KJ Apa: Biography, Relationships, Child, and Career

Q: How did KJ Apa get his start in acting?

He was cast in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street in 2013 after being scouted at a music album recording.

Few actors have made the leap from a New Zealand soap opera to a global hit series quite like KJ Apa did. The 26-year-old Auckland native captured audiences worldwide as Archie Andrews on The CW’s Riverdale, but his real story—from his Samoan-Irish-Scottish heritage to becoming a young father—has just as many surprising turns. Here’s a fact-checked look at the milestones that define him.

Full name: Keneti James Fitzgerald Apa · Date of birth: 17 June 1997 · Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand · Occupation: Actor, singer · Known for: Archie Andrews in Riverdale · Children: 1 son (born 2021)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

Birth name: Keneti James Fitzgerald Apa (Wikipedia)
Born 17 June 1997 in Auckland, New Zealand (Biography.com)
Starred as Archie Andrews on Riverdale from 2017 to 2023 (Wikipedia)

2What’s unclear

Exact details of his relationship timeline with Clara Berry remain private.
Whether his son’s name is officially confirmed as Sasha is uncertain.

3Timeline signal

2013: First acting role on Shortland Street
2017: Cast as Archie Andrews in Riverdale
2021: Son born

4What’s next

Upcoming film Mr Fantasy in development.
Continued focus on independent film roles.

Who did KJ Apa have a child with?

KJ Apa’s partner, French model Clara Berry, gave birth to their son in September 2021. Their son’s name has been listed as Sasha by Famous Birthdays, though the family has not publicly confirmed the name.

Apa was 24 years old when his son was born, matching the typical age for new fathers in the public eye.

Bottom line: KJ Apa became a father at 24 with Clara Berry, his then-partner, and he remains actively involved in his son’s life despite the couple’s split.

The timing of the birth aligns with Apa’s rising career momentum, suggesting he balanced newfound fatherhood with the pressures of global fame—a transition that often reshapes priorities for young actors.

Why did Clara and KJ break up?

Details about their breakup remain largely private. Public statements suggest the split was amicable, with both focusing on co-parenting their son.

The couple appears to maintain a cordial but separate relationship, with no public animosity reported.

Bottom line: KJ Apa is currently single, based on publicly available information, and his co-parenting relationship with Clara Berry appears cordial but separate.

Navigating a public breakup while co-parenting under media scrutiny is a challenge many young celebrity parents face, and Apa’s handling of it reflects a mature approach to protecting his family’s privacy.

What is KJ Apa’s real name?

His birth name is Keneti James Fitzgerald Apa, as recorded by Wikipedia and Biography.com. “KJ” is a shortening of his first name Keneti, which is a Samoan chief title passed down through his father’s side.

This is often a topic of surprise since many believed his Riverdale character’s bright orange hair was a dye job, but it’s actually his own.

His heritage includes Samoan (from his father), Irish, and Scottish. The Samoan lineage holds cultural significance—his father is a Matai (chief), as noted by Biography.com.

Celebrity name origins often carry cultural weight that gets lost in tabloid coverage—Apa’s Samoan chief title, passed through generations, adds a layer of identity that goes far beyond a stage name or Hollywood persona.

What is KJ Apa’s natural hair color?

Apa speaks with a New Zealand accent, which becomes noticeable when he is not in character. For roles like Archie Andrews, he adopts a neutral American accent.

The film marks another step in his post‑Riverdale film career.

Bottom line: Apa’s natural red hair and NZ accent distinguish him from his American TV persona, making him a standout in casting calls.

Career timeline

17 June 1997 – Born in Auckland, New Zealand (Biography.com)
2013 – First acting role on Shortland Street (Wikipedia)
2017 – Cast as Archie Andrews in Riverdale, premiering on The CW (Wikipedia)
September 2021 – Son born to KJ Apa and Clara Berry (Famous Birthdays)

Each of these milestones maps to verified sources, and together they show a career trajectory from local NZ television to international stardom—one that continues to evolve beyond Riverdale.