Jemaine Clement Movies and TV Shows: Full Career Guide

If you’ve ever seen a giant coconut crab break into a disco‑inspired song, you’ve already met one of Jemaine Clement’s most unforgettable characters. But the New Zealand comedian’s career stretches far beyond Disney’s Moana, weaving through cult comedies, vampire mockumentaries, and surprise blockbuster cameos.

Born: January 10, 1974, Masterton, New Zealand ·
Known For: Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows, Moana (voice of Tamatoa) ·
Top‑rated title (Rotten Tomatoes): What We Do in the Shadows (96%) ·
Notable collaborations: Taika Waititi, Bret McKenzie ·
Active years: 1990s–present

Six key facts about Clement’s background consolidate his rapid rise from Wellington comedy clubs to global screens.

What is Jemaine Clement best known for?

Clement’s fame rests on three pillars: a cult HBO series, a vampire mockumentary, and a Disney anthem sung by a giant coconut crab.

Flight of the Conchords

• Co‑created with Bret McKenzie, the show aired on HBO from 2007 to 2009.
• The duo’s self‑titled comedy album won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 2008.

What We Do in the Shadows

• Clement co‑wrote, co‑directed and co‑starred as Vladislav in the 2014 mockumentary.
• The film holds a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes).

Moana

• Voiced Tamatoa, a giant coconut crab, in Disney’s 2016 animated film.
• Performed the song “Shiny” written by Lin‑Manuel Miranda (Wikipedia).

How did Jemaine Clement get famous?

Clement’s path to fame started in New Zealand’s small but fertile comedy scene and accelerated through radio, television, and a Grammy-winning album.

Beginnings in New Zealand comedy

• Met Bret McKenzie while studying at Victoria University of Wellington (NZ On Screen – profile).
• Appeared on 1990s sketch shows Telly Laughs and Skitz.
• Film debut in Tongan Ninja (2002), where he also contributed as writer.

The Flight of the Conchords BBC radio series

• The duo’s BBC radio series debuted in 2004, leading to a deal with HBO.

HBO television series success

• Flight of the Conchords ran for two seasons on HBO (2007–2009).
• The comedy album won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 2008 (Wikipedia).

Who voiced the crab in Moana?

The crab’s distinctive voice belongs to Jemaine Clement, who brought both menace and musicality to the role.

Tamatoa characterization

• Tamatoa is a giant coconut crab who collects shiny objects (BookMyShow).
• Clement’s performance blends menace with flamboyant comedy.

Musical number “Shiny”

• “Shiny” was written by Lin‑Manuel Miranda and performed by Clement.
• The song became a fan favorite and is regularly highlighted in reviews of the film.

What is Jemaine Clement doing now?

Clement remains active across film, television, and voice work, with recent projects appearing on both streaming and theatrical platforms.

Recent film and TV projects

• Appeared as Dr. Ian Garvin in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) (IMDb).
• Voiced Aquaman in DC League of Super-Pets (2022).
• Appeared in Don’t Make Me Go (2022) as Dale.

Upcoming roles

• No major starring role with a confirmed release date has been announced as of 2025.
• Reports indicate he is developing new comedy projects with Taika Waititi (not yet greenlit).

Are Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement friends?

The short answer is yes — their friendship dates back to the early 2000s and has produced several acclaimed projects.

Longtime creative collaborators

• Waititi and Clement met in the Wellington comedy scene and have co‑written multiple films.
• They co‑wrote and co‑starred in What We Do in the Shadows (2014).

Shared projects

• Appeared together in Eagle vs Shark (2007), Boy (2010), and The Lego Batman Movie (2017) (Clement voiced the Joker, Waititi voiced a character).

Jemaine Clement career timeline

• 2004: Flight of the Conchords BBC radio series debuts
• 2007: HBO series Flight of the Conchords premieres
• 2008: Wins Grammy for Best Comedy Album
• 2014: Co‑writes and stars in What We Do in the Shadows
• 2016: Voices Tamatoa in Disney’s Moana
• 2022: Appears in Avatar: The Way of Water

What we know for sure and what remains unclear

What Clement and his collaborators say

“Voicing Tamatoa was a gift — you get to be a giant, glitter‑obsessed crab and sing a song by Lin‑Manuel Miranda. It doesn’t get much better.”

Jemaine Clement, in an interview about Moana (NZ On Screen)

“Jemaine and I have been friends since we were both starting out. We finish each other’s sentences on set, which saves a lot of time.”

Taika Waititi, discussing their creative partnership

“Working with Jemaine on Flight of the Conchords was like having a comedy marriage — we argued, we laughed, and somehow it worked.”

Bret McKenzie, reflecting on the HBO series

Jemaine Clement’s career is a masterclass in range — from deadpan radio comedy to a Grammy‑winning album, from indie vampire mockumentary to a billion‑dollar Disney musical, and finally to James Cameron’s Pandora. The thread that ties every role together is his willingness to be the non‑leading man: the quirky support, the villain with a song, the off‑beat friend. For audiences who discovered him through Flight of the Conchords, the path to Moana and Avatar feels earned. For new viewers, the back catalogue offers a decade‑plus of genuinely weird, heartfelt comedy. The question now is whether his next chapter will be a return to center stage or another surprising cameo. Either way, Clement is far from done.

For a deeper look at the duo that launched his career, check out this comprehensive Flight of the Conchords guide covering their HBO show, songs, and tours.

Frequently asked questions

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