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Left to Right: Glacier, Dan Mattern and Tonga pose after a day of filming at Don Pancho Cigars. PHOTO/CHRIS MILLER
Tonga ‘Uli’uli Fifita, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s uncle and a longtime Kissimmee resident, has made his acting debut alongside Ray ‘Glacier’ Lloyd, shooting a short film recently at one of downtown Kissimmee’s businesses.
Owner of Don Pancho’s Cigars, Dan Mattern, having a friendship with Fifita and Lloyd, welcomed them in June to shoot the film.
Fifita is known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Originally a rugby player overseas — his children played volleyball and football at Poinciana and Osceola High School, and son Tevita signed a football scholarship to Texas-El Paso — he quickly transitioned to wrestling. Fifita, who went by “King Haku” in the ring, cast Mattern in the film as an alien character who is killed twice in the film.
“I came to the Kissimmee area and know it very well,” Fifita said. “Don is a good friend of mine and Glacier, and we are always happy with his willingness to provide the best service, of course we had to cast him.”
Lloyd, known for the ‘WCW’ and excellent art of karate, joined Tonga on this venture as a fun project.
“We unfortunately can’t disclose the full nature of the film, but we made Dan an alien and he dies twice in the film,” said Glacier. “Rags, his dog is the best and thought as times it was his time to shine on camera.”
“Usually we are closed on Sundays but I got the call asking if I could open for the day for Glacier and Tonga, of course I did,” Mattern said. “They used the location, and Don Pancho’s and I will be credited in the film.”
In the coming months, Tonga and Glacier will be dropping their short film which includes friends from many areas in the Central Florida area.
