

The laugh that hid a thousand tears — New Zealand's comedy king finally gets his crown.
The personal story of New Zealand's most beloved entertainer Billy T James. Reveals the man behind the chuckle.
Acting
Tukiwaho channels Billy's chaos and fragility flawlessly.
Direction
Burger refuses easy hero worship, keeps it messy.
Director
Peter Burger
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Billy T. James was the first Māori comedian to achieve mainstream NZ fame, making his story inseparable from 1980s race politics.