John Callen

John has worked for 40 years as a professional actor, director and writer in theatre, radio, film and television. He has performed in or directed more than 100 stage productions and more than two dozen television series, and narrated close to 150 documentaries.

John has also appeared in a number of films including Pictures, The Sinking Of The Rainbow Warrior, Treasure Island Kids, Fly, The Man Who Lost His Head and Love Birds.

John was awarded Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor by Wellington theatre critics, and Best Actor in a Short Film. He was also named Critics' Choice for his portrayal of Macbeth. His experience as actor or director has covered everything from the absurd to the classical, including roles as Shylock and Polonius. And now he is relishing his experience playing the dwarf Oin in the core cast of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit.

John's voiceover work includes narrating almost 150 documentaries for National Geographic, Discovery, Animal Planet and other local and international producers and broadcasters.

Major directing credits include Shortland Street, Comedy Central, Epitaph, Jackson's Wharf, The Tribe, Taonga and The Kiwi Who Saved Britain. He has also directed more than 50 television commercials and corporate A/Vs.

John has also worked as a lecturer at the NZ Drama School - Toi Whakaari, Unitec's School of Performing and Screen Arts and the University of Auckland.

In between all these engagements he is also in demand for commercial and corporate voice work and reads Talking Books for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind