John Kani
Biography
Bonsile John Kani was born on November 30, 1943, in New Brighton, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is a South African actor, director, and playwright. In 1965, he joined The Serpent Players, an acting group in Port Elizabeth that originated in a former snake pit at a zoo. With the group, he helped create numerous plays that remained unpublished but received a resounding reception. In the early 1970s, he co-wrote the famous plays Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island alongside Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona. Additionally, he received an Olivier nomination for his role in My Children My Africa! His work has been widely performed around the world, and he has accumulated 47 known acting credits according to available database records.
Career overview
Bonsile John Kani was born in November 1943 in New Brighton, South Africa. He is a South African actor, director, and playwright. His career in performance began when he joined The Serpent Players in Port Elizabeth in 1965. This group of actors took their name from their first performance location in the former snake pit of a zoo. Alongside the group, Kani helped create many plays that went unpublished but received a resounding reception from audiences.
In the early 1970s, Kani co-wrote the more famous works Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island alongside Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona. His extensive theatrical contributions also included a role in My Children My Africa!, for which he received an Olivier nomination. Throughout his career, Kani's work has been widely performed around the world.
In addition to his theatre work, Kani is recognized within film and television databases for his acting credits. His personal and professional background is rooted in his birthplace of New Brighton, located in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
52 titles- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) as Rafiki (voice)
- Murder Mystery 2 (2023) as Colonel Ulenga
- Beyond the Light Barrier (2023) as Narrator/Self
- What If...? (2021) as T'Chaka (voice)
- Marvel Studios Legends (2021) as T'Chaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Seal Team (2021) as Brick (voice)
- The Lion King (2019) as Rafiki (voice)
- Murder Mystery (2019) as Colonel Ulenga
- The Space: Theatre of Survival (2019)
- Black Panther (2018) as T'Chaka
- Captain America: Civil War (2016) as King T'Chaka
- 1994: The Bloody Miracle (2014) as Narrator
- Jail Caesar (2012) as Marius
- Falls the Shadow: The Life and Times of Athol Fugard (2012) as Self
- Coriolanus (2011) as General Cominius
- How to Steal 2 Million (2011) as Julius Twala Snr.
- White Lion (2010) as Old Gisani
- Endgame (2009) as Oliver Tambo
- Nothing But The Truth (2009) as Sipho
- Nothing But The Truth (2009) Director
- Nothing But The Truth (2009) Writer
- Nothing But The Truth (2009) Original Story
- Wallander (2008) as Max Khulu
- The Bird Can't Fly (2008) as Stone
- Final Solution (2001) as Rev. Peter Lekota
- The Tichborne Claimant (1999) as Bogle
- Kini & Adams (1997) as Ben
- Silent Witness (1996) as Dr. Phiri
- The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) as Samuel
- Soweto Green (1995) as Dr. Curtis
- In Darkest Hollywood: Cinema and Apartheid (1994) as Self
- African Skies (1992)
- Sarafina! (1992) as School Principal
- The Native Who Caused All the Trouble (1990)
- A Dry White Season (1989) as Julius
- Options (1989) as Jonas
- Othello (1989) as Othello
- An African Dream (1987) as Khatana
- Saturday Night at the Palace (1987)
- Miss Julie (1986) as John
- 'Master Harold'... and the Boys (1985) as Willie
- The Grass Is Singing (1981) as Moses
- A Sizwe Bansi Workshop (1981) as Himself
- Marigolds in August (1980) as Melton
- The Wild Geese (1978) as Sgt. Jesse Blake
- Victims of Apartheid (1978) as George O'Brien
- Playhouse (1974) as Styles / Buntu
- Playhouse (1974) Writer
- Sizwe Bansi Is Dead (1974) as Styles/Buntu
- Sizwe Bansi Is Dead (1974) Writer
- Play for Today (1970) as George O'Brien
- The Man in the Mirror
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Kani best known for?
John Kani is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), Murder Mystery 2 (2023), What If...? (2021), Marvel Studios Legends (2021).
When and where was John Kani born?
John Kani was born on November 30, 1943 in New Brighton, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
How many credits does John Kani have?
John Kani has accumulated over 52 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1970 to 2024.
What is John Kani's background in cinema and television?
Bonsile John Kani was born on November 30, 1943, in New Brighton, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is a South African actor, director, and playwright. In 1965, he joined The Serpent Players, an acting group in Port Elizabeth that originated in a former snake pit at a zoo. With the group, he helped create numero...