You’ve definitely seen his face. Maybe he was a cartel boss in a gritty 2000s crime drama, or perhaps he was the grieving father trying to survive a zombie apocalypse in Los Angeles. Honestly, Cliff Curtis is everywhere. He has this uncanny, almost supernatural ability to disappear into any role, which is why Cliff Curtis movies and tv shows have become such a staple of both blockbuster cinema and prestige television.
He’s a Maori actor from New Zealand, but Hollywood has cast him as basically every ethnicity under the sun. Arab, Latino, Indian, African-American—you name it. Some people find the "everyman" casting controversial by today's standards, but Curtis has always approached it with a specific kind of dignity. He famously told Slate that he takes the responsibility of representing other cultures "very, very seriously." He isn’t just playing a caricature; he’s trying to find the humanity in characters that the script might have originally written as one-dimensional.
The Roles That Defined the Career
Most people first got hit with the power of Cliff Curtis in the 1994 New Zealand classic Once Were Warriors. He played "Uncle Bully," a role so visceral and disturbing that it remains one of the most talked-about performances in Kiwi cinema history. It’s a hard watch. If you haven't seen it, be prepared for something heavy.
But then he moved to Hollywood and the range just exploded. Look at 2001. In the same year, he played Pablo Escobar in Blow alongside Johnny Depp and then turned around to play "Smiley" in Training Day. Think about that. He went from a Colombian drug kingpin to a Chicano gang member in the span of months. Most actors get pigeonholed into one "type" within their first three years. Curtis just refused to settle.
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Breaking Down the Big Hits
If you’re looking for a watchlist, these are the heavy hitters:
- Whale Rider (2002): He plays Porourangi, a father caught between modern life and ancient Maori tradition. It’s arguably his most "authentic" role because it taps directly into his own heritage.
- Sunshine (2007): A cult classic sci-fi directed by Danny Boyle. Curtis plays Searle, the ship’s doctor who becomes obsessed with the sun. It’s quiet, haunting, and shows he doesn't need a gun or a badge to be the most interesting person on screen.
- The Dark Horse (2014): This is the one you watch if you want to see him really act. He played Genesis Potini, a real-life speed chess champion who struggled with bipolar disorder. He won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Actor for this, and honestly, it’s a crime he didn’t get an Oscar nod.
That Shocking Fear the Walking Dead Exit
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. If you were a fan of Fear the Walking Dead, you probably remember the absolute chaos of Season 3. Curtis played Travis Manawa, the moral compass of the show. He was the guy we all thought was the "Rick Grimes" of the spinoff.
Then, out of nowhere, he’s shot in a helicopter and falls to his death in the second episode of the season.
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It felt cheap at the time. Fans were furious. Why kill the lead? Well, the reality was a mix of storytelling and a massive career opportunity. The showrunners wanted to push Madison (played by Kim Dickens) into a darker, more ruthless place, and Travis’s death was the catalyst. But also, James Cameron came calling.
Entering the World of Pandora
You don't say no to James Cameron. Curtis was cast as Tonowari, the leader of the Metkayina reef people in the Avatar sequels. If you saw Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, you saw him—or at least, you saw his motion-capture performance.
Being part of the Avatar franchise changed the trajectory of his 2020s. He’s signed on for the long haul. We just saw him return in Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), and he’s expected to be a pillar of the franchise through Avatar 4 and 5. It's a huge commitment. It’s also probably why he’s been doing fewer "small" indie movies lately. When you're filming on Pandora, that's your life for years at a time.
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Recent Hits and 2026 Outlook
Even with the blue aliens taking up his time, Curtis hasn't completely vanished from regular TV and film.
- Kaos (2024): He played Poseidon in this Netflix reimagining of Greek myths. It was weird, stylized, and he looked like he was having the time of his life playing a god.
- Last Breath (2025): He starred in this intense deep-sea survival thriller. It’s claustrophobic as hell.
- Chief of War (2025/2026): This is a big one. A historical epic about the unification of Hawaii, where he plays Keōua. It’s the kind of project that feels like a full-circle moment for him, dealing with Pacific Islander history on a massive scale.
Why We Still Care About Cliff Curtis Movies and TV Shows
The reason Cliff Curtis stays relevant is that he’s a "working actor" who accidentally became a star. He doesn't have the ego of a leading man, but he has the presence of one. Whether he’s playing Jesus Christ in Risen (2016) or a Fire Lord in the much-maligned The Last Airbender (2010)—yeah, even he couldn't save that one—he always brings a certain "gravitas."
He bridges the gap between the gritty indies of New Zealand and the billion-dollar machines of Disney and Warner Bros. He’s the guy who can stand next to The Rock in Hobbs & Shaw and not look small, then turn around and lead a tiny, heartbreaking drama about mental health.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to truly appreciate the range of Cliff Curtis movies and tv shows, don't just stick to the blockbusters.
- Start with The Dark Horse: It’s available on most streaming platforms (check Peacock or Amazon). It will change how you view his talent.
- Revisit Sunshine: Turn the lights off, put on some good headphones, and just soak in the atmosphere.
- Watch the early NZ stuff: Once Were Warriors and Whale Rider are essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand the roots of his performance style.
The guy is a legend for a reason. He’s 57 now, and it feels like he’s just hitting his second wind. Between the Avatar sequels and his work in historical epics like Chief of War, we're going to be seeing a lot more of that "multi-ethnic" face on our screens for the next decade.