Zakes Mokae

(19*-) Internationally recognised actor on stage and film. ** He started his career **** Best known in South Africa for his work on many of Athol Fugard’s plays. He was one of the collaborators in the workshop led by Athol Fugard to create No Good Friday , which was staged at the Bantu Men’s Social Centre in conjunction with the Union of Southern African Artists in 1958. Fugard himself also appeared in the play, together with Dan Poho, Steve Moloi, Ken Gampu, Gladys Sibisa and Bloke Modisane. This play was later transferred to the Brooke Theatre for a ‘whites only’ run. He played leads in numerous productions, including *** in The Bloodknot, which opened at the Rhodes Theatre in Grahamstown in July 1961. The play, starring Fugard himself, then played at the Rehearsal Room at Dorkay House in September. Leon Gluckman then presented it at the Intimate. He played the role in London too. *** in ***, and*** in Paul Slabolepszy’s hugely successful Saturday Night at the Palace. In 19** he left the country to work in Britain, and later in America. In New York he played Sam in Master Harold and the Boys where he won a Tony Award for his performance. Among his best known film roles are *** and ****. *** Since ** has lived in the USA and worked in films such as ***.

Awards

Tucker, 1997.

The Star, 15 February 2005.

Return to Main Page