Jason Hoyte is a New Zealand screen and voice actor and radio DJ. Since 1996, Hoyte has acted in over 30 television shows including Xena: Warrior Princess, Young Hercules, Power Rangers Dino Thunder, and The Brokenwood Mysteries. He is known for playing Steve Mudgeway in Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby, Malcolm "Smudge" in Nothing Trivial, and Franklin Corke in the New Zealand Comedy/Drama Outrageous Fortune, as well as appearing in the comedy shows Moon TV and Late Night Big Breakfast with regular collaborator Leigh Hart.
Hoyte has also appeared in film, including We're Here To Help (2007), The Insatiable Moon (2010), Spies and Lies (2010), and What We Do in the Shadows (2014).
In addition to acting, Hoyte is also a radio DJ. He is currently one of the co-Hosts of the Radio Hauraki Big Show, along with Mike Minogue, and Chris Key.
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Early and personal life
Hoyte was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He moved to Rotorua as a young child, and lived with his father after his parents divorced. He was educated at Dilworth School, a boarding school he attended from the age of eight.
After completing school, Hoyte worked in various jobs including working for a podiatrist and canvassing for Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand. Hoyte initially began training as a teacher in the 1980s but didn't enjoy the strict environment. He briefly attended Auckland University, but dropped out before attending any lectures. However, in 2017, Hoyte received an honorary degree in radio broadcasting from the New Zealand School of Radio in Tauranga.
As of 2026, Hoyte has a wife and four daughters. He lives in the Bay of Plenty Region.
Career
Hoyte began his career in stand-up comedy and won a Billy T. comedy award and a Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards as part of 90s comedy duo Sugar & Spice (alongside Jonathan Brugh).
Hoyte stated his first role was as an extra in an ad for "Burton’s Creamy Ale". After roles in Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys he won acclaim for his portrayal of an untrustworthy, but politically correct guidance counsellor, Steve Mudgeway in the comedy Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby. He was nominated at the 2003 New Zealand Film Awards for his acting in short film Beautiful. In 2015 he starred in parody talk show Late Night Big Breakfast alongside Leigh Hart. In 2017 he and Hart produced parody fishing show Screaming Reels. The show was mistaken for an actual documentary in Australia. He has also narrated for New Zealand reality shows City Beat, Coastwatch, Dog Squad and Animal House.
Hoyte is a commentator for the Alternative Commentary Collective and was formally a host on Radio Hauraki's weekdays drive-time show 'Daily Bhuja', with co-host Leigh Hart, but finished 5 April 2019. He resumed this drive-time role in 2021 with new co-host Mike Minogue, the drive show now being called The Big Show.
In 2021 he starred in Talkback, a mocumentary web-series about a talkback radio host, which was also co-created by Minogue.
