Renowned television actor Jamie Bartlett’s friend and fellow actor, Mangaliso Ngema, says he is shocked and devastated by his death.
Bartlett died on Monday night at the age of 55.
He is known for his role as Mike O’Reilly on SABC 3’s “isidingo“.
He won the Best Actor in a Soap award at the South African Film and Television Awards on three occasions.
Bartlett who was nominated five times also starred in major international productions.
Some described him as a master of his craft and a role model to young emerging talent.
Ngema says Bartlett’s demise is a great loss to the entertainment industry.
He says, “Oh man, I’m just so shocked and devastated about Jamie. Jamie and I first met in 2007, thereabout, when I was in Rhythm City playing the character of Pastor Nyeti. Pastor Nyeti was this dodgy pastor who married Rachel, this was a character played by Lucia Thinyane. Jamie played David Genaro, he was just such an exceptional artist.”
Film Producer Anant Singh says Barlett was “a master of his craft” and “his passing leaves a huge void in the industry”.
Reactions from Twitter below:
We’ lost the big Star actor David Genaro this was a Actor my his Soul RIP the Legend Condolences to the family!!!!!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
— @Modise mj (@Johanne59869845) May 24, 2022
I always liked it when David Genaro would gulp his whisky and splashed the rest of it backwards over his shoulder and then shake his head 😂😂
It was such a David thing.#RIPjamiebartlett
— Thato Galeromelwe | Social Media Marketer (@GrowWithThato) May 23, 2022
My daughter was such a big fan 😂😂😂❤️ Go well
David Genaro gentle Heart pic.twitter.com/4SSz7OOMUt— Hlabane Matlala (@plantbasedmims) May 23, 2022
David Genaro was Rhythm City, when he left Etv didn’t see a reason to keep Rhythm city on that’s how great he was.
— Collen (@Collen_KM) May 24, 2022
I don’t upload pictures of people who had passed on But I loved this Guy R.I.P David Genaro pic.twitter.com/rJpO9zXrq6
— Harry Madileng (@Harry_Madileng) May 24, 2022
Rest In Peace David Genaro, The Don 💔
#RIPJamieBartlett pic.twitter.com/TmKZGmljPl
— Hermaine M (@HermaineM) May 24, 2022
David Genaro
A lot of kind hearted souls are departing from this world… 😪😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/0YBhKYtVgQ— Sive Matiwane (@IamSiveMatiwane) May 24, 2022
David Genaro had his own language, man. I would be totally surprised if half the things he said were on script
— Bruce Ndlovu (@BruciEEye) May 24, 2022
