Tributes have continued as colleagues and fans mourn the passing of South African multi-awarding actor, Jamie Bartlett.
Best known for his roles as Villian and mafia boss, David Genaro on eTV’s Rhythm City, as well as Mike O’Reilly on SABC3’s Isidingo.
News of Bartlett’s passing emerged on Monday evening.
He was also a judge on SA’s Got Talent.
Veteran actress Connie Chiume, who worked with Bartlett on Rhythm City said: “I spoke to Jamie on Saturday and I invited him to my birthday which was going to be in two weeks’ time. Jamie was so happy to be there and I said ‘Jamie, do you mind being on a poster?’ and he said ‘Sure, sure, Connie’ and he sent me pictures. I know on Sunday he attended on Sunday and I’ve looked on the pictures and saw how happy he was to be taking pictures with his fans. he was going around being the person that I know, the person that loves people who loves life, so, I’m still in shock.”
Thapelo Mokoena, who worked with Bartlett on the film, Nothing for mahala said: “It’s a shock. I went to bed last night, resigning myself to the news I was seeing that ‘man, I will deadl with this in the mroning’. And I woke up this morning and it’s Jamie everywhere. It is really heartbreaking and eally confusing. He was 55-years-old, full of life, energetic,showing so much life. He was acting on social media. I always told how excited I was that he was acting on social media and you could his amazing colourful life… and it’s really, really shocking.”
Actress Nokuthula Ledwaba, who worked with him, described his passing as devastating.
“He was just that kind of person who would show you how much you mean to him. It didn’t matter what he was going through, he’d be there. He’d have intense conversations about life, about love, about raising kids,” she said.
According to News24, his first major role was in the U.S. film ‘American Ninja 2: The Confrontation’ in 1987 before making numerous appearances in both international and local films, including ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ (as James Gregory), and 2013’s ‘Nothing for Mahala.’
His career saw him win many awards, including three South African Film & Television Awards and a Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award.
Details around Bartlett’s death are not yet known.
