Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
June 29, 1976
Place of Birth:
Wellington, New Zealand
Bret Peter Tarrant McKenzie (born 29 June 1976 in Wellington, New Zealand) is a comedian, actor, musician and producer, best known for being one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords along with Jemaine Clement. In the 2000s, the duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an oft-lauded American television series, which aired for two seasons on HBO. Active since 1998, the duo released their most recent comedy special, Live in London, in 2018.
Primarily a musician, McKenzie has worked as a songwriter and music supervisor for film and television since the 2010s. He served as music supervisor for two Muppet films, The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014), the former of which won him an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "Man or Muppet". In the 2000s, McKenzie was part of reggae fusion band The Black Seeds and Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, and, in the 2010s, he began performing solo material. His debut album Songs Without Jokes was released in August 2022.
As an actor, he portrayed elves in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies: in the first he remained unnamed with fans naming him Figwit, a character originally cast as an extra who gained attention thanks to the trilogy's fan community. He later appears in The Hobbit as Lindir, a minor character who originally appears in the book of The Fellowship of the Ring.
Year | Movie | Role |
---|---|---|
2025 | A Minecraft Movie | Nitwit Onset Performer |
2020 | The Postal Service Zoom Auditions | Self |
2018 | Flight of the Conchords: Live in London | |
2013 | Austenland | Martin |
2012 | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | Lindir |
2012 | Two Little Boys | Nige |
2012 | The Outback | Hamish (voice) |
2010 | Diagnosis: Death | Dr. Cruise |
2009 | Just for Laughs: Launching Pad | |
2009 | Just For Laughs: Over The Edge | Bret McKegney |
2009 | Flight of the Conchords: On Air | Self |
2008 | Largo | Self |
2006 | Flight of the Conchords: A Texan Odyssey | |
2005 | One Night Stand: Flight of the Conchords | |
2005 | Futile Attraction | Mr. Wickham |
2004 | Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!! | Self / Figwit |
2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Elf Escort |
2001 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | Figwit (uncredited) |
Year | TV Show | Role |
---|---|---|
2022 | The Horne Section TV Show | Bret McKenzie |
2016 | Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ | Huck |
2010 | Conan | Self |
2007 | Flight of the Conchords | Bret McKenzie |
2007 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Tim's Tennis Double |
1989 | The Simpsons | Kurt Hardwick (voice) |