Josh McKenzie Bio, Age, Wife, Family, Height, Movies, TV Shows, Net Worth, Salary
Josh McKenzie is a New Zealand actor, writer, producer, and director who has developed an international television career after establishing himself in New Zealand film and television. He is best known internationally for playing Lucas Hayes in NBC’s science-fiction series La Brea and Shane Florence in NBC’s crime drama The Hunting Party. His earlier New Zealand work includes Filthy Rich, Shortland Street, Girl vs Boy, The Kick, and The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell.
McKenzie has also worked behind the camera. He has written, produced, directed and edited independent projects, including the web series Boyfriend, which received recognition at several web festivals.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Available Information |
| Full Name | Josh McKenzie |
| Also Known As | Joshua McKenzie |
| Birth Year | 1988 |
| Birthplace | New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Profession | Actor, writer, producer, director |
| Years Active | 2010–present |
| Education | Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School |
| Mother | Angela Vaughan, actress |
| Brother | William V. McKenzie is identified as his younger brother |
| Best Known For | La Brea, The Hunting Party, Filthy Rich, The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell |
| Height | Approximately 5 feet 11 inches; not independently verified |
Josh McKenzie Age
Josh McKenzie is 38 years old as of 2026. He was born in New Zealand. His commonly published biography gives his birth year as 1988, although some entertainment databases list 1985. The exact date is therefore not sufficiently established by authoritative sources.
McKenzie grew up in a family with strong connections to the performing arts. His mother, Angela Vaughan, is an actress. McKenzie has described his family as being divided between sport and the arts, with acting forming part of the family’s background. His mother has also described acting as something that was effectively “in our blood.”
His younger brother William V. McKenzie also appeared alongside him in The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell. The two played brothers in the film, with the production using their real-life sibling relationship to add authenticity to the story.
Josh McKenzie Education
McKenzie trained at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, one of New Zealand’s leading drama institutions. He graduated in 2010. The school has produced numerous prominent New Zealand performers, including Cliff Curtis and Robyn Malcolm. His formal acting training provided the foundation for his subsequent work in theatre, television and film.
Before and during his early professional career, McKenzie also performed on stage. One of his notable theatrical roles was Lysander in Auckland Theatre Company’s modern production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Josh McKenzie’s Acting Career
McKenzie’s professional screen career began with appearances in New Zealand productions and international television projects. His early credits included Legend of the Seeker, followed by roles in Girl vs Boy, Nothing Trivial, Power Rangers Megaforce, Shortland Street and other New Zealand productions.
His breakthrough came with the 2010/2011 feature film The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell, in which he played Marc Snell. The performance brought him significant critical attention and earned him the Outstanding Feature Film Debut award at the Aotearoa Film and Television Awards.
The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell
In The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell, McKenzie played Marc Snell, one of the teenage sons at the center of the story. The film follows a father whose obsession with his sons’ go-karting careers creates serious problems for his family. McKenzie’s real-life younger brother William also appeared in the movie as Ed Snell. McKenzie’s performance was an important early milestone. He won the Outstanding Feature Film Debut award and was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Josh McKenzie in Shortland Street
In 2013, McKenzie joined the long-running New Zealand television drama Shortland Street. He played Nate Clark, an ambitious executive assistant. The role gave him greater exposure among New Zealand television audiences and helped establish him as a regular television performer.
Josh McKenzie in Filthy Rich
One of McKenzie’s most recognizable New Zealand television roles came in the 2016 series Filthy Rich. He played John Truebridge Jr., the spoiled and troubled son of a wealthy family. The character was portrayed as arrogant and reckless and struggled with gambling, drugs and other destructive behavior. The role helped McKenzie gain a larger following in New Zealand and became one of the performances for which he was particularly known before moving further into international television.
Josh McKenzie in The Shannara Chronicles
McKenzie appeared in the fantasy series The Shannara Chronicles, playing Tye. The MTV series was based on Terry Brooks’ Sword of Shannara novels and featured a large international cast. The role gave McKenzie additional exposure outside New Zealand.
Josh McKenzie in The New Legends of Monkey
McKenzie also appeared in The New Legends of Monkey, a fantasy-adventure series inspired by the Chinese literary classic Journey to the West. He played Davari. Production materials for the series note that McKenzie had already accumulated television credits in Legend of the Seeker, Girl vs Boy, Power Rangers Megaforce, Nothing Trivial, Shortland Street, The Shannara Chronicles and Filthy Rich.
Josh McKenzie in Five Bedrooms
McKenzie joined the Australian comedy-drama series Five Bedrooms, playing Xavier. The series follows a group of five people who decide to buy a house together after meeting at a wedding. McKenzie’s involvement further expanded his career across the Australian and New Zealand television markets.
Josh McKenzie in La Brea
McKenzie reached a much larger international audience when he joined NBC’s science-fiction drama La Brea. He played Lucas Hayes, one of the show’s central characters. The series follows a family separated after a massive sinkhole opens in Los Angeles and transports people into a mysterious prehistoric world. McKenzie remained part of the main cast throughout the show’s three-season run from 2021 to 2023. His role in La Brea was particularly important because it established him as a recurring presence in American network television.
Josh McKenzie in The Twelve
After La Brea, McKenzie appeared in the second season of the Australian legal drama The Twelve. He played Joey Kovac, a juror involved in the season’s complicated legal proceedings. The series featured an ensemble cast and examined the personal lives and difficult decisions of jurors alongside the court case itself.
Josh McKenzie in The Hunting Party
McKenzie currently has one of his most prominent American television roles in NBC’s The Hunting Party. He plays Shane Florence, a former soldier in Iraq who later works as a prison guard at a highly classified facility known as The Pit. The series centers on investigators who are assembled to capture extremely dangerous prisoners who have escaped from the secret facility.
McKenzie joined the show alongside Melissa Roxburgh, Nick Wechsler, Patrick Sabongui and Sara Garcia. NBC’s series became his second major American network role after La Brea. His character Shane is portrayed as sincere, charismatic and selfless, with a military background that gives him specialized knowledge useful to the investigation team.
Josh McKenzie as a Writer and Producer
Acting is not McKenzie’s only creative role. He has worked as a writer, producer, director and editor, developing independent projects alongside his acting career. One of his notable projects is Boyfriend, a web series that he co-created and starred in. The series received recognition at international web festivals. It won Best Pilot at the 2021 NZ Web Fest and later received awards at the DC Web Fest and London Web Fest. McKenzie has also worked behind the camera on projects such as Home Kills and the short film yosh:24.
Josh McKenzie Movies and TV Shows
| Year | Production | Role |
| 2010/2011 | The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell | Marc Snell |
| 2010 | Legend of the Seeker | Erik |
| 2013 | Power Rangers Megaforce | Jordan |
| 2013–2014 | Shortland Street | Nate Clark |
| 2014 | The Kick | Dan Carter |
| 2016–2017 | Filthy Rich | John Truebridge Jr. |
| 2016–2017 | The Shannara Chronicles | Tye |
| 2018 | The New Legends of Monkey | Davari |
| 2019–2022 | Five Bedrooms | Xavier |
| 2020 | The Sounds | Nate Cabbott |
| 2021 | Destination Love | David Westhaven |
| 2021–2023 | La Brea | Lucas Hayes |
| 2021 | Boyfriend | Levi |
| 2022 | Northspur | Kellan |
| 2023 | Home Kills | Mark |
| 2024 | The Twelve | Joey Kovac |
| 2025–2026 | The Hunting Party | Shane Florence |
Josh McKenzie in Northspur
McKenzie starred as Kellan in the 2022 post-apocalyptic New Zealand film Northspur. The film follows Kellan as he searches for life-saving medicine for his injured wife. During his journey, he encounters an older farmer and agrees to help defend the man’s property from violent attackers. The movie was filmed largely in the Marlborough region of New Zealand and became an example of locally produced New Zealand genre filmmaking.
Josh McKenzie Awards and Recognition
McKenzie received major recognition early in his career for The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell. He won the Outstanding Feature Film Debut award at the 2011 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards and was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Josh McKenzie Wife
Josh McKenzie is not publicly documented as married. Because his personal life is relatively private, detailed information about his current partner is limited.
Josh McKenzie Family
McKenzie comes from a family with a strong artistic background. His mother is actress Angela Vaughan, who has spoken about the family’s connection to acting. His younger brother William V. McKenzie also became involved in acting and appeared with Josh in The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell. McKenzie has spoken about the influence of his family and the combination of sport and the arts in his upbringing.
Does Josh McKenzie Have Children?
There is no reliable public source confirming that Josh McKenzie has children. Because he keeps his private life relatively closely guarded, information about his family away from his professional career is limited.
Josh McKenzie Height
McKenzie stands at approximately 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters).
Josh McKenzie Net Worth
Josh McKenzie has an estimated net worth of $40 million. This is mainly from his successful career as an actor, writer, producer, and director.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Josh McKenzie?
Josh McKenzie is a New Zealand actor, writer, producer and director known internationally for La Brea and The Hunting Party.
How old is Josh McKenzie?
His most consistently cited biography gives his birth year as 1988. However, some databases list 1985, so his exact age should be treated cautiously.
Where is Josh McKenzie from?
He is from New Zealand.
What is Josh McKenzie famous for?
He is particularly known for playing Lucas Hayes in La Brea, Shane Florence in The Hunting Party, John Truebridge Jr. in Filthy Rich, and Marc Snell in The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell.
Who is Josh McKenzie’s wife?
Reliable sources do not establish that Josh McKenzie is married. Recent reporting says he is in a relationship with another actress.
Does Josh McKenzie have children?
There is no reliable public information confirming that he has children.
Who are Josh McKenzie’s parents?
His mother is actress Angela Vaughan. Public sources do not provide enough consistently verified information about his father to include him as a confirmed biographical detail.
What did Josh McKenzie study?
He studied acting at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and graduated in 2010.
How tall is Josh McKenzie?
Josh stands at approximately 5 feet 11 inches.
What is Josh McKenzie’s salary?
His salary is not publicly disclosed.
What is Josh McKenzie’s net worth?
Josh McKenzie has an estimated net worth of $40 million.
