KJ Apa

KJ Apa Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: June 17, 1997

Age: 26 years old

Birth Place: Auckland, New Zealand

How do you make a splash with a live-action TV teen drama based on the long-running, always-wholesome Archie comics series? One good way is to hit the internet with a sexy, shirtless shot of its star. The teaser video, which appeared in November 2015, featured New Zealand actor KJ Apa, then 19 years old, looking considerably more manly than the good-natured, slightly goofy Archie familiar from the comic strip, and it served notice that "Riverdale" (CW 2017- ) would be a darker, edgier version of the characters everybody knows. The show puts a murder in the town of Riverdale, as Archie and the gang help to find the killer. Apa was already established at home as an actor and sex symbol. Born Keneti James Apa in Auckland, he was of mixed New Zealand and Maorian heritage. As a teenager he joined the cast of "Shortland Street," New Zealand's longest-running (since 1992) and most popular prime-time soap opera. During summer 2015 his agent brought him to Hollywood, ultimately securing the "Riverdale" role. Also a musician, he recorded a solo guitar album at age 14. Apa spent the summer of 2016 in Boston shooting the independent drama "Alter Rock" (2017) with director Andrzej Bartkowiak. Loosely based on events around the Boston Marathon bombings, it concerns a young woman who falls in love with a Muslim immigrant during a vacation on Nantucket. He also appeared in "A Dog's Purpose" (2017), based on the W. Bruce Cameron novel, starring Dennis Quaid and Britt Robertson, before co-starring alongside Amandla Stenberg in critically-acclaimed teen race-relations drama "The Hate U Give" (2018).

News aboutKJ Apa

KJ Apa and Camila Mendes in 'Riverdale'
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‘Riverdale’ EP Sarah Schechter Teases ‘Really Emotional’ & ‘Satisfying’ Series Finale

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‘Riverdale’ Series Finale: Gang Says Goodbye in the ‘50s (PHOTOS)

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‘Riverdale’ Gang Fears Sheltering for Nuclear War in Episode 18 Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

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‘Riverdale’ Sneak Peek: Mark Consuelos Resurrects Hiram Lodge (Video)

KJ Apa in 'Riverdale'
Q&A

KJ Apa on ‘Loving’ the ’50s of ‘Riverdale’ & Looking Back at His Own Past

KJ Apa as Archie Andrews in Riverdale
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KJ Apa on ‘Riverdale’ Ending: ‘It’s Going to Be Really Hard to Say Goodbye to Archie’

Camila Mendes in the 'Riverdale' Season 7 premiere
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‘Riverdale’: Veronica Reveals Her Past With James Dean in Final Season Premiere Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

Lili Reinhart and KJ Apa in 'Riverdale' Season 7

‘Riverdale’ Final Season Trailer: Archie & the Gang Get Trapped in 1950s (VIDEO)

Lili Reinhart, Madelaine Petsch, KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Charles Melton and Chris O'Shea as Betty, Cheryl, Archie, Veronica, Reggie and Percival in 'Riverdale'

8 Burning Questions ‘Riverdale’ Must Answer in Final Season

The 7 Strangest ‘Riverdale’ Episodes So Far

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Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Explains How ‘Riverdale’ Is Embracing Its Supernatural Side

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The ‘Rivervale’ Event Ends — Cole Sprouse on What’s Next With the Return to ‘Riverdale’

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‘Riverdale’ Boss on That Premiere Death, Rivervale’s High Body Count & More

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‘Riverdale’ First Look: Everything Changes in the Season 6 Premiere (PHOTOS)

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‘Riverdale’ Season 5 Finale Sneak Peek: Toni Plots to ‘Take Care of Hiram’ (VIDEO)

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‘Riverdale’ Boss Teases New Pairings & a Musical When Season 5 Returns (VIDEO)

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‘Riverdale’ Sneak Peek: Rivalry Heats Up as Archie Meets Ronnie’s Man & Is So Not Impressed (Video)

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‘Riverdale’ Says Goodbye to High School in ‘Graduation’ (PHOTOS)

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‘Riverdale’s 15 Craziest Plotlines Over the Years (PHOTOS)

Chapter Fifty-Eight: In Memoriam
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‘Riverdale’ Honors Fred’s Legacy in Luke Perry Tribute (RECAP)

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Archie & Friends Mourn Fred in ‘Riverdale’ Season 4 Premiere Promo (VIDEO)

Chapter Fifty-Eight: In Memoriam

‘Riverdale’ Season 4 Trailer: What’s Happened to Jughead? (VIDEO)

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Go Behind the Scenes of ‘Riverdale’ Season 3 (PHOTOS)

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KJ Apa Reveals New Info on Luke Perry ‘Riverdale’ Tribute Episode

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Comic-Con

‘Riverdale’ Cast Teases Season 4, Jughead’s Possible Death & Senior Year (VIDEO)

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‘Riverdale’ Season 3 Bloopers Show Off Light-Hearted Luke Perry Moments (VIDEO)

2019 Comic-Con International -
Comic-Con

‘Riverdale’ Season 4 Panel Scoop: Luke Perry’s Tribute, Jughead’s Fate & a Flash-Forward

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Survive the Night
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‘Riverdale’ Introduces a New, Crazy, Bloody Mystery in the Season 3 Finale (RECAP)

Chapter Fifty-Six: The Dark Secret of Harvest House
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Did ‘Riverdale’ Just Reveal the Truth About the Farm & the Gargoyle King’s Identity? (RECAP)

Chapter Fifty-Five: Prom Night
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Betty’s Prom Night Becomes a Horror Movie on ‘Riverdale’ (RECAP)

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9 TV Stars Who Dramatically Changed Their Hair For a Role (PHOTOS)

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‘Riverdale’ Sneak Peek: Ab Times at the El Royale… Boxing Club! (VIDEO)

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‘Riverdale’ to Tackle ‘Heathers’ for Season 3’s Musical Episode

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‘Riverdale’ Fall Finale Sneak Peek: Meet Gladys & Jellybean Jones (PHOTOS)

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‘Riverdale’ Flashback Episode: The 7 Most Jaw-Dropping ‘Midnight Club’ Moments

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What Happened to Betty? Plus, 4 More Wild ‘Riverdale’ Premiere Moments

Chapter Thirty-Two: Prisoners

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‘Riverdale’ Cast on Season 3: More Choni, Archie in Jail & Lots of Singing (VIDEO)

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‘Riverdale’ Star Lochlyn Munro on What’s Next After That Black Hood Reveal — Plus, Will Jughead Survive?

Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember
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Take a Sneak Peek at the ‘Carrie: The Musical’ Episode of ‘Riverdale’ (VIDEO)

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Comic-Con 2017: Your ‘Riverdale’ Burning Questions Answered

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‘Riverdale’ Goes out With a Bang, Sets up ‘Crucible Moment,’ Says EP (VIDEO)

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‘Riverdale’ Star Luke Perry Takes Us on a Trip Through His TV Past: “I Know What Dylan McKay Did For Me”

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‘Riverdale’: KJ Apa on Archie’s Big Decision (VIDEO)

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TV’s Top 25 Redheads: From ‘Riverdale’’s KJ Apa to ‘Outlander’’s Sam Heughen

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Roush Review: ‘Riverdale’ a Twisted Take on Archie & Co.

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