Updated Feb 20, 2026
Details
Known For
Director
Occupations
Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter
Birthday
(Saturday)
Birthplace
Nationality
Citizenship
New Zealand
Ethnicity
Ashkenazi Jews, Māori
Languages
English, Māori, New Zealand English
Spouses
Chelsea Winstanley (2011-2018), Rita Ora (2022)
Children
2 children
Sibling
Tweedie Waititi
Residences
Los Angeles
Education
Victoria University of Wellington, Onslow College
Zodiac Sign
♌ Leo
Chinese Zodiac
兔 Rabbit
Popularity
Tier A -- 157,549 Wikipedia views/month
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Screen debut
Directed first film at age 23
Year context
Born in 1975 -- Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War; Gerald Ford was US president
Year 1975 →
Career
Career spanning 24 years (1999-2023)
DROPTHE GOOD_
10
Notable
out of 100
Most people on Earth score 0. Only those with measurable positive impact appear on this scale.
Human Impact
0
Innovation
0
Giving
0
Sustainability
60
Cultural Uplift
43
Public Vote
★
★
★
★
★
Be the first to vote
Filmography (18)
History of the World: Part II
TV Series
Our Flag Means Death
Edward Teach a.k.a. Blackbeard
Lightyear
Mo Morrison (voice)
Thor: Love and Thunder
Korg / Old Kronan God (voice)
Free Guy
Antwan
The Suicide Squad
Ratcatcher
Deadpool and Ko...
Deadpool and Korg React
Film
Jojo Rabbit
Adolf
The Mandalorian
Director
Avengers: Endgame
Film
AWARDS (9)
B
Time 100
2022
WON
B
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
2020
WON
G
Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
2020
WON
S
Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
2020
WON
Biography
Taika David Cohen ONZM (born 16 August 1975), known professionally as Taika Waititi(/ˈtaɪkə ˈwaɪtɪti/ TY-kə WY-tee-tee), is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor and comedian. He is known for directing quirky comedy films and has expanded his career as a voice actor and producer on numerous projects. He has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a Grammy Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.
His feature films Boy (2010) and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) have each been the top-grossing New Zealand film. Waititi's 2003 short film Two Cars, One Night earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. He co-wrote, co-directed and starred in the horror comedy film What We Do in the Shadows (2014) with Jemaine Clement, which was adapted into a television series of the same name in 2019. The series has been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
His directing credits include the superhero films Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), as well as the black comedy film Jojo Rabbit (2019), the last of which he also wrote and starred in as an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler. Jojo Rabbit received six Academy Award nominations and won Best Adapted Screenplay. Waititi also earned a Grammy Award for producing the film's soundtrack.
In television, Waititi co-created and produced the comedy-drama series Reservation Dogs and directed, produced, and starred in the comedy Our Flag Means Death. In addition to directing an episode of The Mandalorian series, he voiced the character IG-11, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.
Connections (4)
Related People
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Taika Waititi?
Taika Waititi is 50 years old, born on .
Where was Taika Waititi born?
Taika Waititi was born in Wellington, New Zealand.
What movies or shows has Taika Waititi been in?
Taika Waititi has 18 credits in our database. Notable titles include History of the World: Part II (2023), Our Flag Means Death (2022), Lightyear (2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Free Guy (2021).
What is Taika Waititi known for?
Taika Waititi is primarily known as a director. Taika David Cohen ONZM (born 16 August 1975), known professionally as Taika Waititi(/ˈtaɪkə ˈwaɪtɪti/ TY-kə WY-tee-tee), is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor and comedian. He is known for directing quirky comedy films…
Where can I find more information about Taika Waititi?
You can find more about Taika Waititi on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.
Madonna →
Ryan Reynolds →