John Callen Biography

Fast Facts

• Has worked with the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, reading Talking Books for the organization
• Wellington theatre critics awarded him as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor
• Was named a Critic's Choice for his performance as the title character in "Macbeth․"
• Through connections in amateur theater, he met an advertising director who hired him as a voiceover artist, a career that exposed him to New Zealand's professional acting world
• His first job was doing copywriting for a radio station, which he used to enter the field of journalism
• Quote: "[on Peter Jackson] "One of the things I always like about directors, and particularly Peter, is the sheer joy that they have in their work․""
• Quote: "[on "The Hobbit"] "Oin has evolved into more of a warrior than I initially thought he would be and I don't have a problem with that, because this mission isn't going to be a doddle․""
• Known for playing the dwarf Oin in "The Hobbit" film trilogy
• Worked full-time at New Zealand's first professional theater company, Downstage Theatre
• Has lectured to students on acting and media studies