John Callen

Birth Name:

John Callen

Birth Place:

England, United Kingdom

Profession

Actor, Director, Soundtrack

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

Fast Facts