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Jamie Bartlett

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Jamie 'Yoink' Bartlett
Born(1966-07-09)9 July 1966
Died23 May 2022(2022-05-23) (aged 55)
Johannesburg, South Africa
OccupationActor
Years active1984–2022
SpouseCamilla Waldman (divorced)
Children1

James 'Yoink' Bartlett (9 July 1966 – 23 May 2022)[1][2] was a British-born South African actor best known for his role as the wicked puppet master, David Genaro,[3] in Rhythm City[1] and his theatre work.

Career

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Television

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Bartlett was a well-known South African actor prior to starring in Rhythm City. He started playing his role as David Genaro in 2007. He was the first person to speak in scene 1 on the TV series Isidingo as character Mike O'Riley when it was aired on South African television. On the set of Isidingo, he acted opposite Hlomla Dandala who portrayed Derek Nyathi.

In 1997, Bartlett acted in the action M-Net TV movie The Sexy Girls.[4] The gang-movie genre showcased the realities of the gangster life in Cape Town.

Bartlett also guest starred in the Canadian-South African TV series Jozi-H, a hospital drama set in Johannesburg. He was also a judge on SA's Got Talent alongside Shadow Twala and DJ Fresh.

Film

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Bartlett's movie career began with American movies, 1987 action sequel film American Ninja 2 and subsequently the 1993 American Ninja 5 where he acted alongside Michael Dudikoff and Steve James.[citation needed]

Bartlett also had a supporting role playing Joss in the 2003 romantic drama Beyond Borders, an epic tale of turbulent romance between two star-crossed lovers, with Angelina Jolie.[citation needed]

In the 2004 British film drama Red Dust, Bartlett acted in a supporting role of Dirk Hendricks, a local policeman, opposite Hilary Swank where Academy Award winning director Tom Hooper directed the film. The film, based on the novel Red Dust by Gillian Slovo sees a New York lawyer Sarah Barcant (Hilary Swank) return to the place where she grew up, South Africa. Barcant returns to fight the case of Alex Mpondo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a black politician who was tortured during the apartheid regime. The truth of the killing of Mpondo's comrade Steve Sizela by Piet Muller (Ian Roberts) is confirmed by Dirk Hendricks (Bartlett).[citation needed]

The 2007 horror thriller Prey, saw Bartlett playing a supporting role as Crawford, a professional hunter and guide. A film where an American family whilst on holiday in South Africa get lost while on a game reserve and are stalked by lions. Crawford's services are enlisted in an attempt to track the lost family, who ventured into the park on a game drive but were surrounded by lions.

Bartlett starred in the 2010 children's parable White Lion [3], alongside fellow South African Best Actor Tony Award Winner John Kani and Thabo Malema. The film won the SAFTA Awards for Best Cinematography in a feature film, Best Music Composition in a feature film and Best Sound Design in a feature film. Filmed on location at the Kingdom of the White Lion, SA Lion Park, Nash's Farm, Glen Afric and Entabeni Game Reserve, Bartlett played a professional hunter.

Bartlett starred in the movie, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom based on the 1994 book Long Walk to Freedom, written by Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa. In the film, Bartlett played the supporting role of Sergeant James Gregory.

Theatre

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Most of Bartlett's theatre work took place at the Market Theatre where he had strong ties during the Apartheid era. The theatre was founded by Mannie Manim and Barney Simon in 1976. It was known internationally as South Africa's "Theatre of the Struggle" and challenged the apartheid regime. Cock and Bull Story marked the beginning of Bartlett's professional career in 1986 where he played the role of a gay boxer and won a Vita Award for Most Promising Actor.[citation needed]

A year later, Bartlett starred in the satire play East in 1987 and won the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Actor.[citation needed] In 1990, he was directed by Neil McCarthy in Rainshark at the Market Theatre.

Neil McCarthy directed Bartlett in Mojo in 1997 also at the Market Theatre where he won the Vita Best Actor Award. The Great Outdoors starring Bartlett premiered at the Grahamstown Arts Festival in July 2000, where he played the leading role. He had a lead role in the theatre production of The Fire Raisers which toured Switzerland.[citation needed]

Bartlett returned to the Market Theater for Death of a Colonialist [4] in 2011, where he played the lead role of an eccentric 60-something history teacher, Harold Smith from award-winning playwright Greg Latter's play. Bartlett won the 2010 Naledi Theatre Award for Best Performance by an actor in a Lead Role. The play received positive reviews for its script and acting.

Personal life

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Bartlett was born in England to a British father and a South African mother.[5] He was formerly married to actress Camilla Waldman, known for her role in the Generations soap opera. The couple had a son, Hector Bartlett, and later divorced.[6]

Death

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Jamie 'Yoink' Bartlett died suddenly on 23 May 2022, at the age of 55.[7][8] After an autopsy was performed, it was concluded that Bartlett died from cardiac arrest.[9][10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes/Director
1987 American Ninja 2: The Confrontation Support dir. Sam Firstenberg
1990 ‘’The Sandgrass People Lead Dir. Koos Roets
1991 Sweet 'n Short Spookie Simpson dir. Gray Hofmeyr Leon Schuster
1993 American Ninja V Support dir. Cedric Sunstroom - Cannon Films
A Private Life [5] Support - Dickie dir. Francis Gerard
1997 Ernest Goes to Africa Lead - Mr. Thompson dir. John R. Cherry III
1999 Bravo Two Zero Lead - Vince dir. Tom Clegg
2003 Beyond Borders Support - Josh dir. Martin Campbell for Paramount films
2004 Red Dust Support dir. Tom Hooper
2006 12 Days of Terror Support - Schleisser Fox TV and Discovery Channel
Avenger Lead dir. Robert Markowitz
2007 Prey Lead dir. Darrell Roodt
2010 White Lion[11] Lead dir. Michael Swan
2013 Nothing for Mahala Lead - Mike dir. Rolie Nikiwe
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Support - Sgt. James Gregory dir. Justin Chadwick

Theatre

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Year Title Role Director Notes
The Fire Raises Lead Toured Switzerland (Geneva & Bern)
The Great Outdoors Lead Grahamstown National Arts Festival
East Lead dir. Barney Simon Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award for Best Actor
Mojo Lead dir. Neil McCarthy Vita Award for Best Actor
Cock and Bull Story Lead Vita Theatre Award for Best Up & Coming Actor
National Tour
Death of a Colonialist[12] Lead dir. Craig Freimond

Television

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Year Title Role Director Notes
2007 – 2020 Rhythm City[13] Lead - David Genaro dir. Harriet Gavshon e.tv Daily Drama
Multi-Camera
South African Film & Television Award for Best Actor
Jozi - H Support dir. Mfundi Vundla Canadian TV
1999 Isidingo - Mini Series Lead - Mike O'Riley dir. Johnny Barbuzano Crystal Award for Best South African Actor
1997 – 1999 Isidingo - Daily Drama Lead - Mike O'Riley SABC 3 Daily TV Drama
Multi-Camera
Vita Award
1997 The Sexy Girls Lead - Milo Russell Thompson M-Net
Made for TV movie

Awards

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  • The Crystal Award for Best Actor Isidingo
  • Vita Award for Best Lead Actor The Great Outdoors
  • Avanti Television Award for Best Actor Isidingo
  • Vita Award for Best Actor Mojo
  • Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award for Best Actor East
  • Vita Theatre Award for Best Up & Coming Actor Cock and Bull Story
  • South African Film & Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Actor Rhythm City.[1]

Training

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  • Trained in Speech and Drama at the University of Cape Town
  • Post Graduate Master classes with Peter Bridgemont at Chrysalis Theatre Acting School, London.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "10 Things You Didn't Know About Jamie Bartlett - Youth Village". Youth Village. 4 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Actor Jamie 'Yoink' Bartlett passes away aged 55 | eNCA". South Africa: eNCA. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  3. ^ Times Live article on David Genaro
  4. ^ "THE SEXY GIRLS | MNET CORPORATE | WHERE MAGIC LIVES | Electronic Media Network (M-Net) Corporate". www.mnetcorporate.co.za. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  5. ^ "South Africans mourn actor Jamie 'Yoink' Bartlett". Graphic Online. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  6. ^ TVSA article on personal life
  7. ^ "Secret of Famous Actor David Genaro's Cause of Death". US day News. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Actor Jamie 'Yoink' Bartlett dies". 23 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Jamie 'Yoink' Bartlett Passes Away of cardiac arrest". 23 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Jamie 'Yoink' Bartlett Autopsy reveals Cardiac Arrest cause of death". 25 May 2022.
  11. ^ "White Lion". IMDb.
  12. ^ [1] Back Stage With Jamie Bartlett
  13. ^ [2] Times Live interview 2010
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