Which actor plays Tonowari, chief of the Metkayina, in Avatar: Fire and Ash?

Cliff Curtis plays Tonowari, chief of the Metkayina, in Avatar: Fire and Ash. Tonowari is the leader of the reef-dwelling Metkayina clan, which welcomed Jake Sully and his family in Avatar: The Way of Water.

Tonowari is married to Ronal, played by Kate Winslet, and is the father of Tsireya and Aonung. His authority comes from his position within the Metkayina community, whose way of life is built around ocean travel, free-diving, and close relationships with Pandora’s marine creatures.

Curtis is a New Zealand actor known for films including Whale Rider, Training Day, and The Dark Horse. He was cast as Tonowari for the Avatar sequels and performed the role as a leader balancing hospitality, tradition, and responsibility for his people. A common mix-up is confusing Tonowari with Brendan Cowell’s Captain Mick Scoresby or Joel David Moore’s human scientist Norm Spellman. Dileep Rao plays Dr. Max Patel in the wider Avatar story.