Renowned actor Jamie Bartlett has died. The 55-year-old was a multi-award-winning performer and will be fondly recalled for his role as David Genaro in the soapie Rhythm City. He also played the popular character Mike O’Reilly in Isidingo.
Bartlett recently starred in the show The Republic and had also been a judge on the talent search show, SA’s Got Talent.
Bartlett was born in 1966. His mother was South African mother and his father was British. He grew up in Cape Town and Johannesburg and attended school in both cities but it was after High School that his love for the stage flourished. Bartlett studied speech and drama at the University of Cape Town.
He was married to actress Camilla Waldman, and the couple divorced but had a son together.
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RIP legend Jamie Bartlett, it was truly an honor to have you gracing our screens with your great talent……The Don,The Goat, & Rhythm City Thank you for giving us this great talent and our deepest condolences to the Family💔💔🕊️🕊️
👑🕊️Rest King 👑🕊️#RIPJamieBartlett pic.twitter.com/wWduFJ2K2I— Mpho Angel Sekhu🇿🇦💙 (@officialangel_s) May 24, 2022
Tributes have been paid to the actor as news of his death was confirmed. Renowned film producer Anant Singh said: “Jamie was a master of his craft and was known for the powerful performances he delivered in iconic roles he played in films and television shows.” He added: “I have had the pleasure of working with Jamie over three decades, starting with the Iraqi war themed film, BRAVO TWO ZERO; followed by the TRC film, RED DUST in which he played an apartheid-era security policeman; the thriller PREY and MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM.”
Singh said he had fond memories of Bartlett: “In December 2004, Jamie traveled with me and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to the Dubai Film Festival where RED DUST was honoured with a gala screening as the closing night film. In MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, Jamie did an amazing job of playing Madiba’s prison warder, James Gregory. He researched the role intensely and gave a brilliant and authentic performance.”
