Top 10 Famous facts about Kj Apa

KJ Apa speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Riverdale photo by Gage Skidmore Wikimedia 

Top 10 Famous facts about Kj Apa

KJ Apa stole the hearts of many the second he appeared as Archie Andrews on Riverdale. America instantly fell in love with his humor, charm and his ridiculous washboard abs. At only 20 years old, he’s actually convincing as a high school character and has been one of the breakout stars of the series. 

He began acting playing Kane Jenkins in the New Zealand primetime soap opera Shortland Street from 2013 to 2015. In 2017, Apa was cast in the lead role of Archie Andrews in the CW drama series Riverdale. In film, Apa has starred in A Dog’s Purpose (2017), The Hate U Give (2018) and I Still Believe (2020). In 2021, he released his debut solo album, the indie folk-rock album Clocks, which received some attention on Spotify and TikTok.

1.Kj is from New Zealand

Despite of sounding totally American as Archie, KJ isn’t from the U.S. Far from it. (Very far.) He was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, and has the accent to match. Check out the interview below to hear him speaking with his natural Kiwi inflection. 

2. He doesn’t have  redheaded

KJ Apa speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Riverdale photo by Gage Skidmore Wikimedia

His natural hair color is dark brown, and embracing Archie’s iconic red hair was quite the ordeal. He  had said that he had to go salon every two week to get his hair dyed and bleached 

The process  was really painful for the  first and the second time . He also added that he had  got it done because they had to do his  eyebrows as well. They ended up bleaching my eyebrows, and I had two holes—they burnt into my skin. I was like, ‘Oh, my, we’ve got to sort this out.’ Luckily, I haven’t had that again.” Apparently the first time he went ginger it took ten hours.

3. KJ plays the guitar and he actually took it to his Riverdale audition.

KJ explained to Los Angeles Confidential Magazine that it was scripted in the pilot that he likes to write music and stuff. In his  the screen test he  took his  guitar and just casually walked in.

He told them  that he was going to play them a song before he did the scene. They didn’t really have a choice and  he just did it.” Producers  had said it was a sign that he was perfect for the role.

4. Apa has Doppelganger

Kj Apa Photo by John Bauld Wikimedia

KJ has run into former Glee star Myko Olivier a few times.  And the resemblance is absolutely uncanny. Despite of the fact that they had been  born more than 10 years apart. As Myko suggested in one Instagram caption, maybe Riverdale needs a long-lost brothers storyline? Someone make this happen!

5. KJ has been  close with on screen Riverdale dad 

“It just clicked,” KJ told Hello Giggles when describing his first rehearsal with Luke Perry, who plays Archie’s dad Fred on the show. He even met Luke’s real son—after waking up from an accidental nap on Luke’s couch.

“I learn so much from him, apart from personal things, life stuff. We’ll talk about heaps of stuff and it really helps me. He gives me advice,” he told Movie one. Too cute!

6. Riverdale wasn’t his first Tv show  

Madelaine Petsch, Camila Mendes, KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Riverdale photo by Gage Skidmore Wikimedia

In fact, the first time KJ  had acted on-screen was in a New Zealand soap opera when he was 16. On the show, called Shortland Street, he played a character remarkably similar to Archie: a high-school athlete named Kane who dabbles in music. He even got the chance to do a scene with Ed Sheeran. This was  when the British singer-songwriter had  made a guest appearance.

7.KJ  has been featured in a Dog’s Purpose 

The controversial A Dog’s Purpose was his first feature film. And he played the teenage version of the main character. Ethan, who loves his dog Bailey and falls in love with his high school girlfriend, Hannah.

Though the film’s love story which was  adorable (Football games! A county fair!), this behind-the-scenes detail was a little less cute. “I had a thing with Britt [Robertson] where we had to do this kissing scene in the car,” he explained to Vulture.

“It had been scripted that the dog would come up in between us. while  kissing and  would start licking her face, and the only way to get the dog to do that was by rubbing chicken sauce on Britt’s cheek. It was kind of strange. Kissing like having chicken grease all over your face. It was real hot.”

8. He wasn’t a fan of  the Archie comics until he got the cast 

Kj Apa Photo by John Bauld Wikimedia

He wasn’t too familiar with Archie. This was mostly because he wasn’t really had been  exposed to him over in New Zealand. Kj stated that when he went into the audition and he  found out that he  was going to be auditioning for this character. He had to definitely did some research. And is when he  realized how big of a deal it was. This makes sense, since Archie Andrews who has been  known as an all-American character (and was an entire ocean away).

However, “I think me not being a massive fan of the comic was beneficial in a way because I could have the script for the pilot as my main focus,” he told Teen Vogue. Since the franchise has been around 75 years, Riverdale is just a little different from the original comics anyway.

9. His dad is a Samoan Chieftain

 “My dad’s father was a high chief…and the family agreed my dad would take over his chief title: Tupa’i,” he explained. He even got a tattoo on his right shoulder to commemorate his heritage). According to the New Zealand Herald, Apa’s tattoo has specific designs unique to the village he’s from, as well as some symbols representing their family.

10. KJ’S Bromance with Co-star Cole Sprouse on stuff of legends

KJ Apa speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Riverdale photo by Gage Skidmore Wikimedia

It has  basically official now that they aced their Netflix “Bromance-O-Meter.” Between roasts and fits of laughter, the two proved how well they know each other, from celebrity crushes to the TV shows they’re currently binge-watching. Whether they’re reading complimentary tweets to each other (and confirming they’ve told each other “I love you”). By sharing ugly photos of each other online or road-tripping through the desert, these two are #goals.