KJ Apa

Apa was born on 17 June 1997 at Waitakere Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand,^[1] the son of Tupa'i and Tessa Apa (née Callander). His father is Samoan and a matai (chief) of his village in Samoa;^[2] his mother is a European New Zealander.^[3] His father is known as Keneti Apa, with Keneti being a Samoan rendering of "Kennedy": both Apa and his father are named after the late United States President John F. Kennedy.^[4][5] He has two older sisters. His uncle is former rugby union player and coach Michael Jones.^[6] Apa attended high school at King's College in Auckland before beginning his acting career.^[7]

From 2013 to 2015, Apa starred as Kane Jenkins in the New Zealand prime-time soap opera Shortland Street. In 2016, he was cast as Archie Andrews in the CW drama series Riverdale, after a four-month worldwide talent search.^[8]

In 2017, he starred as Ethan Montgomery in the comedy-drama film A Dog's Purpose, which was released on the same day as Riverdale premiered on television.^[9]

His next film role was replacing Kian Lawley in the 2018 drama film The Hate U Give.^[10] He starred as Griffin in the Netflix film The Last Summer, which was released on 3 May 2019.^[11] He also starred as singer Jeremy Camp in the biographical romantic drama film I Still Believe, which was released in March 2020.^[12]

Apa starred in Adam Mason's critically panned 2020 thriller film Songbird, produced by Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes.^[13] The film was accused of using the COVID-19 pandemic to create a thrill plot. In May 2021, Lionsgate Films announced he would appear in a military based drama West Pointer.^[14]

In 2021, he independently released his debut album, Clocks, which explores the folk rock and indie genres. It gained some attention on Spotify and TikTok.^[15]

In early 2024, Apa did his first art show in Los Angeles.^[16]

In August 2025, Apa attracted attention for a TikTok based musical persona known as Mr. Fantasy.^[17] Media outlets reported that the characters distinctive styling, comedic delivery and physical resemblance led many to speculate that Apa was behind the persona, although he has not publicly confirmed this.^[18] Mr. Fantasy released his self-titled debut single in the same month.^[19] The single charted on Spotify's Viral 50 lists in the United States and globally, and reached over 5 million streams on Spotify as of November 2025.^[20]

Coverage of the Mr. Fantasy persona sparked renewed discussion of Apa's public image. Parade, Pedestrian.TV and The Hollywood Reporter characterised the alter ego as a comedic departure from his earlier roles, noting that its surreal style and self-aware exaggeration contrasted with the actor's established on-screen persona. Reporting also highlighted that the viral interest in the character demonstrated Apa's growing influence on short-form digital platforms.^[21]

Apa was involved in a minor car accident in Vancouver in September 2017, but was uninjured when the passenger side of his car hit a light pole. The late-night crash was reportedly the result of him falling asleep at the wheel after a long day of filming.^[22]

In May 2021, Apa announced that he and French model Clara Berry were expecting their first child,^[23] who was born in September 2021.^[24] On Andy Cohen's SiriusXM radio show on 14 August 2025, Apa revealed that fatherhood helped him get sober.^[25] In an interview with People, Apa said that his former Riverdale co-star Charles Melton is his son's godfather.^[26]

Apa was raised in a Christian family and has stated that he is a Christian.^[27]

In 2018, Apa criticised Rugby player Israel Folau over homophobic comments the player made over Instagram.^[28]

In September 2022, he was awarded the matai title of Savae by his native village Moata'a in Samoa.^[29]

In addition to soundtrack work on Shortland Street, Riverdale, and I Still Believe, Apa has released independent music.

As KJ Apa

• The Third Room (2012)
• Clocks (2021)^[33]

As Mr. Fantasy

• Mr. Fantasy (2025)^[34]
• Wayuwanna (2025)^[35]
• Catapult (2025)^[36]
• One Last Night (2026)