Curtis lands leading role

Actor Cliff Curtis photographed at his family marae, Tapuaekura a Hatupatu, on the edge of Lake Rotoiti, near Rotorua. 9 July 2014 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Christine Cornege NZH 26Jul14 -

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Curtis will play the main role in the series, which is set in the world of The Walking Dead but follows a different group of survivors.

His character is teacher Sean Cabrera, and his description as "a good man trying to do right by everyone in his life" is similar to that of The Walking Dead's lead Rick Grimes.

The show's other lead, Cabrera's ex-wife Andrea, is yet to be cast, THR reported.
Well-known as a film actor, Curtis was last seen on the big screen in local drama hit The Dark Horse.

He has had a string of roles on American television series, none of which seem to have stuck. They include the drama Gang Related, Missing, Body of Proof and Trauma.

He also has an extensive movie history, including roles in Once Were Warriors, Live Free or Die Hard, The Fountain and 10,000 BC.

The Walking Dead, one of America's most-watched cable shows, is based on a series of Robert Kirkman graphic novels, and screens on TV2 in New Zealand.

It finished the first half of season five on Monday, and will be back in February.

Meanwhile, Curtis will realise another dream when he competes in the IronMaori half-Ironman in Napier today.

Curtis, 46, will do the 2km swim leg for the three-person Team Mo, put together by singer Moana Maniapoto, in line with the kaupapa of the One Heart Many Lives health project.

Ms Maniopoto will take on the 21km run and the 90km bike ride will be done by George Bradfield, husband of Ngati Kahungunu songstress Hinewehi Mohi.

Curtis (Te Arawa, Ngati Hauiti) had been set to do the run for Ms Maniapoto's Te Arawa Tri-Hards in 2012 but was a late withdrawal because of work commitments in Prague.

Mr Bradfield replaced him at the time and reported the actor was "gutted" not to be there.

Curtis was unable to be contacted about the event, but his entry was confirmed by event founder and organiser Heather Skipworth.

Despite a quarter-century in television and movies and a series of startling action roles, he apparently also harbours some trepidation about Saturday's 8am thrash in Pandora Pond, Miss Skipworth revealing: "He's a bit nervous."

Ms Maniapoto said on Facebook: "Pleased that he was spouting our mantra 'completing, not competing'. Surviving is what it's all about. Says he might be the only one in the pond wearing floatie devices. He said he's perfected the art of dog paddle."

- Additional reporting Hawkes Bay Today