Quick Info
| Profession | Filmmaker, actor, comedian, writer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Date of Birth | 16/08/1975 |
| Age | 51 years |
| Birthplace | Raukokore, New Zealand |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
Latest News about Taika Waititi
02/11/2026
Taika Waititi publicly defended his latest directed film, Klara and the Sun, on Instagram after it received weak reviews and underperformed at the box office. He criticised film critics in a Halloween post that pointed to the film's far higher audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film's critic score remained low, drawing further attention to the dispute.
18/10/2026
Waititi confirmed that his Star Wars film, in development since 2020, has been put on hold indefinitely. He made the comments while promoting Klara and the Sun, saying the project was being shelved while he works on a different project with Lucasfilm.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Taika David Waititi |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Taika David Cohen |
| Summary | New Zealand filmmaker known for comedic and absurd films, including What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok, and for the Academy Award-winning screenplay of Jojo Rabbit. His most recent directed feature is Klara and the Sun (2026), which received poor reviews from critics. |
| Heritage | Māori father and mother of Russian Jewish descent |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Secondary | Onslow College, Wellington |
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| Tertiary | Victoria University of Wellington, degree in theatre (BA) |
Personal Life
| Early Life | Raised mainly in Wellington after his parents divorced |
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| Name Change | Adopted the Waititi surname after his first short film |
Relationships & More
| Spouse | Chelsea Winstanley (married 2011; divorced 2018, per one source) |
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Family
| Father | Taika Waititi Sr., a Māori painter and artist |
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| Mother | Robin Cohen, a schoolteacher of Russian Jewish descent |
| Children | Two daughters |
Career
| Early Work | Stand-up comedy with the duo Humourbeasts, which won the 1999 Billy T Comedy Award; cast member of the TV series The Strip (2002) |
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| Short Films | Two Cars, One Night (2003), nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film |
| Feature Films |
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| Television | Directed episodes of Flight of the Conchords (HBO) |
| Awards |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Taika means 'tiger' in Māori | |
| 2. Waititi means 'enlightened' in Māori | |
| 3. Initially planned to become a painter or deep-sea diver before turning to acting | |
| 4. Describes himself as a 'Polynesian Jew' | |
| 5. His paternal grandfather, also named Taika, served in the Māori Battalion in World War II |
Social Media