KJ Apa

Actor

Birth Date: June 17, 1997

Age: 27 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).

KJ Apa

Actor

Birth Date: June 17, 1997

Age: 27 years old

Birth Place: Auckland, New Zealand

Credits

One Fast MoveStream

One Fast MoveStream

I Still BelieveStream

Songbird

The Last SummerStream

Altar Rock

Riverdale: Extras

The Hate U GiveStream

Live with Kelly and Ryan

RiverdaleStream

A Dog's PurposeStream

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

etalk

Entertainment Tonight Canada

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

The View

Good Morning America

Photos

News aboutKJ Apa

Q&A

‘Riverdale’ EP Sarah Schechter Teases ‘Really Emotional’ & ‘Satisfying’ Series Finale

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

Exclusive

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

Exclusive

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

Q&A

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

Exclusive

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

Exclusive

‘Riverdale’: Veronica Reveals Her Past With James Dean in Final Season Premiere Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

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

8 Burning Questions ‘Riverdale’ Must Answer in Final Season

The 7 Strangest ‘Riverdale’ Episodes So Far

Spoiler Alert

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

Spoiler Alert

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

Best Lines of the Week (November 12-18): ‘You Don’t Break Up With Someone By Fax’

Spoiler Alert

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

Exclusive

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

Sabrina Spellman Arrives in ‘Riverdale’ for The CW’s First ‘Rivervale’ Promo (VIDEO)

Where ‘Riverdale’ Left Its Couples at the End of Season 5

Exclusive

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

Exclusive

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

Exclusive

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

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

‘Riverdale’ Season 5 Trailer: More Videotapes & the Fallout of Betty & Archie’s Kiss (VIDEO)

WTF Is Going on in ‘Riverdale’?! 8 Crazy Season 4 Moments So Far (PHOTOS)

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

Spoiler Alert

‘Riverdale’ Honors Fred’s Legacy in Luke Perry Tribute (RECAP)

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

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

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

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

Comic-Con

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

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

Comic-Con

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

Finale

‘Riverdale’ Introduces a New, Crazy, Bloody Mystery in the Season 3 Finale (RECAP)

Spoiler Alert

Did ‘Riverdale’ Just Reveal the Truth About the Farm & the Gargoyle King’s Identity? (RECAP)