Historical records matching “High Chief” Peter Maivia
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About “High Chief” Peter Maivia
Biography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Maivia
Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia (born Fanene Pita Anderson; April 6, 1927 – June 13, 1982), better known as Peter Maivia, was a Samoan-American professional wrestler, actor and stunt coordinator.[3] Maivia was the grandfather of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson via adoption, and was also part of the famous Anoaʻi family via blood brother pact. He was also the promoter of the National Wrestling Alliance member Polynesian Pro Wrestling in Hawaii.[2]
Maivia, also known as the Flyinʻ Hawaiian, was of the Ali'i lineage of Malietoa.[6] Maivia's traditional Samoan tattoos, which covered his abdomen and legs, were a symbol of his High Chief status.[2] According to Superstar Billy Graham, they were completed in three days. His wife Ofelia Fuataga, more commonly known as Lia Maivia, was one of the first female professional wrestling promoters.[7][8] Maivia adopted Lia's daughter Mataniu Feagaimaleata "Ata" Fitisemanu.[1][9]
Maivia was the blood brother of Amituanai Anoaʻi, the father of the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika), and thus the Anoaʻi family regard the Maivia family as part of their own family.
Maivia was also an actor, appearing in the fifth James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, where he played a driver who transports a disguised Bond to Osato headquarters. His character also fights Bond, is hit with a sofa, wields a katana, and is put down when a statue is broken on his head. He was also the film's stunt fight co-ordinator.
Death
In 1981, Maivia was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, having reportedly ignored symptoms along with his friends and family's requests to see a doctor.[4] He died on June 13, 1982, at the age of 55.[2]
Legacy
Maivia was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, along with his daughter's ex-husband Rocky Johnson, in 2008 by his grandson Dwayne Johnson, with the award being accepted on his behalf by his daughter Ata Maivia-Johnson.[2]
In the 2016 Disney animated film, Moana, the character design of Maui was derived from photographs of Peter Maivia, according to interviews with his grandson, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who voices Maui in the film.[10]
References
- Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Sep 6 2021, 2:06:34 UTC
- https://www.wwe.com/superstars/petermaivia
- WikiTree contributors, "Fanene Leifi Pita (Anderson) Maivia (1937-1982)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Anderson-55464 : accessed 03 September 2024). cites
- SO, I'm not sure that the father listed is correct. He was not an Anoa'i by birth or blood but rather a blood pact with Amituanai Anoaʻi. It looks like his birth name may have been Petelo Fanene. I found this on Ancestry: Petelo Fanene in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. < link > His father appears to be Fuamaila "Alfred" Fanene and he was adopted by his mother's second husband, Percy Anderson. Not a lot of records available for Samoa and I was hoping to find him in the 1950 US census but so far no luck.
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10459228/peter_maivia
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“High Chief” Peter Maivia's Timeline
| 1937 |
April 6, 1937
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Samoa
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| 1948 |
October 25, 1948
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Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI, United States
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| 1982 |
June 13, 1982
Age 45
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Hawaii, United States, United States
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| ???? |
Diamond Head Memorial Park, Honolulu, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
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