Tributes are pouring in for Legendary South African agent and casting director, Moonyeenn Lee who has died from COVID-19. Lee’s career spanned 47 years.
She is well known for casting for films such The Bang Bang Club and Tsotsi.
South Africa’s creams of the crop in the entertainment industry have taken to social media to pay tribute to Lee.
“Moonyeenn” a creator of stars!!!!Never a mincer of words. Harsh as they may come out, you can’t help but end up better for it ?? #RIPMoonyeennlee pic.twitter.com/UQ3TVGmVkQ
— Thando Thabooty (@Thando_Thabethe) July 19, 2020
Actor John Kani says he has no words to express his grief at her passing. He also mentioned that she was his agent.
Poet Lebo Mashile fondly remembered Lee as a cigar-smoking powerhouse of a woman who played by her own rules.
In her 47 years in our industry she cast or helped cast the Oscar-winning Tsotsi; the Oscar-nominated Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, Hotel Rwanda and Blood Diamond; the Oscar-shortlisted Black Panther and Emmy-winning series like Homeland.
— IPO (@Iproducersorg) July 19, 2020
Actor Garth Breytenbach called Lee a pioneer of the film industry in South Africa.
Her death was announced by her company Moonyeenn Lee Associates on Sunday.
Actor and Director Tony Kgoroge says Lee was an amazing woman who was not only his agent, but an activist for actors.
“She was more than an agent. She was a shoulder anyone can cry on. She would fight your fight for you and she would always put you first. In most of the projects we were doing, she would always put the client first meaning, you first, the actor first.”
A tree has fallen. The best Casting Director there ever was. #RIPMoonyeennLee
??? pic.twitter.com/33UGALFq9L— Sylvester Chauke (@sylvesterchauke) July 19, 2020
My very first encounter with Moonyeenn Lee.
Despite her reputation and me being nervous to talk to her, she was so sweet.
My writing was still rusty then so here goes…#RIPMoonyeennLee
— Kgopolo Mphela (@PhilMphela) July 19, 2020
RIP MAGOGO. i’ll always remember how she inspired me 2 become a leading man on SA television. Yho guys Moonyeenn gave 1 hell of a rejection on class act?? I had 2 b a star after that. May her soul rest in POWER. Wow.. COVID neh.. ? #RIPMoonyeennLee pic.twitter.com/31VgBXdXdn
— ???FREEPHILA??? (@PhilaMadlingozi) July 19, 2020
#RIPMoonyeennLee am so saddened ??? i will never forget seeing her on Class Act as an judge and those people have been doing great in the acting industry onwards no stopping,the potential she saw in many,she changed many lives
Rest in Power icon,legend pic.twitter.com/EBXKFMGjm8— Virginia hlatshwayo (@Virgini78535028) July 19, 2020
Below is the statement on Lee’s death:
