- Born
- Died
- Birth nameZakes Makgona Mokae
- Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 5, 1934, actor Zakes Mokae was initially a jazz saxophonist. Moving to England in 1961, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and became one of the most distinguished thespians in South Africa for over two decades.
Mokae was one of the few actors capable of crossing the divided racial sections, punctuated by his collaborations with white writer Athol Fugard. Together they founded the radical theater group The Rehearsal Room in the 50s that specifically dealt with his country's injustices. In fact, over the years his performances in "The Blood Knot," "Boesman and Lena," "A Lesson from Aloes" and "Master Harold...and the Boys," have been universally applauded.
He fled the racist apartheid policies in South Africa in 1969 and migrated to America, subsequently winning a Tony award in 1982 for "Master Harold..." and proceeded to perform in American films to somewhat lesser acclaim, including A Dry White Season (1989), A Rage in Harlem (1991) and Waterworld (1995). TV appearances included strong appearances on such programs as "Law & Order," "Dream On," "Oz," "X-Files," "The West Wing" and "Monk."
In later years, Mokae moved to Las Vegas and served as artistic director for the Nevada Shakespeare Company. 75-year-old Mokae died there from complications of a stroke on September 11, 2009.
- IMDb mini biography by: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
- SpousesMadelyn Mokae(August 5, 1985 - September 11, 2009) (his death)Madelyn Mokae(1966 - January 25, 1978) (divorced)
- He died at his home in Las Vegas from complications of a stroke he had on May 6, 2009. He previously had received diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
- Founded the Black Actors Theater in San Francisco with actor Danny Glover in 1980.
- Was jailed several times as a young man in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the corrosive times of racial separatism in his country.
- In 2005, he and his wife returned to the States from Cape Town, South Africa, and settled in Las Vegas in order to seek better medical care for his Parkinson's disease.
- Took up acting after meeting white playwright Athol Fugard and they worked together creating plays.
- If you're a black man in South Africa and you've never been in prison, there's something wrong with you.
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