Tanoai Reed (born February 10, 1974) is an American stuntman and actor. He is best known as the stunt double for his cousin Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Tanoai Reed
Born (1974-02-10) February 10, 1974 (age 50)
Occupations
  • Stuntman
  • actor
Years active1995–present
RelativesDwayne Johnson (cousin)

Early life

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Tanoai Reed was born in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, on February 10, 1974. He is primarily of Samoan descent with smaller amounts of Irish, Norwegian, and Swedish ancestry. After the separation of his parents, he grew up in California before being sent back to Hawaiʻi to live with his grandmother. [1] He was educated at Kahuku High School and the University of Hawaiʻi.[1] He continues to make his home on Oahu's North Shore and, with his wife, is a proud advocate for local businesses and conservation.

Career

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Reed's stunt career began when he worked on Waterworld (1995),[1] and he began steady work as a stunt double for his cousin Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson[2][3] on The Scorpion King (2002).[4] His other work includes acting in the music video for the Black Eyed Peas song "Pump It" (2005), playing one of the villains fought by Fergie. He also appears in the 2008 relaunch of American Gladiators as the gladiator Toa.[5] His first episode of Gladiators saw him performing a shortened version of "Ka Mate", a New Zealand Māori haka, before beginning his defense of the top of the pyramid.

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Flemister, Beau (January–March 2021). "The Rock's Stead". Hana Hou!. Vol. 24, no. 1. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Liane Bonin (September 24, 2003). "Rock Candy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 9, 2008. ...The Rock's double, his cousin Tanoai Reed, shattered an ankle.
  3. ^ Tenley Woodman (January 3, 2008). "Red, white and bruised". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 9, 2008. Among the new gladiators are Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's cousin Tanoai Reed as Toa, an island warrior who intimidates opponents by performing a tribal war dance...
  4. ^ Alex Shultz (July 30, 2019). "The Real-Life Diet of The Rock's Longtime Stunt Double, Tanoai Reed". GQ. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  5. ^ "Five Things You Didn't Know about Tanoai Reed". TV Overmind. April 17, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
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