{{Short description|New Zealand actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox person | image = Eteuati Ete 2010.jpg | caption = Ete in 2010 | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Samoa | occupation = Actor, Comedian }}
'''Etuate Ete''' (born ~1962)<ref name=et1/> is a New Zealand-based actor and comedian best known as one half of the Samoan duo Laughing Samoans.
==Biography== Ete was born in Samoa and moved to New Zealand with his parents at the age of 12.<ref name=et1>{{cite web |url=https://e-tangata.co.nz/korero/eteuati-ete-the-things-we-dont-laugh-about/ |title=Eteuati Ete: The things we don’t laugh about |author=Dale Husband |publisher=E-Tangata |date=17 November 2019 |accessdate=27 December 2020 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116030005/https://e-tangata.co.nz/korero/eteuati-ete-the-things-we-dont-laugh-about/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was one of the first Pacific Islanders to attend the Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School, graduating in 1984 with a Diploma in Acting.<ref name=nzos>{{Cite web|title=Eteuati Ete|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/eteuati-ete|url-status=live|access-date=22 June 2020|website=NZ On Screen|archive-date=24 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624161543/https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/eteuati-ete}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Graduate|url=https://www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduate|access-date=2021-08-09|website=www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710042217/https://www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduate|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1981, Ete became one of the founding members of New Zealand's first Pacific Island theatre group, Taotahi. They staged the first full-length Pacific Island play ever performed in New Zealand called “Le Matau” (1984) in which Ete played the lead role for which he was named by The Dominion's theatre critics as the most promising male performer of the year. He wrote and performed the first solo show by a Pacific Islander in New Zealand called ''The Johnny Smith Myth'' and has extensive stage, film, television and radio experience. In 2003, he formed the Laughing Samoans with Tofiga Fepulea'i.<ref name=nzos/>
In 2017, Ete confessed to a history of domestic violence.<ref name=StuffDV>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/98722131/laughing-samoan-confesses-to-his-secret-past-as-a-wifebeater |title=Laughing Samoan confesses to his secret past as a wife-beater |author=Jared Nicoll |publisher=Stuff |date=18 November 2017 |accessdate=27 December 2020 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114092854/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/98722131/laughing-samoan-confesses-to-his-secret-past-as-a-wifebeater |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pasefikaproud.co.nz/stories/ete-eteuati-opens-up-on-family-violence/ |title=Eteuati Ete Opens Up on Family Violence |publisher=Pasifika Proud |date=2019 |accessdate=27 December 2020 |archive-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129034422/http://pasefikaproud.co.nz/stories/ete-eteuati-opens-up-on-family-violence/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2019, he won the Senior Pacific Artist award in the annual Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1910/S00081/outstanding-pasifika-artists-to-be-celebrated.htm |title=Outstanding Pasifika artists to be celebrated |publisher=Creative New Zealand |date=7 October 2019 |accessdate=27 December 2020 |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214215222/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1910/S00081/outstanding-pasifika-artists-to-be-celebrated.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://pacificmedianetwork.com/articles/congratulations-for-maiava-eteuati-ete-winning-this-years-senior-pacific-artist |title=Congratulations for Maiava Eteuati Ete winning this year's Senior Pacific Artist |publisher=Pacific Media Network |date=7 October 2019 |accessdate=27 December 2020 |archive-date=30 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830045900/https://pacificmedianetwork.com/articles/congratulations-for-maiava-eteuati-ete-winning-this-years-senior-pacific-artist |url-status=live }}</ref> Creative New Zealand said of Ete receiving the award, "He has used his public profile and experience to make a positive impact in as many ways possible. Eteuati has also been bestowed the Samoan matai title of Maiava by his family."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Outstanding Pasifika artists to be celebrated at the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2019 |url=https://creativenz.govt.nz/News-and-blog/2022/06/15/02/25/54/Outstanding-Pasifika-artists-to-be-celebrated-at-the-Creative-New-Zealand-Arts-Pasifika-Awards-2019 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=Creative NZ |language=en-nz |archive-date=30 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830045851/https://creativenz.govt.nz/News-and-blog/2022/06/15/02/25/54/Outstanding-Pasifika-artists-to-be-celebrated-at-the-Creative-New-Zealand-Arts-Pasifika-Awards-2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name | 3769504 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ete, Eteuati}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Samoan male actors Category:New Zealand male stage actors Category:New Zealand male comedians Category:Toi Whakaari alumni Category:Samoan emigrants to New Zealand Category:Actors of Samoan descent Category:21st-century New Zealand comedians Category:New Zealand sketch comedians