Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Bonsile John Kani (born 1943) is a South African actor, director and playwright. He was born in New Brighton, South Africa. Kani joined The Serpent Players (a group of actors whose first performance was in the former snake pit of the zoo, hence the name) in Port Elizabeth in 1965 and helped to create many plays that went unpublished but were performed to a resounding reception. These were followed by the more famous Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island, co-written with Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona, in the early 1970s. He also received an Olivier nomination for his role in My Children My Africa! Kani's work has been widely performed around the world, including New York, where he and Winston Ntshona won a Tony Award in 1975 for Sizwe Banzi Is Dead and The Island. These two plays were presented in repertory at the Edison Theatre for a total of 52 performances. Nothing but the Truth (2002) was his debut as sole playwright and was first performed in the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. This play takes place in post-apartheid South Africa and does not concern the conflicts between whites and blacks, but the rift between blacks who stayed in Sou…
Movies & TV Shows
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Captain America: Civil War (2016) — King T'Chaka
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Black Panther (2018) — T'Chaka
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The Lion King (2019) — Rafiki (voice)
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Murder Mystery (2019) — Colonel Ulenga
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What If...? (2021) — T'Chaka (voice)
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Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) — Rafiki (voice)
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Murder Mystery 2 (2023) — Colonel Ulenga
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The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) — Samuel
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Marvel Studios Legends (2021) — T'Chaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
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Coriolanus (2011) — General Cominius
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The Wild Geese (1978) — Sgt. Jesse Blake
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Seal Team (2021) — Brick (voice)
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Wallander (2008) — Max Khulu
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A Dry White Season (1989) — Julius
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Silent Witness (1996) — Dr. Phiri
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Endgame (2009) — Oliver Tambo
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Sarafina! (1992) — School Principal
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White Lion (2010) — Old Gisani
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Play for Today (1970) — George O'Brien
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'Master Harold'... and the Boys (1985) — Willie
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The Grass Is Singing (1981) — Moses
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Kini & Adams (1997) — Ben
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The Bird Can't Fly (2008) — Stone
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Options (1989) — Jonas
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Jail Caesar (2012) — Marius
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The Tichborne Claimant (1999) — Bogle
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Final Solution (2001) — Rev. Peter Lekota
- Saturday Night at the Palace (1987)
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How to Steal 2 Million (2011) — Julius Twala Snr.
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1994: The Bloody Miracle (2014) — Narrator
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African Skies (1992)
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Marigolds in August (1980) — Melton
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The Native Who Caused All the Trouble (1990)
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In Darkest Hollywood: Cinema and Apartheid (1994) — Self
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An African Dream (1987) — Khatana
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Othello (1989) — Othello
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Soweto Green (1995) — Dr. Curtis
- Miss Julie (1986) — John
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Playhouse (1974) — Styles / Buntu
- A Sizwe Bansi Workshop (1981) — Himself