Jemaine Atea Mahana Clement (born January 10, 1974) is a New Zealand-born stand-up comedian, actor, multi-instrumentalist, singer, voice artist, and comedian, best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords along with Bret McKenzie.
Early life and career[]
Clement was born in Masterton, New Zealand, and was raised by his Māori mother, in the Wairarapa region. He attended Makoura College in Masterton. After graduation, he moved to New Zealand's capital Wellington, where he studied drama and film at Victoria University of Wellington. In 2004, the Humourbeasts toured New Zealand in a stage show titled The Untold Tales of Maui, a rework of the traditional Maori legends of Māui. The duo received New Zealand's highest comedy honour, the Billy T Award.
Clement has appeared in a number of feature films. His feature debut was in the kung fu comedy Tongan Ninja, directed by New Zealander Jason Stutter. He has worked with Stutter on two more movies to date: the low budget ghost comedy Diagnosis Death and the drama Predicament, based on the book by late New Zealand novelist Ronald Hugh Morrieson. Clement also has a role in American comedy Gentlemen Broncos, directed by Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess. This role landed him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. Though Gentlemen Broncos was almost universally panned by critics, some singled out Clement's performance for praise. In 2010, he voiced Jerry in Despicable Me and appeared in the film Dinner for Schmucks. In 2011, he voiced Nigel in Rio, and in 2012 he appeared as the lead villain Boris the Animal in Men in Black 3. In 2012, it was announced he would be starring in a New Zealand based Vampire-Comedy, directed by friend and fellow comedian Taika Waititi.
Filmography[]
He has acted over 34 movies and TV shows. Here are a few examples:
- Rio (Nigel)
- Rio 2 (Nigel)
- Despicible Me (Jerry the Minion)
- The Simpsons (Ethan)
- Muppets (Prison king)
- Moana (Tamatoa)
Trivia[]
- He and Nicole Scherzinger have co-starred in Men in Black 3.
- He and Rachel House have co-starred in Eagle vs. Shark which was written and directed by his friend and Moana writer Taika Waititi.