Rhys Darby

Rhys Darby is an actor, writer, podcaster and stand-up comedian from New Zealand.

Darby is most recognisable as “the gentleman pirate”, Stede Bonnet in the hit HBOMAX show Our Flag Means Death, playing opposite old mate Taika Waititi as Blackbeard. Darby first captured US audiences as Murray, the loveable, but ultimately inept manager in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords. He has gone on to star in a plethora of TV and film roles, from Yes Man and Pirate Radio to Nigel in the Jumanji reboots. On the small screen he has brought his talents to animations like Voltron Legendary Defender and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and shows like TBS’ Wrecked, The X Files and Lemony Snicket.

Darby also has a habit of popping up in Waititi’s films including Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What we do in the Shadows and the upcoming Next Goal Wins.

Darby is never far from his stand-up roots. His stand-up has been described as a sensational blend of sound effects, characterizations and askew observations. His career has taken him from his homeland of New Zealand, to the U.K. and beyond. He has performed his unique brand of humour in places as far flung as Iceland to the Falkland Islands, and in festivals from sell out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to Montreal’s Just for Laughs.

Rhys has five stand-up specials’, Imagine That! (2008), It’s Rhys Darby Night! (2011) and This Way to Spaceship, (2012) and I’m a Fighter Jet (2017) and Mystic Time Bird (2021). This Way to Spaceship was based on his debut novel of the same name, “A loosely autobiographical end of world companion” in 2012. It was number 1 in the international charts for 7 weeks.

Darby’s second book, this time for kids, was released in Australia and New Zealand in October 2018. It is called The Top Secret Notes of Buttons McGinty. Darby wrote it for his then 8 year old son, a reluctant reader, and has been thrilled to hear from kids and parents that they love it! He went on to release another two Buttons books, which thrilled his legions of junior fans.

Rhys’ love of the weird is seen in his stand up and writing, and for ten years he has had first a radio show, then a podcast on cryptozoology, The Cryptid Factor. Darby was thrilled when approached by Spotify to do a podcast about aliens, Aliens like Us. A regular attendee of alien conferences and star gazer, it is a dream come true.

A prolific voice over artist, kids all over the world hear him in Voltron: Legendary defender, Spirit, TMNT, Boss Baby, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and many more. He also lends his voice to animated films like Trolls, Teen Titans Go, 100% Wolf and Mosley.

In between his huge adventures Darby is based in Los Angeles with his family where they like to hike, eat tacos and explore the world.

You can follow Rhys' life www.twitter.com/rhysiedarby, Facebook.com/rhysdarby.or Instagram @rhysiedarby