Manu Bennett, also known as John Bennett or Jon Bennett, is an Australian-New Zealand actor. He is best known for his portrayal as the Gallic gladiator Crixus in the Starz television series Spartacus. He has also appeared as Azog the Defiler in Peter Jackson's three-part fil...
Jonathan Manu Bennett , John Bennett , Jon Bennett , 'Manu' Bennett
Movies
Beta Test, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Sinbad and The Minotaur, 30 Days of Night, The Condemned, The Marine, Lantana, Tango Trois, The Bridge, Death Race 2050
TV Shows
Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Street Legal, Water Rats, Paradise Beach, Arrow, Shortland Street, The Violent Earth, Tales of the South Seas, Going Straight
Star Sign
Libra
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Trademark
1
Hoarsely, deep voice
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Strong jaw
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Scars on the right side of his face
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Muscular physique
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Deep gravelly voice
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Quote
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[on attending a boarding school for Maori boys in New Zealand.] It was like being sent to gladiator school. Like prison. The only things people respected were strength, being good at rugby, and being able to hold your own in a fight.
2
Manu is a New Zealand Maori name that means "bird". I was given this name after my uncle who was the Bishop Of New Zealand.
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Fact
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Manu has three children with socialite Karin Horen.
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Attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute on a scholarship.
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Quit playing professional rugby in order to attend Univeristy where he studied drama and dance.
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His father is a New Zealander and his mother is Australian. He is of Maori (Te Arawa and Ngati Kahungunu), as well as English, Scottish, and Irish, ancestry.
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Has an uncle who played piano for Elvis Presley.
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Offered ballet scholarship in New York after finishing high school, but chose to travel Europe and the US instead.
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Mother was a Queensland beauty queen, father, an entertainer in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
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His family immigrated to Australia when he was just a few months old.
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Credited as 'Manu' Bennett in his role as Jack Hewitt on Shortland Street.
$1.5 Million
