Taika Cohen

Taika Waititi
Waititi at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	Taika David Waititi (1975-08-16) 16 August 1975 (age 42) Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington
Occupation	Film director, screenwriter and comedian
Years active	1999 - present
Known for	Boy, What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok
Spouse(s)	Chelsea Winstanley

Taika David Waititi (/ˈtaɪkə waɪˈtiːti/; born 16 August 1975), also known as Taika Cohen, is a New Zealand film director, writer, actor, painter and comedian.

He was nominated for an Academy Award for his 2004 short film Two Cars, One Night. His feature films Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople became the top grossing New Zealand films. His horror comedy film What We Do in the Shadows also received critical acclaim. Waititi's first major Hollywood film, Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok, is scheduled for release on 3 November 2017.

Waititi hails from the Raukokore area of the East Coast region of the North Island of New Zealand, and grew up there and in Wellington, going to Onslow College in his teen years. His father is Māori of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and his mother is of Russian Jewish heritage. Waititi has used his mother's surname, "Cohen," for some of his work in film and writing.

While a drama student at Victoria University of Wellington, Waititi was part of the five-member ensemble So You're a Man, which toured New Zealand and Australia with some success.