Simon Prast
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Simon Prast

Simon Prast is a prominent New Zealand actor and director, highly regarded for his contributions to both theatre and screen. Born on March 6, 1962, in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, he initially pursued a law degree from the University of Auckland before training as an actor at Theatre Corporate Drama School, from which he graduated in 1984.Prast is perhaps best known for his significant impact on the New Zealand theatre scene, most notably as the founder and inaugural Artistic Director of the Auckland Theatre Company (ATC). From March 1992 to February 2003, he spearheaded the company, producing and/or directing over sixty mainbill productions, including critically acclaimed works like "The Graduate," "The Rocky Horror Show," and "12 Angry Men," which was voted 'Production of the Decade' by ATC subscribers. He also directed the first Auckland Festival, AK03, which was named 'Event of the Year' in the 2003 Metro Readers Poll.On screen, Prast gained early recognition for his role as the "spoilt rich kid" Alistair Redfern in the popular 1980s soap opera "Gloss." His film credits include "When Love Comes" (1998), "The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior" (1992), and "A Death in the Family" (1986). He has also appeared in numerous television series such as "Shortland Street," "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," "Xena: Warrior Princess," "Mercy Peak," "Go Girls," and "The Brokenwood Mysteries." More recently, he appeared as the Televangelist in Ti West's 2022 horror film "X" and is slated to appear as Ernest Miller in its upcoming sequel, "MaXXXine." Beyond his acting and directing, Prast has also been involved in broadcasting and even ran for the Auckland mayoralty in 2010.

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