2003), as Frank Herrera
- *Whale Rider* (2003), as Porourangi
- *Point of Origin* (2002), as Mike Camello
- *Collateral Damage* (2002), as Claudio Perrini
- *The Majestic* (2001), as The Evil But Handsome Prince Khalid
- *Training Day* (2001), as Smiley — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/training-day.md)
- *Blow* (2001), as Pablo Escobar
- *Jubilee* (2000), as Billy Williams
- *The Insider* (1999), as Sheikh Fadlallah — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/the-insider.md)
- *Bringing Out the Dead* (1999), as Cy Coates
- *Three Kings* (1999), as Amir Abdullah — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/three-kings.md)
- *Virus* (1999), as Hiko
- *Six Days Seven Nights* (1998), as Kip
- *Deep Rising* (1998), as Mamooli
- *Chicken* (1996), as Zeke
- *Hercules: The Legendary Journeys* (1995), series, as Nemis
- *Overnight* (1995), as Jim
- *Hercules in the Underworld* (1994), as Nessus
- *Once Were Warriors* (1994), as Bully — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/once-were-warriors.md)
- *Rapa Nui* (1994), as Short Ears
- *Desperate Remedies* (1993), as Fraser
- *The Piano* (1993), as Mana — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-piano.md)

## Gallery

- ![Cliff Curtis](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-159a998f06a7.jpg) Cliff Curtis — US Embassy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Cliff_Curtis_March_2026.jpg/500px-Cliff_Curtis_March_2026.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Press conference with Actor Cliff Curtis, and Bloxx CEO & Co-Founder Chris Smith (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-b587c61dd643.jpg) Press conference with Actor Cliff Curtis, and Bloxx CEO & Co-Founder Chris Smith (2025) — Web Summit, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Cliff_Curtis_%2854919605075%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Cliff_Curtis_%2854919605075%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cliff Curtis at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International in San Diego, California with a moustache drawn on by me.](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-46afa49cc52f.jpg) Cliff Curtis at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International in San Diego, California with a moustache drawn on by me. — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Abhinandan_moustache_-_01.jpg/1280px-Abhinandan_moustache_-_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cliff Curtis at the 2011 MIPCOM, in Cannes.](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-a5ffd3337389.jpg) Cliff Curtis at the 2011 MIPCOM, in Cannes. — Frantogian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Cliff_Curtis_-_Cannes_%281%29.jpg/1280px-Cliff_Curtis_-_Cannes_%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cliff Curtis](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-6adf7b54ccf7.jpg) Cliff Curtis — Image via TMDB
- ![Cliff Curtis](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-2b0eb2d7e104.jpg) Cliff Curtis — Image via TMDB
- ![Cliff Curtis](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-d59693b6c6db.jpg) Cliff Curtis — Image via TMDB
- ![Press conference with Actor Cliff Curtis, and Bloxx CEO & Co-Founder Chris Smith (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-b04d2cc801a9.jpg) Press conference with Actor Cliff Curtis, and Bloxx CEO & Co-Founder Chris Smith (2025) — Web Summit, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Cliff_Curtis_%2854919605075%29.jpg/1280px-Cliff_Curtis_%2854919605075%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cliff Curtis speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. P](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-d7c3240eb261.jpg) Cliff Curtis speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. P — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Cliff_Curtis_%2828448685932%29.jpg/1280px-Cliff_Curtis_%2828448685932%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cliff Curtis](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-f07696c6ea5c.jpg) Cliff Curtis — Image via TMDB
- ![Cliff Curtis](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-5c9ee257ce6c.jpg) Cliff Curtis — Image via TMDB
- ![Cliff Curtis](https://film.one/media/person/7547/gallery-e9d5b5b677d2.jpg) Cliff Curtis — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/cliff-curtis